The Crisis of Israelite Religion: Transformation of Religious Tradition in Exilic and Post-Exilic Times (Oudtestamentische Studien)

Exile and Return have caused a crisis in Israelite religion. This crisis eventually gave the impetus for the emergence of Judaism. The papers in this volume, originally read at a Symposium organized by Utrecht University in April 1998, discuss the relevant aspects of this crisis and the shift from Yahwism to Judaism. The collection of papers is unique in presenting a multidimensional treatment of the problems involved. Biblical texts are read against their historical background with the question in mind: How did the author(s) of this text cope with the changed and shifting situation? Next to that the period under consideration is discussed from historical, religion-historical, archaeological and iconographic angles.
The volume underscores the significance of this period for Biblical studies and will certainly yield further discussion.

Bob Becking, Ph.D. (1985), Utrecht, is Professor of Old Testament Studies at Utrecht University. His publications include The Fall of Samaria: An Archaeological and Historical Study (Brill, 1992). He is co-editor of the Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible (Brill, 1995, 1999).
Marjo C.A. Korpel, D.D. (1990), Theological University of Kampen, is Lecturer for Old Testament Studies at Utrecht University. Her publications concern Ugaritic and Hebrew poetry, including (with J.C. de Moor) The Structure of Classical Hebrew Poetry: Isaiah 40-55 (Brill, 1998).