Discovering the Traditions of Prose Prayers in Early Jewish Literature

Matlockanalyses five lengthy biblical prose prayers from the exilic and post-exilicperiod: Solomon's prayer (1 Kings 8.14-61), Ezra's prayer (Ezra 9.5-15), Nehemiah's prayer (Nehemiah 1.4-11), the Levites' prayer (Nehemiah 9.4-37), andthe prayer of Daniel (Daniel 9:3-19). He also examines prayers fromSecond Temple literature including texts from the Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha, the writings of Philo and Josephus, and texts from Qumran. Matlock alsodiscusses the Septuagintal versions of the five biblical prayers and TargumJonathan's treatment of Solomon's prayer.Heoffers a new English translation of each prayer, examines the prayers'rhetorical characteristics, and demonstrates how each prayer draws upon and reinterpretstraditional images and materials. Matlock describes how each prayerrelates to its larger narrative context and examines its functions within thatcontext. Finally, the author appraises the various similarities and differencesin these prayers in terms of their different contexts in the SecondCommonwealth period noting particular theologies and ideologies.