From the Jordan to Mt. Ebal and Back: On the Textual Dynamics of Deuteronomy 27 and Joshua3–4; 8

This study explores the textual dynamics both within and between the law in Deut 27 and the narratives in Josh 3–4 and 8. It includes original analyses of: (a) the narrative of the Jordan crossing and its internal contradictions and ambiguities; (b) the internal rewriting and textual developments of the law in Deut 27:1–8; (c) the establishment of the altar in Josh 8:30–35 (MT), and its transfer to the Jordan crossing scene in 4QJosha; (d) the textual development of Deut 11:29–30; (e) the contribution of rabbinic literature towards elucidating the processes analyzed above; (f) the exegetical background of the so-called “Gerizim Composition” in SP, unrelated to sectarian concerns. These developments illustrate the dynamic interplay between literary history, transmission, and interpretation, and they underscore the fundamental importance of exegesis as a catalyst in these processes.