Table of Contents

Preface; Abbreviations; Introduction: investigating the idea of Israel; Part I. Israel's Disputed Birthright: 1. Jews and Israelites in antiquity: the need for a new paradigm; 2. The other Israelites: Samaritans, Hebrews, and non-Jewish Israel; Part II. Restoration Eschatology and the Construction of Biblical Israel: 3. Judah's bible and the narrative construction of biblical Israel; 4. Between disaster and restoration: the prophets, exile, and restoration eschatology; 5. The restoration of Israel in the Persian and Hellenistic periods: incomplete, delayed, failed; Part III. Israel and Restoration Eschatology in the Diaspora: 6. Exile and Diaspora theology; 7. Israel, Jews, and restoration eschatology in Josephus; 8. Israel and restoration in Philo of Alexandria; 9. Exile and Israel's restoration in the dead sea scrolls; 10. Israel, Jews, and restoration in other second temple narrative literature; 11. Israel in second temple eschatological and apocalyptic literature; 12. Israel, Hebrews, Jews, and restoration eschatology; Bibliography; Index of primary sources; General index.

Promotional Information

A new paradigm for how the biblical concept of Israel impacted early Jewish apocalyptic hopes for restoration.

About the Author

Jason A. Staples is Assistant Teaching Professor in the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at North Carolina State University. He is a 2008 recipient of at the Jacob K. Javits Fellowship and the author of numerous articles on ancient Judaism and early Christianity.

Reviews

'Jason Staples, in The Idea of Israel in Second Temple Judaism, takes a fresh approach to aspects of this subject. He states that his purpose is to explore the concept, “examining how the concept of Israel was developed.' Rabbi Dr Charles, Church Times

'This is an important and valuable book … Highly recommended.' J. S. Kaminsky, Choice Magazine

'… The Idea of Israel in Second Temple Judaism is convincing and significant: it will affect everyone working in this field for decades and will likely be cited as a watershed moment for the topic … For those interested in biblical studies, history, or theology, this book is an important read.' Luke Beavers, Southern Theological Review