The Book of Revelation and Early Jewish Textual Culture

The Book of Revelation and Early Jewish Textual Culture explores the relationship between the writing of Revelation and its early audience, especially its interaction with Jewish Scripture. It touches on several areas of scholarly inquiry in biblical studies, including modes of literary production, the use of allusions, practices of exegesis, and early engagements with the Book of Revelation. Garrick Allen brings the Book of Revelation into the broader context of early Jewish literature, including the Dead Sea Scrolls and other important works. Arguing that the author of the New Testament Apocalypse was a 'scribal expert, someone who was well-versed in the content of Jewish Scripture and its interpretation', he demonstrates that John was not only a seer and prophet, but also an erudite reader of scripture.

1 The Scribal Apocalypse and Early Jewish
Textual Culture 1
1.1 Introduction 1
1.2 Some Dei nitions and Terminology 7
1.3 Design of the Study 17
1.4 Need for the Study 20
1.5 Conclusion 37

2 Textual Pluriformity in Jewish and Christian
Antiquity 39
2.1 Introduction 39
2.2 Textual Pluriformity Before Qumran 40
2.3 Textual Pluriformity Witnessed at Qumran 44
2.4 Pluriformity in Judaism at Large? 54
2.5 Textual Pluriformity in the New Testament 60
2.6 Textual Pluriformity, Material Culture, and Zechariah 76
2.7 Possible Textual Sources for the Book of Revelation 92
2.8 The Text of the Book of Revelation 102
2.9 Conclusion 103

3 Borrowing Prophetic Words: Textual Form and
Access to Traditions 105
3.1 Introduction 105
Excursus 1: Michael Labahn and the Inl uence
of Memory 106
3.2 The Textual Form of Zechariah in Revelation 112
3.3 Conclusion 165

4 Reading Zechariah with John: Techniques of Reuse,
Exegetical Resources, and Textual Hermeneutics 168
4.1 Introduction 168
4.2 Techniques of Reuse 169
4.3 Habits of Reading 171
Excursus 2: Audience Reception and Minute Exegesis 173
4.4 Zechariah in Revelation 178
4.5 Concluding Rel ections 210

5 Reading Zechariah in Early Judaism 216
5.1 Introduction 216
5.2 Zechariah 4.10 and 2 Chronicles 16.9 217
5.3 Zechariah 4.14 and 4QCommentary on Genesis C 4 2
(4Q254) 226
5.4 Zechariah 1.8; 6.1–5 in OG and Targum Jonathan 230
5.5 1 Maccabees 14.9 and Zechariah 8.4–5 234
5.6 Zechariah 6.5 in Targum Jonathan 240
5.7 Zechariah 12.3, 10 in Early Judaism 244
5.8 The use of Zechariah in Early Judaism 250

6 ‘These Words are Faithful and True’ (Rev 22.6) 254
6.1 Summary 254
6.2 Findings 256
6.3 Broader Considerations 267