Mixed Marriages Intermarriage and Group Identity in the Second Temple Period [Paperback]

Intermarriage and group identity in the Second Temple Period will be investigated from different points of view with regard to methodology and analyzed texts. With an introduction to the history of research and a summarizing final section, the individual contributions will be associated with the larger context of the recent debate. Thus not only the diversity of texts on mixed marriage within the Hebrew Bible and related scripture will be shown and emphasized but the question of continuity and discontinuity as well as the socio-historical background of marriage restrictions will be dealt with, too.

Covering a wide range of texts from almost every part of the Hebrew Bible as well as from Elephantine, Qumran and several pseudepigrapha, like Jubilees, its focus is on possible counter texts with a more positive notion of foreign wives, in addition to restrictive and prohibitive texts.

These different approaches will illuminate the dynamics of the construction of group identity, culminating in conflicts concerning separation and integration which can be found in the debate on the topic of the correct marriage.

Preface
List of Contributors
Abbreviations
Introduction: Christian Frevel: The Discourse on Intermarriage in the Hebrew Bible
Chapter 1: Christian Frevel and Benedikt J. Conczorowski: Deepening the Water: First Steps to a Diachronic Approach on Intermarriage in the Hebrew Bible
Chapter 2: Katherine E. Southwood: An Ethnic Affair? Ezra's Intermarriage Crisis against a Context of Self-Ascription and Ascription of Others
Chapter 3: Ralf Rothenbusch: The Question of Mixed Marriages between the Poles of Diaspora and Homeland: Observations in Ezra/Nehemiah
Chapter 4: Juha Pakkala: Intermarriage and Group Identity in the Ezra Tradition (Ezra 7-10 and Neh 8)
Chapter 5: Benedikt J. Conczorowski: All the same as Ezra? Conceptual Differences between the Texts on Intermarriage in Genesis, Deuteronomy 7 and Ezra
Chapter 6: Jló8