Jewish Messianic expectation

Genesis 49 shows the scene that takes place at the deathbed of the patriarch Jacob. In the face of his upcoming death, Jacob calls on all of his sons that they may listen to and accept his words of valediction. The patriarch addresses each of them individually. This piece of text serves an example of the biblical poetry in which metaphors play an important role. In the Hebrew text there are words and phrases that raise many doubts and questions. Not only contemporary translators and biblical scholars contend with these difficulties, but ancient and medieval commentators did as well. The Aramaic Targums testify to the early Jewish exegesis and interpretation of Gen 49. This article presents the paraphrase and discusses a few selected verses of the Aramaic version of Torah (Tg. Onq., Tg. Neof., Frg. Tg(s)., Tg. Ps.-J.). Based on the above examples, the development of principalJewish views on eschatology (49:1–2) and of Messianic expectations in context of Jacob’s blessing of the tribe of Judah (49:8–12) is portrayed. The last part of this article comprisesthe rendering and the meaning of the Targumic animal metaphors based on the examples of Issachar (49:14–15) and of Benjamin (49:27) that significantly differ from the Hebrew text.

Jesus was viewed from several perspectives over the course of his public activities. His followers settled on "Messiah" ("Anointed") because it was the most suitable, could be more readily linked to the Davidic typology, and could accommodate the other types and identities.

International Conference convened under the auspices of the Leibniz Programme, DFG
Goethe Universität Frankfurt am Main, Department of Ancient History:
Forschungskolleg Humanwissenschaften, Bad Homburg,
26–29 March 2018

The proceedings are in course of publication:
Textual and Visual Apocrypha in the Development of Christian and Jewish Traditions: Eastern Mediterranean, Near East and Beyond (in the series ‘Texts and Studies in Eastern Christianity’), ed. I. Dorfmann-Lazarev, postscript by H. Leppin, Leiden: Brill (250 000 words).

Genesis 49 shows the scene that takes place at the deathbed of the patriarch Jacob. In the face of his upcoming death, Jacob calls all of his sons that they may listen to and accept his words of valediction. The patriarch addresses each of them individually. This piece of text serves an example of the Biblical poetry in which metaphors play an important role. In the Hebrew text there are words and phrases that raise many doubts and questions. Not only contemporary translators and biblical scholars contend with these difficulties, but ancient and medieval commentators did as well. The Aramaic Targums testify to the early Jewish exegesis and interpretation of Gen 49. This article presents the paraphrase and discusses a few selected verses of the Aramaic version of Torah (Tg. Onq., Tg. Neof., Frgm. Tg., Tg. Ps.-J.). Based on the above examples, the development of principal Jewish views on eschatology (49:1-2) and of Messianic expectations in context of Jacob’s blessing of the tribe of Judah (49:8-12) is portrayed. The last part of this article comprises the rendering and the meaning of the Targumic animal metaphors based on the examples of Issachar (49:14-15) and of Benjamin (49:27) that significantly differ from the Hebrew text.

Crossway, 2015. Coauthered with Andreas J. Köstenberger.

The birth of Jesus stands as a pivotal moment in the history of the world, marking a dramatic turning point in God's plan to redeem creation from sin and death. Much to the world's surprise, redemption has arrived . . . in the form of a lowly baby.

Aimed at stirring your affections for Jesus, this meditative book will lead you on a step-by-step journey through the Gospels' birth narratives, clearing away common misconceptions, making messianic connections, and setting the stage for Jesus's later life and ministry.