Identity in Persian Egypt by Bob Becking

Identity in Persian Egypt by Bob Becking

In this book, Bob Becking provides a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of the origins, lives, and eventual fate of the Yehudites, or Judeans, at Elephantine, framed within the greater history of the rise and fall of the Persian Empire. The Yehudites were among those mercenaries recruited by the Persians to defend the southwestern border of the empire in the fifth century BCE. Becking argues that this group, whom some label as the first “Jews,” lived on the island of Elephantine in relative peace with other ethnic groups under the aegis of the pax persica. Drawing on Aramaic and Demotic texts discovered during excavations on the island and at Syene on the adjacent shore of the Nile, Becking finds evidence of intermarriage, trade cooperation, and even a limited acceptance of one another’s gods between the various ethnic groups at Elephantine. His analysis of the Elephantine Yehudites’ unorthodox form of Yahwism provides valuable insight into the group’s religious beliefs and practices. An important contribution to the study of Yehudite life in the diaspora, this accessibly written and sweeping history enhances our understanding of the varieties of early Jewish life and how these contributed to the construction of Judaism.

“A good and stimulating readIt represents an innovative approach to research on Elephantine. The most important strength—construing the ‘fate’ of the Yehudite community in light of the rise and fall of pax persica—makes the book a contribution to the Yehudite community’s history and a microhistorical contribution to Achaemenid studies. Both students and experts will gain from reading the book.”

—Gard Granerød Review of Biblical Literature

“Becking has provided scholars with an accessible and well-researched history of Elephantine during the Persian period, which will enrich the debate for years to come.”

—James D. Moore Journal for the Study of Judaism

Bob Becking is Professor Emeritus in the Faculty of Humanities at Utrecht University.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9781575067452
ISBN 10	1575067455
Title	Identity in Persian Egypt
Author	Bob Becking
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Hardback
Publisher	Pennsylvania State University Press
Year published	2020-08-20
Number of pages	224
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.