Beyond the Crisis in Pentateuchal Studies: Benno Jacob as Instigator for modern Pentateuchal Exegesis

Benno Jacobs (1862-1945) posthumously published Commentary to the Book of Exodus (1997) and his reprinted Commentary to the Book of Genesis (2000 – first publication 1934) have high relevance for today`s Pentateuchal Studies. Both volumes are called „Classic Literature of Bible Interpretation“. Since 2013 Benno Jacob`s yet unpublished preliminary studies for his Commentary to the Book of Leviticus and other works from his literary estate are prepared for publication by a project at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem under the supervision of Dr. Shimon Gesundheit.

The project aims to prepare a scientific commentary, which will be published with the edited literary estate. Benno Jacob`s unpublished studies about the Book of Leviticus, about the different names for God, about chapters in the Book of Numbers, about source criticism etc. are a challenging contribution to the ongoing discussion about methodology and for Pentateuchal studies in general. The aim of the project is to make his studies easily accessible for current research debates 1.) by putting his studies in the historical research context and 2.) by setting his studies in dialogue with current Pentateuchal Studies (modern models of the formation of the Pentateuch, discussion between historically oriented diachronic criticism and canonically oriented reader-reponse cristicism).

For exegetes who follow a diachronic approach as well as those that follow a synchronic approach Benno Jacob`s text-based interpretation of the Pentateuch as „Sprachliches Kunstwerk“ and his vehement critique against the Historical-Critical Method offer important insights for further studies. To ease the reception of Benno Jacob`s yet unpublished works, the project will prepare for all studies in the literary estate a detailed introduction, including an overview about the state of scientific discussion at the time of Benno Jacob and at current time. Each introduction will set his exegesis directly in dialogue with today`s research discourses by comparing different interpretations. Furthermore the project will prepare a footnote system with a scientific commentary to the studies adding references to studies from other researchers from the time of Benno Jacob until today, with a discussion of contrarian interpretations and the relevance of Benno Jacob`s interpretations for today`s research.



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