Exile and Restoration Revisited: Essays on the Babylonian and Persian Periods in Memory of Peter R. Ackroyd

This volume had its origins in a session presented to the Society of Biblical Literature in Washington in 2006 in order to examine the legacy of Peter Ackroyd to the field of biblical studies. Ackroyd's work stretched over a wide range of topics within Biblical Studies, notably study of prophetic literature and work on exile and restoration. This volume particularly focuses upon his work on the latter. Whilst the present work is founded upon the papers given at the session it also includes several essays solicited subsequently which further serve to draw the contributions together into a fitting tribute to a pioneer in his field.

The contributions take account of Ackroyd's approach to the theme of exile and restoration, focusing largely upon the study of Ezra-Nehemiah and Chronciles. As a brief flavour, Bob Becking examines the epigraphic evidence concerning the mixed marriage crisis Ezra-Nehemiah. Joe Blenkinsopp seeks to find the 'Sons of Aaron' before the 5th Century in a fascinating essay focusing which picks up the work of R.H. Kennett over a century ago. Among the other distinguished contributors are John Bergsma, Eric Myers and Jill Middlemass.

• Table Of Contents
• I. Introduction - Lester L. Grabbe and Gary N. Knoppers
• II. Articles
  • Bob Becking - On the Identity of the 'Foreign' Women in Ezra 9-10
  • John S. Bergsma - The Persian Period as Penitential Era: The "Exegetical Logic" of Daniel 9.1-27
  • Joseph Blenkinsopp - The Mystery of the Missing "Sons of Aaron"
  • Tamara Cohn Eskenazi - From Exile and Restoration to Exile and Reconstruction
  • Deirdre N. Fulton - Jeshua's "High Priestly" Lineage? A Reassessment of Nehemiah 12:10-11
  • Lester L. Grabbe - "They Shall Come Rejoicing to Zion"--or Did They? The Settlement of Yehud in the Early Persian Period
  • Lester L. Grabbe - Was Jerusalem a Persian Fortress?
  • Vadim S. Jigoulov - Administration of Achaemenid Phoenicia: A Case for Managed Autonomy
  • Reinhard G. Kratz - The Relation between History and Thought: Reflections on the Subtitle of Peter Ackroyd's Exile and Restoration
  • Eric Meyers - Exile and Restoration in Light of Recent Archaeology and Demographic Studies in Memory of Peter Ackroyd
  • Jill A. Middlemas - Going beyond the Myth of the Empty Land: A Reassessment of the Early Persian Period
  • Kenneth A. Ristau - Rebuilding Jerusalem: Zechariah's Vision within Visions