T&T Clark Handbook of Children in the Bible and the Biblical World

The study of children in the Bible and the biblical world speaks to a range of audiences; children are members of communities past and present, and the Bible continues to shape cultures and the lives of individuals worldwide. This volume provides a wealth of resources, taking both biblical studies and child-focused interdisciplinary research to new levels. Initial chapters provide a valuable orientation to the significance of the study of children and childhood in the biblical world and to recent advances in this rapidly growing area of research. Subsequent contributions display a range of creative methodological approaches, offering new insights into biblical and early Christian texts and the history of childhood in the ancient Near East

—Marcia J. Bunge, Professor of Religion and the Bernhardson Distinguished Chair, Gustavus Adolphus College, USA, and editor of The Child in the Bible

Building from years of scholarly interactions, conferences, articles, and monographs, this first compendium on child-centered approaches to ancient biblical texts continues to solidify the case for why research on children is critical for biblical studies. From historical insights to the analyses of theology and reception history through varying methodological approaches, this collection further anchors a discipline specific nomenclature for child-centered approaches. The editors gather expertise from archaeology, historical contexts, ancient households, post-colonial studies, linguistics, source criticism, and trauma studies, which each invite a wide conversation on the importance of child-centered topics. As such, the volume is multilayered, bringing seemingly disparate methodologies and varying fields of study together. This first compendium is an essential tool for exploring the possibilities of children, their role, function, and their critical importance in the interpretation of ancient texts and their receptions.

—Shawn W. Flynn, Associate Professor of the Hebrew Bible and Academic Dean, University of Alberta, Canada, and author of Children in Ancient Israel: The Hebrew Bible and Mesopotamia in Comparative Perspective

T&T Clark Handbook of Children in the Bible and the Biblical World is a welcome and much-needed resource for investigating childhood in the ancient world and constructions of children in biblical literature. Combining new and seasoned voices in childist studies, this volume issues a compelling invitation to learn from and join in critical conversations on children and childhood in the biblical world.

—Danna Nolan Fewell, John Fletcher Hurst Professor of Hebrew Bible, Drew University, USA, and author of The Children of Israel: Reading the Bible for the Sake of Our Children