The <I>Exagoge</I> of Ezekiel

The Exagoge is a drama on the theme of the Jewish Exodus, written in Greek in the form of a Greek tragedy by a Jew living in Alexandria probably at some time during the second century B.C. It survives in 269 lines – not isolated verses but forming several continuous passages – enough to give the shape of the play and to reveal Ezekiel as a tragedian of significance. In addition to their intrinsic interest these fragments are of importance from many points of view. For the student of Jewish literary history and thought Ezekiel is a most important source for this period and is of interest for being one of the earliest examples of Jewish exegesis and paraphrase of the Bible.

Professor Jacobson, skilled in both classical and Judaic sources, is ideally qualified to edit these fragments and to make the play accessible to students of both Greek and Jewish literature. He accompanies the text of the play with a translation. In the commentary he examines the fragments line by line, comparing them with the Biblical account and other accounts in related Jewish sources. The substantial and readable introduction examines the historical, social and intellectual background to Ezekiel and the Evagoge.

This is a stimulating book. Anyone interested in the classics or the scriptures might read it, though its chief appeal will be to biblical scholars and historians of the Hellenistic world.