William A. Tooman

Lecturer in Hebrew Bible/Old Testament

Research Interests

I specialize in the literature and thought of the Hebrew Bible. In particular, my work is focused on reuse of scripture (within the Hebrew Bible, in the Second Temple literature, and in the versions), scribal composition and exegesis, and on the book of Ezekiel (exegesis, criticism, history of interpretation, and theology). My primary interests center around the reuse of scripture and composition. As a result, I am interested in all facets of allusion, inner-biblical interpretation, and early scriptural interpretation. This interest, though, is not restricted to exegetical concerns. I am also fascinated by the many ways that elements of scripture have been reused to construct new texts, within the Hebrew Bible itself and in the wider body of Second Temple literature.  My research on Ezekiel corresponds with this dual focus. I am most interested in the exegetical practices of the redactors who gave the book its literary and theological shape, their interpretation of earlier versions of Ezekiel, and the influence of other scriptural texts on their interpretation.

I am currently working on three book projects: Inscribing the Glory: Scribal Exegesis in the Transmission and Redaction of Ezekiel 1 and 10 (working title), Redaction as Interpretation: The Composition and Theology of Ezekiel (working title), and Leviticus (Baker Commentary on the Old Testament: Pentateuch, Baker Academic).

Education

• Ph.D. Hebrew and Semitic Studies , University of Wisconsin--Madison, 2006.

• M.A. Hebrew and Semitic Studies , University of Wisconsin--Madison, 2001

• M.A. Old Testament and Semitic Languages , Trinity, 1995

• B.A. Biblical Literature , Multnomah University, 1992

Publications

Books

Gog of Magog: Reuse of Scripture and Compositional Technique in Ezekiel 38–39. Forschungen zum Alten Testament II/52. Tübingen: Mohr-Siebeck, 2011

Transforming Visions: Transformations of Text, Tradition, and Theology in Ezekiel.  Editor and contributor. Princeton Theological Monograph Series 127. Eugene, OR: Pickwick Press, 2010.

 Articles & Chapters

“Wisdom and Torah at Qumran: Evidence from the Sapiential Texts.” In Wisdom and Torah: The Status of Torah and its Reception in Wisdom Literature in the Second Temple Period. Edited by Bernd U. Schipper and D. Andrew Teeter. Journal for the Study of Judaism Supplement Series. Leiden and Boston: Brill, 2012 (forthcoming).

“Covenant and Presence in the Composition and Theology of Ezekiel.” In Divine Presence and Absence in Persian Period Judaism. Edited by Nathan MacDonald and Izaac J. de Hulster. Forschungen zum Alten Testament II. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2012 (forthcoming).

“Between Imitation and Interpretation: Reuse of Scripture and Composition in Hodayot (1QHa) 11.6–19.” Dead Sea Discoveries 18/1 (2011): 54–73.

"Of Puritans and Prophets: Interpretation of Ezekiel in Cotton Mather's Biblia Americana." Pages 203–228 in After Ezekiel: Essays on the Reception of a Difficult Prophet. Eidted by Paul Joyce and Andrew Mein. Library of Hebrew Bible/Old Testament Studies 535.  T & T Clark, 2011.

"On the Meaning of דבר ודם in Ezekiel" Vetus Testamentum 60/4 (2010): 666-668.

"Edwards' Ezekiel: The Interpretation of Ezekiel in the Blank Bible and Notes on Scripture." Journal of Theological Interpretation 3/1 (2010): 17-38.

"Transforming Israel's Hope: The Reuse of Scripture in the Gog Oracles." Chap. in Transforming Visions: Transformations of Text, Tradition, and Theology in Ezekiel.  Edited by William A. Tooman and Michael A. Lyons. Princeton Theological Monograph Series 127. Eugene, OR: Pickwick Press, 2010.

“Ezekiel’s Radical Challenge to Inviolability.” Zeitschrift für die alttestamentliche Wissenschaft 121/4 (2009): 498–514.

"Genre (Gattung) Database: Old Testament." Logos Software, 2005

"Three Recent Bible Translations: An Old Testament Perspective." JETS 46 (2003): 497-520. Co-authored by M. A. Lyons.

 In addition to conference preentations at SBL, ISBL, and EABS, I have delivered invited presentations at Oxford University, University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Durham, University of Edinburgh, Humboldt Universität Berlin, Georg-August Universität Göttingen, Edgewood College, and the National Association of Professors of Hebrew.

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