Utilizing theory developed by scholars of Religious Studies and related disciplines, this essay theorizes the evolution of a specific rabbinic dietary regulation regarding the separation of meat and milk. In particular, this essay applies insights regarding religious rhetoric developed by Bruce Lincoln in order to analyze how ancient rabbis…[Read more]

The ancient rabbis believe in two worlds: their present, lived reality, which they refer to in Hebrew as ‘olam ha-zeh, or “This World”; and a future, not-yet-experienced realm, which they call in Hebrew ‘olam ha-ba’, or “The World to Come.” It is in ‘olam ha-ba’ that the just receive their divine reward and the wicked incur their divine punishment…[Read more]

Forthcoming in Like ʾIlu Are You Wise: Studies in Northwest Semitic Languages and Literature in Honor of Dennis G. Pardee, Oriental Institute Publications.

Pre-publication draft (not intended for circulation or citation) of a contribution to a forthcoming edited volume on Narsai of Nisibis. Any comments, suggestions, or corrections are welcome (email to jwalters@rc.edu).

Advances in archaeology and carbon-dating contribute to our understanding of the biblical text’s
historical context, of daily life in ancient Israel, and of the provenance of inscriptions. All of this
information (seemingly) makes us better readers of the text with greater understanding of the text’s
context, but does it? Have we become com…[Read more]