Biblical Case Studies of Diaspora Jews and Constructions of (Religious) Identity

Abstract

A prominent frame of reference with which to understand religion among migrant or transnational communities rests on the dual topoi of exile and attitudes towards the homeland, with particular attention to longing for and thoughts about return to the land of origin. These are not exclusively contemporary questions: the Old Testament contains multiple stories about forced and voluntary migrations of different peoples, emphasising the themes of departure and return. While social science analyses focus on mapping and modelling attitudes towards places of origin and inherited traditions by migrant communities, Biblical scholars tend to discuss this as exile. What if we consider attitudes towards diaspora which are better characterised as survival and adjustment in the country of residence instead of as separation from the country of origin? The Old Testament contains tales of diaspora that when examined critically reveal successful strategies for integration and adaptation, debate around which provides a productive meeting place for interdisciplinary dialogue.