Jethro and the Jews : Jewish biblical interpretation and the question of identity / by Beatrice J.W. Lawrence.

Format:

• Book

Author/Creator:

• Lawrence, Beatrice J. W., author.

Series:

• Brill reference library of Judaism ; Volume 56.
• The Brill reference library of Judaism, 1571-5000 ; volume 56

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

• Rabbinical literature--History and criticism.
• Jews--Identity.
• Bible. Pentateuch--Criticism, interpretation, etc., Jewish.
• Jethro (Biblical figure).

Physical Description:

1 online resource (188 pages).

Place of Publication:

• Brill 2017
• Leiden ; Boston : Brill, [2017]

Summary:

In Jethro and the Jews , Beatrice J. W. Lawrence examines rabbinic texts that address the biblical character of Jethro, a Midianite priest, Moses’ advisor and father-in-law, and the creator of the system of Jewish jurisprudence. Lawrence explores biblical interpretations in Midrash, Targum and Talmud, revealing a spectrum of responses to the presence of a man who straddles the line between insider and outsider. Ranging from character assassination to valorization of Jethro as a convert, these interpretive strategies reveal him to be a locus of anxiety for the rabbis concerning conversion, community boundaries, intermarriage, and non-Jews.

Contents:

• Preliminary Material / Beatrice J. W. Lawrence
• Introduction and Preliminaries / Beatrice J. W. Lawrence
• Jethro in the Bible: Texts, Contexts, and Conundrums / Beatrice J. W. Lawrence
• Jethro in Tannaitic Midrashim: Bringing Near with the Right while Repelling with the Left / Beatrice J. W. Lawrence
• Jethro in Later Midrashim: Clarifications and New Problems / Beatrice J. W. Lawrence
• Jethro in the Targums: New Language, New Strategies / Beatrice J. W. Lawrence
• Conclusions / Beatrice J. W. Lawrence
• Bibliography / Beatrice J. W. Lawrence
• Modern Author Index / Beatrice J. W. Lawrence
• Subject Index / Beatrice J. W. Lawrence
• Source Index / Beatrice J. W. Lawrence.

Notes:

• Includes bibliographical references and index.
• Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

90-04-34892-1

Publisher Number:

10.1163/9789004348929 DOI