Covering over a thousand years of history (from the Assyrian exile in the eighth century BCE to late Roman times), this book makes an important contribution to the fields of Jewish studies, biblical studies, ancient Near Eastern studies, Samaritan Studies, and early Christian history by challenging the oppositional paradigm that has traditionally characterized the historical relations between Jews and Samaritans. The approach is multi-disciplinary, engaging exciting new discoveries in archaeology, such as the site surveys of ancient Samaria and the major excavations at the holy site of Mt. Gerizim in central Israel; new discoveries in epigraphy, such as the publication of the Samaria papyri dating to the late-Persian period (375-335 BCE), the publication of hundreds of late-Persian period Samarian coins, and the publication of hundreds of fragmentary Mt. Gerizim inscriptions (dating mostly to the late-third and early-second centuries BCE); as well as new discoveries in biblical studies, such as the diverse collection of Pentateuchal manuscripts found among the Dead Sea Scrolls. Only by recognizing the close ties that developed between Samaria and Judah during the much of the first millennium BCE can one explain how the two communities became so similar in belief and practice, even sharing a common set of foundational scriptures (the Pentateuch). Paradoxically, accounting for how two such similar groups as the Samaritans and Jews became alienated from one another during the Maccabean and Roman periods involves explaining how the two were so closely related in the first place. The solution to this puzzle is to be found in earlier Israelite history.

About the Author
Gary Knoppers is the Edwin Erle Sparks Professor of Classics and Ancient Mediterranean Studies, Religious Studies, and Jewish Studies at The Pennsylvania State University. He is a past president of the Canadian Society of Biblical Studies (2003-2004) and currently serves as President of the Biblical Colloquium. He serves on the editorial boards of a number of journals, professional societies, and institutes, including Hebrew Bible and Ancient Israel, the Journal of Hebrew Scriptures, Studia Samaritana, Vetus Testamentum, the Internationaler Exegetischer Kommentar zum Alten Testament, and the W. F. Albright Institute of Archaeological Research. His scholarly specializations include Hebrew scriptures, ancient historiography, ancient Near Eastern and biblical law, inner-scriptural exegesis, textual criticism, and early Jewish and Samaritan relations.

Reviews
Revisiting the fate of the Northern Israelites from the late 8th century up to the 2nd century BCE, Knoppers presents in this study an innovative answer to the question of the origin of the Samaritans. * Prof. Dr. A. van der Kooij (Leiden University), Bibliotheca Orientalis LXXIV N Degrees 3.4 *
At last, a definitive and balanced study of a significant topic that has been mired in scholarly, and even political, contentiousness....Effectively overturns a number of scholarly and popular perceptions about the history of Samaritans and Jews, such as traditions about the 'Ten Lost Tribes'...The most valuable work on the subject...The book is indispensable for scholars in several biblical specialties and of immense value for Bible students and nonspecialists. * Catholic Biblical Quarterly *



Book Information
ISBN 9780195329544
Author Gary N. Knoppers
Format Hardback
Page Count 342
Imprint Oxford University Press Inc
Publisher Oxford University Press Inc
Weight(grams) 644g
Dimensions(mm) 163mm * 239mm * 36mm