Carl S. Ehrlich Book order

Susan Haber (1957-2006) was a graduate of York University (B. A.) and McMaster University (M. A.). At the time of her death, she was working on a doctorate from McMaster University, having already published articles on the Hebrew Bible, early Judaism, and early Christianity. The present volume consists of contributions in fields central to her own interests by her teachers, friends, and colleagues in memory of a brilliant scholar. The essays deal with issues of central concern to the theologies of Judaism and Christianity: purity, holiness, and identity. In the first part of this volume the former two topics within the context of the Hebrew Bible are introduced. The second part deals with all three within late Second Temple and early Rabbinic Judaism, as well as in the Christianity of the first three centuries C. E. The last part examines the subject matter of the volume within the context of medieval and modern Judaism, as well as in contemporary Christianity. Although it is not necessarily explicitly stated, the juxtaposition of these essays dealing with areas of mutual theological concern to Judaism and Christianity implicitly lays the groundwork for interreligious dialog and understanding.

The character of Saul and his role in ancient Israel's history and theology have intrigued scholars for centuries. This book provides a comprehensive survey of Saul studies, featuring essays that explore his significance within the biblical narrative, including the Deuteronomistic History and the Chronicler's work. It also examines the potential for identifying a Saulide period in archaeological findings. Specific themes and passages in the Saul cycle are analyzed, focusing on aspects such as his heroic qualities, kingship, and the dynamics of war. The concluding section addresses Saul's presence in post-biblical interpretations, with discussions on his portrayal in works by Josephus, midrashic literature, the Qur'an, select European literary texts, the western artistic tradition, and Handel's oratorio. Key contributions include insights into settlement patterns in Southern Samaria, the evolution of kingship in Israel, and the complex image of Saul in the Deuteronomistic History. The essays also delve into the reworking of Saul's figure in relation to charismatic prophecy, the symbolism of his royal body, and his relationships with other biblical figures. This collection ultimately highlights Saul's multifaceted legacy across various cultural and historical contexts.

This study of the history of the Philistines during the first quarter of the first millennium B.C.E. has a twofold First, to examine in detail a number of ancient texts, mainly biblical until the rise of the neo-assyrian empire, while evaluating each text in its own right as a potential historical source. Second, to offer a synthetic reconstruction of the course of Philistine history between 1000 - 730 B.C.E., employing the results of the textual study in conjunction with those of recent archaeological excavations in Philistia.This is the first monograph to be devoted to the Philistines during this critical period in the history of the Ancient Near East.