Includes bibliographical references and index.

Preliminary Material / Editors: Jacob Neusner, Alan J. Avery-Peck, William Scott Green, and Guenter Stemberger -- Preface -- Authors: Jacob Neusner and Alan J. Avery-Peck -- “Art” in Midrashic Literature / Steven Fine -- Church Fathers, Rabbinic Midrash and / Adam Kamesar -- Dead Sea Scrolls, Biblical Interpretation in / Lawrence H. Schiffman -- Deuteronomy in Sifre to Deuteronomy / Steven D. Fraade -- Esther in Esther Rabbah I / Jacob Neusner -- Exodus in Mekhilta Attributed to R. Ishmael / Jacob Neusner -- Genesis in Genesis Rabbah / Jacob Neusner -- Genesis Rabbah, Theology of / Jacob Neusner -- Genres, Midrash and / Dalia Hoshen -- Hagiographa, Targums to / Josep Ribera-Florit -- Halakhic Category Formations, Midrash and / Jacob Neusner -- Hellenistic Jewish Midrash, I: Beginnings / Folker Siegert -- Hellenistic Jewish Midrash, II: Adopting the Allegoric Method. Aristobulus to Philo / Folker S. Diegert -- Hellenistic Jewish Midrash, III: Developed Non-Allegorical Forms. Josephus / Folker Siegert -- Hermeneutics, A Critical Approach / Gary G. Porton -- Hermeneutics, Techniques of Rabbinic Exegesis / Rivka Kern-Ulmer -- Hermeneutics, Theology of / David Instone-Brewer -- Josephus, Midrash in His Version of the Pentateuch / Louis H. Feldman -- Jubilees, Midrash in / Betsy Halpern-Amaru -- Karaite Conception of the Biblical Narrator (Mudawwin) / Meira Polliack -- Lamentations in Lamentations Rabbati / Jacob Neusner -- Lamentations Rabbati, Theology of / Jacob Neusner -- Language and Midrash / David H. Aaron -- Leviticus in Leviticus Rabbah / Jacob Neusner -- Leviticus in Sifra / Günter Stemberger -- Leviticus Rabbah, Theology of / Jacob Neusner -- Liturgy, Midrash in / Richard S. Sarason -- Mekhilta de R. Simeon b. Yohai / W. David Nelson -- Midrash Tannaim / Herbert Basser -- Midrash, Definitions of / Gary G. Porton -- New Testament Narrative as Old Testament Midrash / Robert M. Price -- Numbers in Sifre to Numbers / Jacob Neusner -- Oral Torah, Midrash and / Jacob Neusner.

The Encyclopedia of Midrash — Biblical Interpretation in Formative Judaism, provides a systematic account of biblical interpretation in Judaism, from well before the second century BCE through the end of the seventh century CE. While emphasizing the Rabbinic literature, it also covers interpretation of Scripture in a number of distinct canons, ranging from the Targumic literature and Dead Sea Scrolls to the New Testament and Church Fathers. The encyclopedia comprises fifty-six essays written by thirty scholars, representing the leading figures in the study of ancient Judaism and biblical interpretation in North America, Europe, and the State of Israel. Alongside a general introduction to Rabbinic Midrash and its traits, including the theoretical questions of definition, origins, theology, hermeneutics, genre-criticism, and language, the encyclopedia addresses specific topics of concern in the study of scriptural interpretation. How Rabbinic midrashic documents that focus on specific books of Scripture read those specific books, the theology expressed by Rabbinic midrashic compilations, and the historical context in which Rabbinic Midrash took shape all are treated. Beyond these central issues in understanding Rabbinic Midrash, the encyclopedia treats interpretations of Scripture that came to closure prior to, or outside of, the framework of Rabbinic Midrash: Hellenistic Jewish Midrash, Josephus, Pseudo-Philo, Jubilees, as well as to the New Testament, Karaite and Samaritan writings, and the Dead Sea Scrolls. The Encyclopedia of Midrash provides readers with a depth and breadth of treatment of Midrash unavailable in any other single source. Through the writings of top scholars in each of their fields, it sets out the current state of the question for each of the many topics discussed in its pages. The print edition is available as a set of two volumes (9789004141667).

English

Description based on print version record.