Description
Book SynopsisDon Moffat holds a Ph.D. from the University of Otago and is a former regional Dean of Studies for the Bible College of New Zealand (now Laidlaw College). He currently divides his time between writing and teaching roles for various theological institutions.
Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Abbreviations Introduction: Ezra's Social Drama
Chapter 1. Social Science, Historicity and Identity 1. Social Sciences and Biblical Studies a. Applying Social Science b. Turner and Social Drama c. Social Drama: Phases, Root Paradigms, Ritual and Symbolism d. Social Drama and Biblical Studies c. Social Science Summary 2. Ezra-Nehemiah and Historical Reconstruction 3. Identity a. Identity Formation b. Identity Formation as Context 4. Summary
Chapter 2. Yehud 1. Issues in Mapping Yehud 2. The Extent of Yehud 3. The Population of Yehud 4. Political Status 5. Summary
Chapter 3. Foundations for Reading Ezra 9 and 10 1. Nehemiah 8 and Ezra 7-10 a. Nehemiah 8 Displaced b. The Original Position of Nehemiah 8 2. The Unity of Ezra 9 and 10 a. The Original Debate About Unity b. Recent Source-Critical Studies c. Summary
Chapter 4. Ezra 9 and 10 1. The Problem Identified (Ezra 9:1-5) a. The Report b. Leaders and Israel c. The Peoples of the Land(s) d. Marriage is the Problem e. Ezra's Reaction 2. Ezra's Penitential Prayer (Ezra 9:6-15) a. Pentitential Prayers b. Ezra's Prayer c. Shame, History and Mercy (Ezra 9:6-9) d. Guilt Before God (Ezra 9:10-15) 3. The People's Response (Ezra 10:1-44) a. Loaded Words b. Community Action c. Dissolving the Mixed Marriages d. Summary e. Concluding the Issue (Ezra 10:18-44) 4. Summary
Chapter 5. The Mixed Marriage Social Drama 1. Elements of a Social Drama 2. Mixed Marriage and Identity Formation 3. The Exodus as Root Paradigm a. The Exodus in Ezra b. The Exodus as Root Paradigm 4. Foreign Women as Symbol a. Symbol, Turner and Semiotics b. Connotations of Foreign Women c. Powerful Symbols d. Summary 5. The Mixed Marriage Narrative as Social Drama a. Breach b. Crisis c. Redressive Action d. Reintegration
Chapter 6. Historical Traces 1. Indications of Historicity 2. Historical Traces a. The Exodus Paradigm in Post-Exilic Yehud b. Ezra the Catalyst c. Social Discourse and Foreign Women d. A Witch Hunt? e. Conformity to the Commission's Demands f. Residual Effect 3. Summary Conclusions Bibliography Index of References Index of Authors
