Critical commentary on the books of Ezra/Nehemia for the commentary series "Herders theologischer Kommentar zum Alten Testament"Antrag auf Gewährung einer Sachbeihilfe (Modul Vertretung)

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Critical commentaries on biblical books are a very important genre of exegetical publication. Far beyond the borders of the exegetical scientific community, they are also acknowledged in neighboring disciplines. Commentaries reveal the interpretation of a biblical book as well as the current state of research with regards to this biblical book from a literary, historical and religio-historical perspective. They therefore have a very broad scholarly impact. I am going to use the planned research time to write a distinctive commentary on the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. It will be published in the commentary series Herders theologischer Kommentar zum Alten Testament. There is a lack of current critical commentaries on Ezra/Nehemiah in the German speaking context. The new methodological, historical and thematic results of the recent research have to be considered and the theology of these books redefined.The older German commentaries considered Ezra/Nehemiah as a part of one historical work consisting of Chronicles and Ezra/Nehemiah written by the Chronicler. The older research also regarded Ezra/Nehemiah as a primary source for reconstructing the post-exilic period. The commentaries therefore were especially interested in a historical interpretation of the books and in their literary sources.The intended commentary is going to focus on the theology of the books. The one-sided focus on historical issues must be overcome. In accordance to the synchronical approach, that is diachronically reflected, different theological issues should not only be explained by different chronological origins and different redactional layers but instead as constituents of a theology that possibly includes tenses. Thus, the interpretation will be guided by the structure of the books.Ezra/Nehemiah present themselves as historiography and describe formative aspects and dimensions of Israel´s identity in the post-exilic period. To Construct the self-conception can be regarded as the core of the books. For this purpose, the necessary basic hermeneutical reflections will be made in the commentary. This means that there is a need for a description of the relevant criteria for belonging to the community, for inclusion and exclusion, and the internal shape and structure of the community. The above-mentioned commentary series includes knowledge from the Jewish-Christian dialogue: It recognizes and reflects that the Old Testament has been continued as Scripture of Israel as well as part of the Christian Bible. Until now, this is an exceptional perspective in the study of the Old Testament. As a consequence, the commentary has to deal with the anti-Jewish interpretations of Ezra/Nehemiah in the Christian context: Negative assessment of the theology as legalistic form of religion; stigmatization of the post-exilic group as a purely religious, theocratic founded community and/or as a particularistic-sectarian, national-religious movement.