Jewish Exegesis and Homeric Scholarship in Alexandria

This book provides a systematic analysis of how Alexandrian Jews interpreted the Bible in light of contemporary Homeric scholarship.

In this book, Maren R. Niehoff provides a systematic analysis of the critical and literary methods of Bible interpretation developed by the Alexandrian Jews. She argues that by creatively engaging with Homeric scholarship developed at the Museum, they offered revolutionary interpretations of Scripture.Systematically reading Jewish exegesis in light of Homeric scholarship, this book argues that more than 2000 years ago Alexandrian Jews developed critical and literary methods of Bible interpretation which are still extremely relevant today. Maren R. Niehoff provides a detailed analysis of Alexandrian Bible interpretation, from the second century BCE through newly discovered fragments to the exegetical work done by Philo. Niehoff shows that Alexandrian Jews responded in a great variety of ways to the Homeric scholarship developed at the Museum. Some Jewish scholars used the methods of their Greek colleagues to investigate whether their Scripture contained myths shared by other nations, while others insisted that significant differences existed between Judaism and other cultures. This book is vital for any student of ancient Judaism, early Christianity and Hellenistic culture.