Hebrew & Semitic Studies Teaching Staff
Prof Robert Gordon
Contact Information
Email: rpg1000@cam.ac.uk
Current Position
Regius Professor of Hebrew Emeritus
Biographical Details
Robert Gordon had his schooling in Belfast, Northern Ireland, where latterly his studies focussed on classics, largely because of his interest in Greek and the Greek Bible. He did his undergraduate study in Cambridge where he read the Oriental Studies Tripos in Hebrew and Aramaic, progressing thence to PhD work on the Targum to the Prophets with Professor J.A. Emerton as supervisor. Most of the thesis writing was completed while he was also digging in at Glasgow University where he taught in ‘Hebrew and Semitic Languages’ for the first ten years of his teaching career. A major and personally formative aspect of his teaching responsibilities in Glasgow was providing lectures on the history of the ancient near east (80 p.a.) and on the Bible and the ancient near east (also 80 p.a.). He returned to Cambridge in 1979 to teach Old Testament in the Faculty of Divinity (with special focus on Genesis 1-11, the historical books, and the prophets), moving from there to his present post as Regius Professor of Hebrew within the Faculty of Oriental Studies (as was) in 1995.
Gordon’s early research and writing focussed on the ancient translations of the Old Testament into Aramaic, Syriac and Greek. His doctoral dissertation (1974) on Targum Jonathan to the Minor Prophets is represented in two published volumes, one joint-authored in 1989 and consisting mainly of commentary and the other appearing as a monograph under the title The Targum to the Twelve Prophets (1994). In the meantime there had been other substantial distractions in the form of an introduction and then a commentary to the books of Samuel (1984, 1986 respectively), and the time-absorbing preparation of the edition of the Syriac Peshitta version of 1-2 Chronicles for the Leiden Peshitta Project (published 1998). His interest in the ancient versions is represented in a range of articles published in this period and subsequently. Other monographs include a commentary on the New Testament book of Hebrews (2000) – Hebrews, of course, makes extensive use of the Old Testament – and a study of ‘sacred geography’ in both Testaments and in postbiblical Jewish and Christian tradition (The Didsbury Lectures for 2001 [2004]). He has also edited/co-edited several volumes and has published a selection of his articles in 2006 under the title Hebrew Bible and Ancient Versions. This volume gives a fair conspectus of his main areas of interest, viz. the ancient versions, Old Testament literature and theology, the Old Testament in its near eastern setting, and Old Testament tradition as reflected in the New Testament.
Gordon’s major focus at present is the book of Amos, since he is writing a commentary on Amos for the International Critical Commentary series. Other projects in progress include work on Genesis 1-11 and on the Divine Council in the Bible and the Near East. He edits ‘Hebrew Bible and its Versions’, a subseries of ‘Library of Hebrew Bible/Old Testament Studies’, as a means of promoting versional study especially. Gordon is a member of the editorial board of Vetus Testamentum, the journal of the International Organization for the Study of the Old Testament, and was its Book List editor from 1997 to 2010. He is also on several other editorial boards, and has served in connection with three modern translations of the Bible into English.
Publications
| Forth-coming | ‘The Ethics of Eden: Truth-Telling in Genesis 2-3’, in K.J. Dell (ed.), Ethical and Unethical Behaviour in the Old Testament: God and Humans in Dialogue ‘“Couch” or “Crouch”?: Genesis 4:7 and the Temptation of Cain’, in Fs G.I. Davies (ed. J.K. Aitken, K.J. Dell, B.A. Mastin) ‘Evensong in Eden: As it probably was not in the Beginning’, in Fs A.A. Macintosh (ed. D.A. Baer and R.P. Gordon) ‘Rare Sightings: Prophecy in the Mari and Nineveh Archives’, in Proceedings of the Edinburgh Prophecy Network Meeting, December 2009 (ed. H. Barstad and R.P. Gordon) |
| 2010 | ‘The Gods Must Die: A Theme in Isaiah and Beyond’, in Isaiah in Context: Studies in Honour of Arie van der Kooij on the Occasion of his Sixty-Fifth Birthday (SVT 138; ed. Michaël N. van der Meer, Percy van Keulen, Wido van Peursen, Bas ter Haar Romeny), 45-61 |
| 2008 | Hebrews. A Commentary (2nd ed.; Sheffield Pheonix Press, Sheffield) |
| 2007 | The God of Israel (ed.) (CUP) |
| 2006 | Hebrew Bible and Ancient Versions: Collected Essays by Robert P. Gordon (Ashgate, Aldershot) |
| 2005 | The Old Testament in its World: Papers Read at the Winter Meeting, January 2003, The Society for Old Testament Study, and at the Joint Meeting, July 2003, The Society for Old Testament Study and Het Oudtestamentisch Werkgezelschap in Nederland en België (ed. R.P. Gordon, J.C. de Moor; OS 52; Brill, Leiden) ibid., ’“Comparativism” and the God of Israel’, 45-67 |
| 2004 | Holy Land, Holy City: Sacred Geography and the Interpretation of the Bible (Didsbury Lectures 2001; Paternoster Press, Carlisle) |
| 2003 | ‘Gibeonite Ruse and Israelite Curse in Joshua 9’, in Covenant as Context (Fs E.W. Nicholson; ed. A.D. H. Mayes and R.B. Salters), 163-90 ‘The Ephraimite Messiah and the Targum(s) to Zechariah 12.10’, in Reading from Right to Left (Fs D.J.A. Clines; ed. C.J. Exum and H.G.M. Williamson), 189-200 ‘The Ideological Foe: The Philistines in the Old Testament’, in Biblical and Near Eastern Essays (Fs K.J. Cathcart; ed. C. McCarthy and J.F. Healey), 22-36 ‘A Warranted Version of Historical Biblical Criticism? A Response to Alvin Plantinga’, in ‘Behind’ the Text (Boston Symposium Proceedings; ed. C. Bartholomew et al.), 79-91 ‘Book List’, VT 53, 562-75 |
| 2002 | Chinese edn of 1 and 2 Samuel (Sheffield; OT Guides Series) ‘Book List’, VT 52, 427-34 |
| 2001 | ‘The Legacy of Lowth: Robert Lowth and the Book of Isaiah in Particular’, in Biblical Hebrew, Biblical Texts: Essays in Memory of Michael P. Weitzman (ed. A. Rapoport and G. Greenberg), 57-76 ‘Book List’, VT 51, 115-39 |
| 2000 | Hebrews. A Commentary (Readings, Sheffield) |
| 1999 | Converse Translation" in the Targums and Beyond', JStudPseudep 19, 3-21 |
| 1998 | The Old Testament in Syriac according to the Peshitta Version, IV,2: Chronicles (The Peshitta Institute, Leiden 'The Syriac Old Testament: Provenance, Perspective and Translation Technique', in Interpretation of the Bible (ed. J. Krasovec), 355-69 'A Reading in 4QSama and the Murder of Abner', Textus 19, 75-80 (with E.D. Herbert) |
| 1997 | arts. ‘Babel’, 'Curse', ‘David’, 'Eli', 'Good', ‘Samuel, Theology of’, etc., in New International Dictionary of Old Testament Theology and Exegesis (ed. W. VanGemeren) |
| 1996 | ‘Translational Features of the Peshitta in 1 Samuel’, in Targumic and Cognate Studies (ed. K.J. Cathcart, M. Maher), 163-76 |
| 1995 | The Place Is Too Small For Us. The Israelite Prophets in Recent Scholarship (ed. R. P. Gordon; Winona Lake) Wisdom in Ancient Israel (ed. J. Day, R. P. Gordon, H. G. M. Williamson; Cambridge) ‘Introduction’, ibid. 1-13 ‘A House Divided. Wisdom in the Old Testament Narrative Traditions’, ibid. 94-105 ‘Where Have All the Prophets Gone? The “Disappearing” Israelite Prophet Against the Background of Ancient Near Eastern Prophecy’, Bulletin for Biblical Research 5, 67-86 ‘Variant Vorlagen and the Exegetical Factor: Response to Y. Maori’, in The Peshitta as a Translation (ed. P.B. Dirksen, A. van der Kooij), 121-25 |
| 1994 | Studies in the Targum to the Twelve Prophets. From Nahum to Malachi (Leiden; SVT 51) ‘Dialogue and Disputation in the Targum to the Prophets’, JSS 39, 7-17 ‘Alexander Sperber and the Study of the Targums’, in The Aramaic Bible. Targums in their Historical Context (ed. D. R. G. Beattie, M. J. McNamara), 92-102 ‘Who Made the Kingmaker? Reflections on Samuel and the Institution of the Monarchy’, in Faith, Tradition, and History. Old Testament Historiography in Its Near Eastern Context (ed. A. R. Millard, J. K. Hoffmeier, D. W. Baker), 255-269 ‘In Search of David: The David Tradition in Recent Study’, ibid. 285-298 art. ‘Targums’ in The Oxford Companion to the Bible (ed. B.M. Metzger, M.D. Coogan), 754-755 Review of S.L. McKenzie, The Trouble with Kings. The Composition of the Book of Kings in the Deuteronomistic History (SVT 42; 1991), in VT 44, 135-136 |
| 1993 | 'The Two Minorities' [the N. Ireland Problem], Priests and People 7, 10-13 ‘From Mari to Moses: Prophecy at Mari and in Ancient Israel’, in Of Prophets’ Visions and the Wisdom of Sages (Fs R.N. Whybray; ed. H.A. McKay, D.J.A. Clines), 63-79 ‘The Variable Wisdom of Abel: The MT and Versions at 2 Samuel xx 18-19’, VT 43, 215-226 Review of L. Alonso Schoekel (ed.), Diccionario bíblico hebreo-español, Fasciculo 1 (1990), in VT 43, 125-126 Review of W.T. Koopmans, Joshua 24 as Poetic Narrative (SJSOT 93; 1990), in VT 43, 571-572 |
| 1992 | Theology and Religious Studies in UK Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges (CRAC Degree Course Guide 1992/93) 'Inscribed Pots and Zechariah xiv 20-21', VT 42, 120-123 'Foreword to the Reprinted Edition', in A. Sperber (ed.), The Bible in Aramaic, I, i-vi '“Isaiah's Wild Measure”: R.M. McCheyne', ExpTim103, 235-237 'The Interpretation of "Lebanon" and 4Q285', JJS 43, 92-94 'The Problem of Haplography in 1 and 2 Samuel', in Septuagint, Scrolls and Cognate Writings (SBL Septuagint and Cognate Studies Series 33; ed. G.J. Brooke, B. Lindars), 131-158 'The Meaning of the Verb SWY in the Targum to 1 Samuel V-VI', VT 42, 395-397 'K/K¡/KY in Incantational Incipits', UF 23, 161-163 arts. 'Hophni and Phinehas', 'Horns of Altar' in A Dictionary of Biblical Tradition in English Literature (ed. D.L. Jeffrey) Review of G. Van Groningen, Messianic Revelation in the Old Testament (1990), in VT 42, 425-426 |
| 1991 | 'Better Promises: Two Passages in Hebrews against the Background of the Old Testament Cultus', in Templum Amicitiae. Essays on the Second Temple Presented to Ernst Bammel (SJSNT 48; ed. W. Horbury), 434-449 'Compositeness, Conflation and the Pentateuch', JSOT 5I, 57-69 |
| 1990 | art. 'Samuel', in A Dictionary of Biblical Interpretation (ed. R.J. Coggins, J.L. Houlden), 608f. 'Word-Play and Verse-Order in 1 Samuel xxiv 5-8', VT 40, 139-144 'Covenant and Apology in 2 Samuel 3', PIBA 13, 24-34 Review of P.B. Dirksen, M.J. Mulder (eds.), The Peshitta: Its Early Text and History (1988), in JSS 35, 318-319 |
| 1989 | The Targum of the Minor Prophets (Wilmington; The Aramaic Bible, 14) (with K.J. Cathcart) 'Targumic cDY (Zechariah xiv 6) and the Not So Common "Cold"', VT 39, 77-81 |
| 1988 | Theology and Religious Studies: Guide to First-Degree Courses at UK Universities, Polytechnics and Other Institutions (CRAC Degree Course Guide 1988/9) art. 'Rabbinic Theology', in New Dictionary of Theology (ed. S.B. Ferguson, D.F. Wright), 555 'Targum as Midrash: Contemporizing in the Targum to the Prophets', in Proceedings of the Ninth World Congress of Jewish Studies. Panel Sessions: Bible Studies and Ancient Near East (ed. M. Goshen-Gottstein), 61-73 'Simplicity of the Highest Cunning: Narrative Art in the Old Testament', ScBullEvTh 6, 69-80 Review of J. Barton, Oracles of God. Perceptions of Ancient Prophecy in Israel after the Exile (1986), in VT 38, 486-488 |
| 1987 | 'Saul's Meningitis According to Targum 1 Samuel xix 24', VT 37, 39-49 Review of D.M. Golomb, A Grammar of Targum Neofiti (1985), in JTS NS 38, 469-470 Review of E. Qimron, The Hebrew of the Dead Sea Scrolls (1986), in JTS NS 38, 470-471 |
| 1986 | 1 and 2 Samuel. A Commentary (Exeter)(repr. Grand Rapids, 2004) Theology and Religious Studies in UK Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges (CRAC Degree Course Guide 1986/7) 'The Ancient Versions', Exodus, Leviticus, in The International Bible Commentary (ed. F.F. Bruce), 14-23, 149-213 (revd edn; see 1979) art. 'Most Holy Place', in The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (revd.) (ed. G.W. Bromiley), Vol. 3, 426 |
| 1985 | 'The Gladius Hispaniensis and Aramaic ’ISPANIQE’’, VT 35, 496-500 'A Igreja em Tessalônica', Vigiai e Orai 62, 5-7 'Easter in Durham', Harvester 64, 8f. Review of J. Blenkinsopp, A History of Prophecy in Israel (1984), in JTS NS 36, 408-410 |
| 1984 | 1 and 2 Samuel (Sheffield; OT Guides Series) 'Christianity under the Cloud', Harvester 63, 4f. 'A Igreja em Tessalônica', Vigiai e Orai 61, 14, 16-17 |
| 1983 | 'Loricate Locusts in the Targum to Nahum III 17 and Revelation IX 9', VT 33, 338f. 'Did Moses Write "Second Isaiah"?', TSF News and Prayer Letter (Summer Issue), 3f. 'A Igreja em Tessalônica', Vigiai e Orai 59, 2-4, 17; 60, 14-15, 17 |
| 1982 | 'Terra Sancta and the Territorial Doctrine of the Targum to the Prophets', in Interpreting the Hebrew Bible: Essays in Honour of E.I.J. Rosenthal (ed. J.A. Emerton, S.C. Reif), 119-131 art. 'Holy Place', in The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (revd.) (ed. G.W. Bromiley), Vol. 2, 729f. Review of C. McCarthy, The Tiqqune Sopherim and Other Theological Corrections in the Masoretic Text of the Old Testament (OBO 36; 1981), in VT 32, 358-362 Review of G.T. Sheppard, Wisdom as a Hermeneutical Construct (BZAW 151; 1980), in VT 32, 374-378 Review of P.K. McCarter, I Samuel. A New Translation with Introduction, Notes and Commentary (AB 8; 1980), in JSOT 24, 109-112 |
| 1981 | 'A Problem in the Odes of Solomon XXIII. 20', JTS NS 32, 443-447 (with J.A. Emerton) 'A Syriac Exposition of Psalm 15', Le Muséon 94, 231-233 |
| 1980 | 'David's Rise and Saul's Demise: Narrative Analogy in 1 Samuel 24-26', TyndBull 31, 37-64 'Exorcism in a Dead Sea Scroll', Harvester 59, 2f. arts. Abimelech, Abner, Armour and Weapons, Army, Captain, Guard, Horesh, Ichabod, Jeshimon, Kabzeel, Legion, Papyri and Ostraca (Hebrew-Aramaic-Greek), War, in The Illustrated Bible Dictionary (ed. J.D. Douglas, N. Hillyer) |
| 1979 | 'The Ancient Versions', Exodus, Leviticus, in A Bible Commentary for Today (ed. G.C.D. Howley, F.F. Bruce, H.L. Ellison), 30-39, 170-237 'Versions Old and New', Harvester 58, 233-235 |
| 1978 | 'Micah vii 19 and Akkadian kabasu', VT 28, 355 'The Targumists as Eschatologists', in Göttingen Congress Volume (SVT29), 113-130 ‘Aleph Apologeticum’, JQR 69, 112-116 |
| 1976 | 'On BH tob "Rain"', Biblica 57, 111 'Source Study in 1 Kgs. XII 24a-na', TGUOS 25, 59-70 ‘Targum Onkelos to Genesis 49:4 and a Common Semitic Idiom’, JQR 66, 224-226 |
| 1975 | ‘KAI TO TELOS KURIOU EIDETE (Jas. v 11)', JTS NS 26, 91-95 'An Inner-Targum Corruption (Zech. i 8)', VT 25, 216-221 'The Second Septuagint Account of Jeroboam: History or Midrash?', VT 25, 368-393 'The Citation of the Targums in Recent English Bible Translations (RSV, JB, NEB)', JJS 26, 50-60 'Targum Variant Agrees with Wellhausen!', ZAW 87, 218f. |
| 1974 | 'The Targum to the Minor Prophets and the Dead Sea Texts: Textual and Exegetical Notes', RdeQ 8, 425-429 'Sperber's Edition of the Targum to the Prophets: A Critique', JQR 64, 314-321 'Deuteronomy and the Deuteronomic School' (review article), TyndBull 25, 113-120 'Targumic Parallels to Acts XIII 18 and Didache XIV 3', NovTest 16, 285-289 arts. Aramaic, Chronicon Edessenum, Cook (Stanley Arthur), Coptic, Hebrew, Old Syriac Versions of NT, Palestinian Syriac Text of NT, Syriac, Syriac Versions of the Bible, in The New International Dictionary of the Christian Church (ed. J. D. Douglas) |
| 1971 | 'Inner-Syriac Corruptions', JTS NS 22, 502-504 |
| 1970 | 'Isaiah liii 2', VT 20, 491f. |
