Since the beginning of critical scholarship, biblical texts have been dated using linguistic evidence. In recent years, this has been a controversial topic. However, until now, there has been no introduction to and comprehensive study of the field. Volume I introduces the field of linguistic dating of biblical texts, particularly to intermediate and advanced students of Biblical Hebrew with a reasonable background in the language, but also to scholars of the Hebrew Bibles in general who have not been exposed to the full scope of issues. It outlines topics at a basic level before entering into detailed discussion. Many text samples are presented for study, and readers are introduced to significant linguistic features of the texts through notes on the pages. Detailed notes on these text sample provide a background, concrete illustrations and a point of departure for discussion of the general and theoretical issues discussed in each chapter that will make this volume useful as a classroom textbook.

Since the beginning of critical scholarship, biblical texts have been dated using linguistic evidence. In recent years, this has become a controversial topic. Volume 1 introduces the field of linguistic dating of biblical texts with many texts samples presented for study. Volume 2 begins with a book by book survey of scholarship on the origins of biblical sources, passages and books, fooloowed by a detailed synthesis of the topics introduced in the first volume. The authors argue that the scholarly use of language in dating biblical texts, and even the traditional standpoint on the chronological development of biblical Hebrew, require a thorough re-evaluation, and propose a new perspective on linguistic variety in biblical Hebrew. 'Early' Biblical Hebrew (EBH) and 'Late' Biblical Hebrew (LBH) do not represent different chronological periods in the history of biblical Hebrew, but instead represent co-existing styles of literary Hebrew throughout the biblical period.

Volume 1 is a textbook for students and is sold in a paperback edition as a single volume. Volume 2 provides material to supplement Volume 1 for advanced students and scholars and is sold only as a set with Volume 1 in a hardback edition. Since the beginning of critical scholarship biblical texts have been dated using linguistic evidence. In recent years this has become a controversial topic, especially with the publication of Biblical Hebrew: Studies in Chronology and Typology (Ian Young, ed., 2003). However, until now, there has been no introduction and comprehensive study of the field. Volume 1: An Introduction to Approaches and Problems, by Ian Young and Robert Rezetko, with the assistance of Martin Ehrensv'rd Volume 1 introduces the field of linguistic dating of biblical texts, particularly to intermediate and advanced students of biblical Hebrew who have a reasonable background in the language, having completed at least an introductory course at the university or divinity school level, but also to scholars of the Hebrew Bible in general who have not been exposed to the full scope of issues. It outlines topics at a basic level before entering into detailed discussion. Among the many issues discussed in this volume are: What is it that makes Archaic Biblical Hebrew archaic, Early Biblical Hebrew early, and Late Biblical Hebrew late? Does linguistic typology (different linguistic characteristics), convert easily and neatly into linguistic chronology (different historical origins)? Many text samples are presented for study, and readers are introduced to significant linguistic features of the texts through notes on the passages. Detailed notes on these text samples provide a background, concrete illustrations, and a point of departure for discussion of the general and theoretical issues discussed in each chapter that will this volume useful as a classroom textbook. After a brief introduction, chapters look in detail at the principles and methodology used to differentiate Archaic, Early and Late Biblical Hebrew, the complicating matters of dialects and diglossia and textual criticism, and the significance of extra-biblical sources, including Amarna Canaanite, Ugaritic, Aramaic, Hebrew inscriptions of the monarchic period, Qumran and Mishnaic Hebrew, the Hebrew language of Ben Sira and Bar Kochba, and also Egyptian, Akkadian, Persian and Greek loanwords. Volume 2: A Survey of Scholarship, a New Synthesis and a Comprehensive Bibliography, by Ian Young, Robert Rezetko and Martin Ehrensv'rd Volume 2 builds on the topics outlined in volume 1. It begins with a book by book survey of scholarship on the origins of biblical sources, passages and books, with particular reference to the linguistic evidence scholars have cited in arriving at these conclusions. This is followed by an detailed synthesis of the topics introduced in the first volume, a series of detailed case studies on various linguistic issues, extensive tables of grammatical and lexical features, and a comprehensive bibliography. The authors argue that the scholarly use of language in dating biblical texts, and even the traditional standpoint on the chronological development of biblical Hebrew, require a thorough re-evaluation, and propose a new perspective on linguistic variety in biblical Hebrew. Early Biblical Hebrew and Late Biblical Hebrew do not represent different chronological periods in the history of biblical Hebrew, but instead represent co-existing styles of literary Hebrew throughout the biblical period.

Vol. 4 covers the late Roman period to the rise of Islam. Focuses especially on the growth and development of rabbinic Judaism and of the major classical rabbinic sources such as the Mishnah, Jerusalem Talmud, Babylonian Talmud and various Midrashic collections.

Diachrony in Biblical Hebrew is an indispensable publication for biblical scholars, whose interpretations of scriptures must engage the dates when texts were first composed and recorded, and for scholars of language, who will want to read these essays for the latest perspectives on the historical development of Biblical Hebrew. For Hebraists and linguists interested in the historical development of the Hebrew language, it is an essential collection of studies that address the language’s development during the Iron Age (in its various subdivisions), the Neo-Babylonian and Persian periods, and the Early Hellenistic period. Written for both “text people” and “language people,” this is the first book to address established Historical Linguistics theory as it applies to the study of Hebrew and to focus on the methodologies most appropriate for Biblical Hebrew and Aramaic. The book provides exemplary case studies of orthography, lexicography, morphology, syntax, language contact, dialectology, and sociolinguistics and, because of its depth of coverage, has broad implications for the linguistic dating of Biblical texts. The presentations are rounded out by useful summary histories of linguistic diachrony in Aramaic, Ugaritic, and Akkadian, the three languages related to and considered most crucial for Biblical research.

Who invented national literature? What is the relationship between script, identity, and history? This volume contains papers from a symposium, which brought leading philologists together with anthropologists and historians to connect theories of writing, language, and identity with the results of ancient Near Eastern scholarship.

Leading Hebrew language scholars outline various views on the phenomenon of variation in biblical Hebrew and its significance for biblical studies. An important question that is addressed is whether "late biblical Hebrew" is a distinct chronological phase within the history of biblical Hebrew. Articles explore both chronological and non-chronological interpretations of the differences between "early biblical Hebrew" and "late biblical Hebrew". These discussions have an important contribution to make to the wider field of biblical studies, not only to the history of the Hebrew language.