The Seleucid and Hasmonean Periods and the Apocalyptic Worldview: (The Library of Second Temple Studies)

This tightly focused collection of essays, from an invited seminar of international specialists, centres on the question of the apocalyptic worldview around the time of the Maccabean revolt. What was the nature of apocalyptic at this time? Did the Maccabees themselves have a distinct apocalyptic worldview? These questions lead to other, more specific queries: who of the various groups held such a view? Certain of the essays analyse the characteristics of the apocalypses and related literature in this period, and whether the apocalyptic worldview itself gave rise to historical events or, at least, influenced them. The collection begins with two introductory essays. Both the main and short papers have individual responses, and two considered responses by well-known experts address the entire collection. The volume finishes with a concluding chapter by the lead editor that gives a perspective on the main themes and conclusions arising from the papers and discussion.

Table of Contents:
Part I. INTRODUCTORY ESSAYS 1 INTRODUCTION - Lester L. Grabbe, Professor Em., University of Hull, UK 2 THE SELEUCID AND HASMONEAN PERIODS AND THE APOCALYPTIC WORLDVIEW--AN OVERVIEW - Lester L. Grabbe, Professor Em., University of Hull, UK 3 NON-APOCALYPTIC RESPONSES TO APOCALYPTIC EVENTS: NOTES ON THE SOCIOLOGY OF APOCALYPTICISM Gabriele Boccaccini, University of Michigan, USA Part II. MAJOR PAPERS AND RESPONSES 4 UNDERSTANDING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE APOCALPTIC WORLDVIEW AND JEWISH SECTARIAN VIOLENCE: THE CASE OF THE WAR BETWEEN ALEXANDER JANNAEUS AND DEMETRIUS III - Kenneth Atkinson, University of Northern Iowa, USA RESPONSE TO ATKINSON, Albert I. Baumgarten, Bar-Ilan University, Israel RESPONSE TO ATKINSON, Sandra Gambetti, City University of New York (CUNY), USA 5 WAS THE MACCABEAN REVOLT AN APOCALYPTIC MOVEMENT? - Gerbern S. Oegema, Mcgill University, Canada RESPONSE TO OEGEMA - Lorenzo DiTommaso, Concordia University, Canada RESPONSE TO OEGEMA - John Kampen, Methodist Theological School, USA 6 APOCALYPTIC WORLDVIEWS--WHAT THEY ARE AND HOW THEY SPREAD: INSIGHTS FROM THE SOCIAL SCIENCES - Anathea E. Portier-Young, Duke Divinity School, USA RESPONSE TO PORTIER-YOUNG -Edward Dabrowa, Jagiellonian University, Poland RESPONSE TO PORTIER-YOUNG -Torleif Elgvin, NLA University College, Norway 7 OVERALL RESPONSE TO THE MAIN PAPERS - Erich Gruen, University of California, USA Part III. SHORT PAPERS Part IV. CONCLUSIONS PERSPECTIVES ON APOCALYPTIC IN THE HASMONAEAN PERIOD Lester L. Grabbe, Professor Em., University of Hull, UK.

About the Author :
Lester L. Grabbe is Professor Emeritus of Hebrew Bible and Early Judaism at the University of Hull, UK, as well as being series editor of the Library of Second Temple Studies. Gabriele Boccaccini is Professor of Second Temple Judaism and Early Rabbinic Literature at the University of Michigan, USA. Jason M. Zurawski is a PhD candidate in Second Temple Judaism at the University of Michigan, USA.

Review :
There is a high level of interaction between the papers, resulting in nuanced discussion of several key issues … A clear guide to the state of several interlocking discussions, and provides useful focus concerning some rather underdetermined issues. A true gem by virtue of the fact that it does not only present cogent and thought-provoking contributions but also responses to these essays. Thereby, one gets an impression of the very vivacious and productive atmosphere in which these discussions evolved. At the same time, the combination of chapters and responses provides an important glimpse into a scholarly field in which criticism of ideas is a prerequisite for continuous progress.