
Building on the success of the Jewish Annotated New Testament (JANT) and the Jewish Study Bible (JSB), Oxford University Press now proceeds to complete the trilogy with the Jewish Annotated Apocrypha (JAA). The books of the Apocrypha were virtually all composed by Jewish writers in the Second Temple period. Excluded from the Hebrew Bible, these works were preserved by Christians. Yet no complete, standalone edition of these works has been produced in English with an emphasis on Jewish tradition or with an educated Jewish audience in mind. The JAA meets this need.The JAA differs from prior editions of the Apocrypha in a number of ways. First, as befits a Jewish Annotated Apocrypha, the volume excludes certain texts that are widely agreed to be of Christian origin. Second, it expands the scope of the volume to include Jubilees, an essential text for understanding ancient Judaism, and a book that merits inclusion in the volume by virtue of the fact that it was long considered part of the canon of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church (the text is also revered by Ethiopian Jews). Third, it has restructured the order of the books so that the sequencing follows the logic that governs the order of the books in the Jewish canon (Law, History, Prophecy, Wisdom and Poetry).Using the NRSV translation (plus Jubilees), each book of the Apocrypha is annotated by a recognized expert in the study of ancient Judaism. An Introduction by the editors guides readers though the making of the volume and its contents. Thematic essays by an impressive array of scholars provide helpful contexts, backgrounds and elaborations on key themes.
This volume investigates the historical and theological significance of the Apocrypha through a specifically Jewish lens, addressing the absence of a scholarly, standalone edition tailored to Jewish tradition. Editors Jonathan Klawans and Lawrence M. Wills, both established scholars in ancient Judaism, curate a collection of texts composed by Jewish writers during the Second Temple period. By reordering these books to align with the structure of the Jewish canon and excluding texts of Christian origin, the authors provide a framework for understanding these works as integral components of ancient Jewish thought.
What You Will Find
Scope Limits
Scholars and students of religious history identify this work as a vital companion to the Jewish Study Bible and the Jewish Annotated New Testament. Readers frequently note the academic rigor of the annotations and the clarity of the thematic essays, which successfully bridge the gap between specialized research and accessible study.
Page Count:
740
Publication Date:
2020-01-01
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0190262508
ISBN-13:
9780190262501
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