Beware the Evil Eye Volume 3: The Evil Eye in the Bible and the Ancient World—The Bible and Related Sources
Ebook
Overview
The Evil Eye is mentioned repeatedly throughout the Old Testament, Israel’s parabiblical writings, and New Testament, with a variety of terms and expressions. The Old Testament (Greek Septuagint) contains no less than fourteen text segments involving some twenty explicit references to the Evil Eye (Deut 15:9; 28:54, 56; Prov 23:6; 28:22; Tob 4:7, 16; Sir 14:3, 6, 8, 9, 10; 18:18; 31:13; 37:11; Wis 4:12; 4 Macc 1:26; 2:15; Ep Jer 69/70). At least three further texts are also likely implied references to an Evil Eye (1 Sam 2:29, 32; 18:9), with some other texts as more distant possibilities. The Evil Eye is mentioned also in the Old Testament Pseudepigrapha, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and the writings of Philo and Josephus--all of which are discussed in the following pages. Evil Eye belief and practice continued in the early Jesus movement. Jesus mentions the Evil Eye on more than one occasion (Matt 6:22-23; Luke 11:33-36; Mark 7:22). Paul makes explicit and implicit mention of the Evil Eye in his letter to the Galatians (3:1; 4:12-20). Possible implicit references to the Evil Eye are also examined. Both the common and the distinctive features of biblical Evil Eye belief are identified, along with its operation on multiple levels (biological/physiological, psychological, economic, social, and moral) and its serving a variety of purposes. The numerous references to the Evil Eye in Israel’s rabbinic writings and those of postbiblical Christianity (second-sixth centuries CE), together with the material evidence from this period, are examined in volume 4.
”This volume on the Bible takes central place in Elliott’s
masterful four-volume study of the Evil Eye. With full command of
the biblical material as well as the history of research, Elliott’s
exemplary investigation shows how belief in the Evil
Eye illuminates the culture and perceptions of the world
shared with the Greco-Roman context. But Elliott also highlights
the distinctive character of Jesus’s Evil Eye sayings
with focus on generosity and sharing of resources."
--Halvor Moxnes, Professor of New Testament, Emeritus, University
of Oslo
“Elliott’s richly illustrated analysis of the Evil Eye in the Bible
and related texts provides background and detailed interpretation
of key texts. Often obscured by sanitized translations or
misrecognition, Elliott finds the trope pervasive in the Bible
though consistently linked to an ethics of generosity and
solidarity versus envy, rather than to the fear of demons as
elsewhere. A fascinating and convincing read, this is an essential
reference work for Biblical scholars and Bible translators."
--Jonathan A. Draper, Fellow and Emeritus Professor of New
Testament, School of Religion, Philosophy & Classics, the
University of KwaZulu-Natal; author (with Richard A. Horsley)
of Whoever Hears You Hears Me: Prophets, Performance, and
Tradition in Q
"Few phenomena so sharply differentiate the world of the Bible from
the cultures of North America and northern Europe as belief in the
Evil Eye that was prevalent everywhere. In this, the third volume
of his long-awaited and magisterial treatment of the subject, John
Elliott, in a project without scholarly precedent, illuminates the
many Old and New Testament texts where Evil Eye belief appears.
This book is destined to become a classic of biblical
scholarship."
--Philip Esler, Portland Professor in New Testament Studies,
University of Gloucestershire, Cheltenham
"Without a doubt, this is the definitive work on the Evil Eye.
Amazingly, a topic so small in scope manages to inform us on a wide
range of cultural and theological concerns, while simultaneously
providing an incisive commentary on the many biblical texts it
illuminates."
--Norman K. Gottwald, author of Social Justice and the
Hebrew Bible
Product Details
- Title : Beware the Evil Eye Volume 3: The Evil Eye in the Bible and the Ancient World—The Bible and Related Sources
- Author: Elliott, John H.
- Publisher: Cascade Books
- Publication Date: 2016
- ISBN: 9781532601033
John H. Elliott is Professor of New Testament Emeritus at the University of San Francisco. He is the author of Conflict, Community, and Honor (2007).