The contextual approach and form criticism are two well-established methodologies in Biblical Studies, but the natural affinities between the two have historically gone under-appreciated. Yet the substantial reconsideration of classic tenets of form-criticism that has transpired in recent memory has further separated these two like-minded methods. Through a series of case studies that carefully consider certain Old Testament texts contextually, Silhouettes of Scripture: Considering the Contextual Approach with Form-criticism considers important methodological critiques and fuse elements of both methods in order to not only re-focus natural affinities but also more precisely define how contextual studies could proceed. Initiated by a literary trigger, Schreiner and Holland’s method navigates between what has been called "parallel-o-mania" and "parallel-anonia" to consider a range of similarities and differences in terms of broad and narrow convergences. The result is a work that not only looks upon well-known parallels with fresh eyes but also seeks to establish new trajectories.

The development of Afrocentric historical writing is explored in this study which traces this recording of history from the Hellenistic-Roman period to the 19th century. Afrocentric writers are depicted as searching for the unique primary source of "culture" from one period to the next. Such passing on of cultural traits from the "ancient model" from the classical period to the origin of culture in Egypt and Africa is shown as being a product purely of creative history.

Literature begins at Sumer, we may say. Given that this ancient crossroads of tin and copper produced not only bronze and the entire Bronze Age, but also by neccesity, the first system of record-keeping and the technique of writing. Scribal schools served to propogate the new technique and their curriculum grew to create, preserve and transmit all manner of creative poetry. In a lifetime of research, the author has studied multiple aspects of this most ancient literary oeuvre, including such questions as chronology and bilingualism, as well as contributing fundamental insights into specific genres such as proverbs, letter-prayers and lamentations. In addition, he has drawn conclusions for the comparative or contextual approach to biblical literature. His studies, widely scattered in diverse publications for nearly fifty years, are here assembled in convenient one-volume format, made more user-friendly by extensive cross-references and indices.

The essays in this volume focus on two crucial topics that have been given short shrift in the contemporary debate on the composition and formation of the Pentateuch: (1) biblical law, and the development of Israelite legal institutions; (2) the significance of ancient Near Eastern law for developing a proper model for the composition and editorial history of the Pentateuch. To correct the imbalance, the focus of this volume is on whether the biblical and cuneiform legal corpora underwent a process of literary revision and interpolation that reflects legal, social, and theological development. If so, what is the nature of this development and the evidence for it? If not, how are the textual phenomena otherwise to be explained? The contributors are Raymond Westbrook, Bernard M. Levinson, Samuel Greengus, Martin Buss, Sophie Lafont, Victor H. Matthews, William Morrow, Dale Patrick, and Eckart Otto. The volume will be of interest to students and specialists in biblical law, pentateuchal studies, and comparative legal history.

Essays explaining diverse methods and reading strategies, providing a dependable guide to understanding the Book of Genesis.