Shawn Z Aster
Shawn Zelig Aster is Associate Professor in the Martin (Szusz) Department of Land of Israel Studies and Archaeology at Bar-Ilan University. A specialist in Bible and the Biblical period, he works in prophetic literature, focussing on its historical context, and on connections between Biblical Israel and Assyria. He recently published _Reflections of Empire in Isaiah 1-39: Responses to Assyrian Ideology_ (ANEM, Society of Biblical Literature, 2017).
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Papers by Shawn Z Aster
It can be downloaded at the attached link:
https://www.sbl-site.org/assets/pdfs/pubs/9780884142720_OA.pdf
or purchased at :
https://www.sbl-site.org/publications/Books_ANEmonographs.aspx
First Isaiah to the historical events of the 8th century BCE, when
Assyria controlled much of the ancient Near East. Aster elucidates the
arguments of Isaiah 1–2, 6–8, 10–12, 14, 19, 31, and 36–37 by
explaining that the passages contain hidden polemic along with the
imperial propaganda of the Assyrian empire. Aster illustrates that the
prophet adapts motifs from Assyrian propaganda, while subverting
Assyrian claims to universal dominion. Aster argues that Isaiah does
this in order to promote belief in a single omnipotent God, more
powerful than any human empire. The book exposes the meaning behind
these passages of Isaiah, as well as the history of Israel in the
period 745–701 BCE.