Was 1 Esdras First?

The books of Ezra-Nehemiah and 1 Esdras tell the story of the Judean return from exile in Babylon of rebuilding the temple and of creating a new community in Zion. For scholars and students trying to understand the Second Temple period there are no other contemporary narratives available giving these books prime importance. In Was 1 Esdras First? world-renowned scholars fully discuss without arriving at a consensus the relationship between Ezra-Nehemiah and 1 Esdras. In addition they delve into these books dates and methods of composition the sources used their respective historical and social milieus their original languages and their authority and status in antiquity. This collection adds to our understanding of the history of Second Temple Judah the formation of early Judaism and the processes by which biblical books were composed. The contributors are Lisbeth S. Fried Deirdre N. Fulton and Gary N. Knoppers Lester L. Grabbe Adrian Schenker Bob Becking Kristin De Troyer Juha Pakkala Zipora Talshir James C. VanderKam Jacob L. Wright Sebastian Gr tz Paul B. Harvey Jr. Sylvie Honigman Sara Japhet Ralph W. Klein and H. G. M. Williamson.