The present volume is intended as a special present on the occasion of
Professor Marc Vervenne’s retirement from the Faculty of Theology of the
Catholic University of Leuven (KU Leuven). It intends to honour Marc
Vervenne as an academic scholar, deeply engaged in the research of Ancient
Hebrew literature. The book opens by the editors’ presentation of Marc
Vervenne’s scientific biography and bibliography. Thereafter, and against
the background of his own main interests in textual criticism, redaction
criticism and linguistic-grammatical research, predominantly on texts of
the Pentateuch, this volume equally presents a selection of contributions
in those three domains. In admiration, respect and true friendship for
Marc Vervenne, more than thirty colleagues from all over the world have
contributed to this volume.
In the first part, ‘The Pentateuch in Texts, Themes, and Methods’, scholars
focus on Pentateuch texts from a multiplicity of methods and perspectives:
historical research, historical-critical exegesis, literary criticism,
redaction-criticism, themes and theology, reception history and narrative
criticism. The second part, entitled ‘Textual Criticism’, deals with
text-critical approaches of the text, on the basis of different textual
witnesses with their own respective redaction and theology; it also
discusses the close relationship and methodological intertwinement of
textual and literary criticism in the current scholarly debate. In the
third and final part, several perspectives on ‘Hebrew Language and
Linguistics’ are offered against the background of Marc Vervenne’s
interest in grammar and linguistics.
The title of this volume reflects his first love for the book of Exodus and
especially the Sea Narrative, which guided his whole career.




The present volume is intended as a special present on the occasion of
Professor Marc Vervenne’s retirement from the Faculty of Theology of the
Catholic University of Leuven (KU Leuven). It intends to honour Marc
Vervenne as an academic scholar, deeply engaged in the research of
Ancient Hebrew literature. The book opens by the editors’ presentation
of Marc Vervenne’s scientific biography and bibliography. Thereafter,
and against the background of his own main interests in textual
criticism, redaction criticism and linguistic-grammatical research,
predominantly on texts of the Pentateuch, this volume equally presents a
selection of contributions in those three domains. In admiration,
respect and true friendship for Marc Vervenne, more than thirty
colleagues from all over the world have contributed to this volume.




In the first part, ‘The Pentateuch in Texts, Themes, and Methods’,
scholars focus on Pentateuch texts from a multiplicity of methods and
perspectives: historical research, historical-critical exegesis,
literary criticism, redaction-criticism, themes and theology, reception
history and narrative criticism. The second part, entitled ‘Textual
Criticism’, deals with text-critical approaches of the text, on the
basis of different textual witnesses with their own respective redaction
and theology; it also discusses the close relationship and
methodological intertwinement of textual and literary criticism in the
current scholarly debate. In the third and final part, several
perspectives on ‘Hebrew Language and Linguistics’ are offered against
the background of Marc Vervenne’s interest in grammar and linguistics.




The title of this volume reflects his first love for the book of Exodus
and especially the Sea Narrative, which guided his whole career.