"Take Courage, O Jerusalem ..."

the volume researches Baruch chapters 4-5 in the following successive steps. The first step is a structural analysis of the three different units of the chapters, 4:5-29; 4:30-5:6; 5:7-9, during which the structure of the greater units (strophes, cantos) will be investigated, together with the structural relationship of these units with each other. After this, the biblical background of the passages is explored. The Scriptural passages that prove to be authoritative or influential for the author(s) of the Baruch passages give clues as to the particular interest and intention of the author(s). This step is supplemented by an inquiry into the tradition historical background of the prophetic psalms. Finally, I close this short monograph with some basic comments on several formative issues of Baruch 4:5-5:9. The book is written for the interest of scholars of Second Temple Judaism, biblical interpretation, and the effective history of Scripture.