Joseph as a Death & Resurrection Figure in the Old Testament & Second Temple Judaism
JEFFREY PULSE
STUDIES IN SCRIPTURE & BIBLICAL THEOLOGY
Figuring Resurrection: Joseph as a Death-and-Resurrection Figure in the Old Testament and Second Temple Judaism
Studies in Scripture & Biblical Theology
Copyright 2021 Jeffrey Pulse
Lexham Press, 1313 Commercial St., Bellingham, WA 98225
All rights reserved. You may use brief quotations from this resource in presentations, articles, and books. For all other uses, please write Lexham Press for permission. Email us at permissions@lexhampress.com.
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are the author’s own translation.
Print ISBN 9781683594536
Digital ISBN 9781683594543
Library of Congress Control Number 2020948482
Lexham Editorial: Derek Brown, Lisa Eary, Abigail Salinger
Cover Design: Brittany Schrock
I dedicate this thesis to my wife, Sara,
who has given new definition to the phrase “Long Suffering.”
Part I: Biblical Interpretation
1. Biblical Interpretation and the Joseph Narratives
2. Reading Scripture as a Unified Theological Narrative: A Recommended Methodology
Part II: The Text of Genesis 37–50
3. The Masoretic Text of the Joseph Narratives
4. Joseph and His Character: Perceived Problems and Difficulties
5. The Death-and-Resurrection Motif in the Joseph Narratives
Part III: Other Texts of Genesis 37–50
6. The Septuagint in Comparison to the Masoretic Text
7. A Comparison of Targum Onqelos with the Masoretic Text
8. The Second Temple “Resurrection” of Joseph
9. Joseph, “The Adopted One”: The Use of Joseph
10. Traveling Bones: Death and Resurrection
B. Bat. Baba Batra
b. Ber. Babylonian Talmud Bekorot
b. Qidd. Babylonian Talmud Qiddušin
b. Sanh. Babylonian Talmud Sanhedrin
b. Sukkah Babylonian Talmud Sukkah
Cant Rab Canticle of Canticles Rabbah
Gen Rab Genesis Rabbah
Jub. Jubilees
Lev Rab Leviticus Rabbah
lxx Septuagint
Mek. Mekilta
Midr. Midrash
mt Masoretic Text
nt New Testament
Num Rab Numbers Rabbah
ot Old Testament
Roš. Haš. Roš Haššanah
Sifra Qod. Sifra Qodašim
Sot. Sotah
T. Jos. Testament of Joseph
T. Jud. Testament of Judah
T. Sim. Testament of Simeon
Tanh. Tanhuma
Tg. Ps.-J. Targum Pseudo-Jonathan
Tg. Song Targum Song of Songs
y. Hor. Jerusalem Talmud Horayot
AIM AND SCOPE
The pages of this book focus on the character of Joseph as recorded in the Joseph narratives of Genesis 37–50. Specifically explored is the particular aspect of his character identifying him as a death-and-resurrection figure in the Old Testament and Second Temple Judaism. Many scholars over the centuries have engaged with Joseph and his story, and their efforts have often borne useful fruit. Some of their valuable insights and discoveries have informed the writing of this book, and they will be duly noted. One aspect of Joseph’s story, however, ...
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About Figuring Resurrection: Joseph as a Death & Resurrection Figure in the Old Testament & Second Temple JudaismThe death and resurrection of Joseph. Towards the end of Genesis, the narrative slows down to tell the story of Joseph. There is no dispute that Joseph’s story is unique, but why does it deserve such focused attention? And how does this story relate to the rest of Genesis? In Figuring Resurrection, Jeffrey Pulse presents the view that Joseph is a death-and-resurrection figure. A close literary reading of Genesis 37–50 reveals that Joseph’s story is one of rejection and restoration, descent and ascent, condemnation and exaltation, exile and return, death and resurrection. Far from a lengthy diversion, Joseph’s story of “death and resurrection” plays an important role in the theology of Genesis and later Second Temple Jewish literature. Figuring Resurrection has implications for our understanding of Joseph’s narrative, the book of Genesis, Hebrew thinking on the afterlife, and typology. |
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