"According to the law"
Subtitle: reading Ezra 9-10 as Christian scripture
By: Csilla Saysell
Series: Journal of theological interpretation supplements -- 4; Journal of theological interpretation supplements -- 4.
Publisher: Eisenbrauns
Published: 2012
Place of publication: Winona Lake, Ind
Language: eng
Number of pages: 256
ISBN-13: 9781575067032
Subjects: Theologie; Criticism, interpretation; Exegese; Bible; Bibel
Description: Christian interpreters have struggled with the story of Ezra 9-10 for many reasons. Its apparent legalism and racism, as well as its advocacy of divorce as a solution for intermarriage, is unacceptable for many Christians, yet this incident is presented in implicitly positive terms, and the narrative forms a part of Scripture. What then should a Christian reader make of this sort of story? The troubling aspects of the incident are considered in part 1 of this volume through a detailed exegesis outlining the exiles' legal reasoning, rooted in pentateuchal laws. Part 2 then discusses questions of a broader hermeneutical framework. Saysell suggests that prior Christian assumptions, such as the combination of scriptural authority and the primacy of narrative in interpretation, can lead to an unhelpful way of reading stories that takes them as examples to follow/avoid rather than invites engagement for the renewing of the mind (Rom 12:1-2). One also needs to consider how a difficult question such as intermarriage is handled in the rest of the canon (and in tradition), which put into perspective the solution offered and constrains the meaning of the primary text. Specifically, "the holy seed" rationale (Ezra 9:2), which gives rise to the charge of racism, is shown to have flourished briefly in the Second Temple period but proved to be a dead end in the long run. A comparison with the NT treatment of a specific intermarriage crisis in 1 Cor 7:12-16, as well as with other, present-day solutions, can highlight what went wrong in the exilic reasoning and yet what constructive challenge the text as Scripture may hold for the Christian reader.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and indexes.
Table of contents: title: Introduction --; title: Attitudes to the "Law" --; title: The context of Ezra 9-10 --; title: The abominations of the nations --; title: Ḥērem law and Ezra 9-10 --; title: Holy seed and intermingling --; title: Profanation and impurity --; title: Conclusion to Part 1 --; title: Introduction to a Christian reading of Ezra 9-10 --; title: Ezra 9-10 in Christian interpretation --; title: Ezra 9-10 in Jewish understanding --; title: Constraints from canon and tradition --; title: NT perspective: 1 Cor 7:12-16 --; title: Insights from anthropology and a contemporary case study --; title: Conclusion.