Bibliography
| Title: The Davidic Dynasty Tradition in Early Judaism. Its history and significance for messianism Secondary Title: Early Judaism and its Literature 7 Type: Generic Year: 1995 Abstract: "This dissertation studies how the biblical tradition about the davidic dynasty was interpreted and applied in Jewish literature from 400 BCE to 100 CE. In light of this study, it evaluates whether there existed in this period a widespread, continuous, and dominant expectation for a davidic messiah. Accordingly, after a summary of the davidic dynasty tradition in the biblical writings prior to 400 BCE, it traces the use of this tradition in Chronicles, Zechariah 9-14, the Wisdom of Ben Sira, 1 Maccabees, Psalms of Solomon, Qumran literature, the Eighteen Benedictions, 4 Ezra, and Josephus. Each reference to the davidic dynasty tradition in these documents is analyzed with respect to its specific content and particular function within its own literary context and socio-historical setting. Moreover, special attention is given to the question of whether a reference offers evidence for a davidic messianic hope. Finally, other royal messianic figures known from early Jewish literature and history, such as the Messiah of Israel and the Messiah of Judah, are investigated to ascertain their relationship to davidic messianism. The dissertation concludes that in the biblical literature prior to 400 BCE the davidic dynasty tradition was already marked by diversity. During the early Jewish period, the tradition was interpreted in a variety of ways according to the intention of the literary work in which it was used. The idea of a davidic messiah only emerged in the first half of the first century BCE. Davidic messianism is represented in only three early Jewish communities, and in each case, the davidic messiah is ascribed different characteristics and functions. This evidence indicates that in early Judaism there existed no continuous, widespread, dominant, and unified expectation for a davidic messiah. On the contrary, the presence of several non-davidic royal messianic figures in this period demonstrates how other biblical models of royalty could be utilized to articulate notions of Jewish kingship. Scholarly discourse will therefore have to dispense with the so-called ""traditional"" davidic messianic hope as a resource for explaining why some early Christians designated Jesus, Son of David, or why davidic messianism played an important role in rabbinic Judaism." Keywords: Cultural and Religious History of Ancient Judaism |