Linguistic Dating of Biblical Texts

Since the beginning of critical scholarship biblical texts have been dated using linguistic evidence. Until now there has been no introduction to and comprehensive overview of the field. Volume 1 introduces the linguistic dating of biblical texts. The book examines the principles and methodology used to differentiate Archaic, Early and Late biblical Hebrew; the relationship between linguistic characteristics and linguistic chronology or historical origins; the effects of dialects and diglossia on textual criticism; and the significance of extra-biblical sources. Key text samples and their linguistic features are presented, with concrete illustrations and pointers for discussion.