Babel’s Tower Translated: Genesis 11 and Ancient Jewish Interpretation

Full title
Babel’s Tower Translated: Genesis 11 and Ancient Jewish Interpretation
Research notes

Reader Checked|OA 09/10/2013

Reference type
Book
Author(s)
Sherman, Phillip Michael
Year
2013
Issue / Series Volume
117
Series Title
Biblical Interpretation Series
Abbreviated Series Name
BIS
Publisher
Brill
Place of Publication
Leiden
Related keywords
Tower of Babel
Jubilees (Book of)
Biblical Antiquities / Liber antiquitatum biblicarum / Pseudo-Philo
Jewish Antiquities / Antiquitates judaicae
Abraham (Biblical Figure)
Idolatry (Theology)
Israel (People of)
Nimrod
Hellenistic Culture / Hellenistic Literature
Jewish War / Bellum judaicum
3 Baruch / Greek Baruch
Heavenly Temple(s) / Heavenly Sanctuaries
Confusion of Tongues / De confusione linguarum / Conf.
Allegory / Typology / Allegorical Interpretation / Typological Interpretation / Figural Interpretation
Midrash (Hermeneutics)
Midrash Aggadah
Sin
Label
18/03/2013
URL
http://www.brill.com/babel-s-tower-translated
Abstract

In Babel's Tower Translated , Phillip Sherman explores the narrative of Genesis 11 and its reception and interpretation in several Second Temple and Early Rabbinic texts (e.g., Jubilees, Philo, Genesis Rabbah). The account of the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-9) is famously ambiguous. The meaning of the narrative and the actions of both the human characters and the Israelite deity defy any easy explanation. This work explores how changing historical and hermeneutical realities altered and shifted the meaning of the text in Jewish antiquity.