Characterization in Midrash and Medieval Jewish Bible Commentaries

Sivan Nir meticulously examines the reimaginings of the biblical figures Balaam, Jeremiah, and Esther in a wide range of Jewish texts from second-century rabbinic sources to medieval Jewish biblical commentaries. Nir’s unique approach analyzes the continuity, or lack thereof, that emerges when characterization is viewed in relation to and in contrast with its cross-cultural context, including the contemporary conventions found in Hellenistic rhetoric and novels, Byzantine Christian literature, Islamic adab and Mu‘tazila literature, and more. Such an approach reveals a transition from typological depictions to richer, more lifelike portrayals—a transformation shaped by rival notions of literature and history. Nir translates the sources into accessible English for students and scholars of not only Jewish exegesis but also those in Christian theology, Islamic studies, and world literature.

Sivan Nir is a postdoctoral scholar in the Department of Biblical Studies at Tel Aviv University. He is the author of articles on the medieval reception of biblical figures and literary concepts and the book A Curtain Set with Jewels: The Tales of the Sages in Late Midrash (forthcoming).