Who was Ezra? Deliberations in Oral Torah
The figure of Ezra has been reviewed by numerous historians and theologians. Notwithstanding, there is still no consensus on the identity of Ezra. Although most researchers are of the opinion that doubts about Ezra's historicity are out of place, some continue to negate that he existed. Histori...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Interlibrary Loan: | Interlibrary Loan for the Fachinformationsdienste (Specialized Information Services in Germany) |
| Published: |
2009
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| In: |
Journal for semitics
Year: 2009, Volume: 18, Issue: 1, Pages: 57-81 |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Parallel Edition: | Non-electronic
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| Summary: | The figure of Ezra has been reviewed by numerous historians and theologians. Notwithstanding, there is still no consensus on the identity of Ezra. Although most researchers are of the opinion that doubts about Ezra's historicity are out of place, some continue to negate that he existed. Historians believe that the Ezra-Nehemiah tradition exaggerates Ezra's influence and achievement by glorifying him as re-founder of the Jewish community and the rehabilitator of the Jewish faith. Theologians, on the other hand, see in the account of Ezra's journey a highly theological interpretation of the events relating to the reforms carried out in Judah and Jerusalem. Thus, historical and theological stances on Ezra exist alongside each other. Both stances have not intensely reviewed references to Ezra in Oral Torah, even when referred to in argument. Crucial in terms of Oral Torah is that Jewish tradition views Ezra as a historical figure, whose genealogy is already noted in Scripture, in Ezra 7 : 1-6. Within the historical perspective, Oral Torah celebrates Ezra as glorified re-founder of the Jewish community and rehabilitator of the Jewish faith. This legendary perspective, in turn, links up with the theological perspective in Oral Torah, whereby to Ezra are assigned major reforms in Israel after the galut. This paper critically reviews the figure of Ezra from the historical, legendary and theological perspectives of Oral Torah. |
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| Contains: | Enthalten in: Journal for semitics
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| Persistent identifiers: | HDL: 10520/EJC101113 |