Alejandro F. Botta

Teaching Specialties

Introduction to the Hebrew Bible, Prophetic Literature, Hebrew Exegesis, Biblical Interpretation from a Hispanic Perspective

Research Interests

Elephantine papyri, Aramaic-Demotic Interrelationships, The Book of Chronicles, Latin-American Biblical Interpretation

Publications

Books

The Aramaic and Egyptian Legal Traditions at Elephantine: An Egyptological Approach. Library of Second Temple Studies 64 (London, New York: T&T Clark, 2009).

Los Doce Profetas Menores (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2006).

Cultura Material, Evolución Demográfica y Cambio Político en Palestina durante la Dominación Egipcia.

Serie Estudios 4, Program of Egyptological Studies, National Council of Scientific Research, Argentina (Buenos Aires: PREDE, 1992).

Edited Volumes

Introducción al Pentateuco en perspectiva latinoamericana. Edited with Ahida Pilarski. (Estella: Verbo Divino, 2014).

In the Shadow of Bezalel: Aramaic, Biblical, and Ancient Near Eastern Studies in Honor of Bezalel Porten (Leiden: Brill, 2013).

The Bible and the Hermeneutics of Liberation, with Pablo Andiñach (eds.). Semeia Studies 59 (Atlanta, GA: Society of Biblical Literature, 2009).

Book Chapters

“Die Terminologie von Diebstahl und Raub in einem demotischen Brief an Thot (P. Chicago 19422) und ihre aramäischen Entsprechungen,“ in Gehilfe des Thot. Fs. für Karl-Theo Zauzich zu seinem 75. Geburtstag, edited by Sandra Luisa Lippert und Martin Andreas Stadler. (Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz, 2014), 7-11.

“Introducción al Pentateuco.” With Mercedes García Bachmann. In Introducción al Pentateuco en perspectiva latinoamericana, edited by Alejandro F. Botta and Ahida Pilarski (Estella: Verbo Divino, 2014), 21-46.

“1 & 2 Chronicles.” In The Fortress Commentary on the Bible, edited by Matthew J. Coomber, Hugh R. Page, Jr. and Gale A. Yee. (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2014), 439-466.

“What Does it Mean to be a Latino Critic? A Brief Essay,” In Latino/a Biblical Hermeneutics: Problematic, Objectives, Strategies, edited by Fernando Segovia and Francisco Lozada (Atlanta, GA: Society of Biblical Literature, 2014), 107-119.

“The Aramaeans in Egypt.” In The Arameans in Ancient Syria, Handbuch der Orientalistik. Section 1 The Near East, 106, edited by Herbert Niehr, 366-377. Leiden: Brill, 2013.

“Hated by the Gods and your Spouse: Legal Use of שנא in Elephantine and its Ancient Near Eastern Context,” in Law and Religion in the Eastern Mediterranean, Reinhard G. Kratz and Anselm C. Hagedorn (eds.). (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2013). 105-128.

“Three Additional Aramaci-Egyptian Parallel Legal Terms/Formulae,” in A. F. Botta ed. In the Shadow of Bezalel: Aramaic, Biblical, and Ancient Near Eastern Studies in Honor of Bezalel Porten (Leiden: Brill, 2013), 29-38.

“1 Chronicles,” New Interpreter’s Bible One Volume Commentary, David L. Petersen, Beverly Roberts Gaventa(eds.)(Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2010), 239-252.

“2 Chronicles,”New Interpreter’s Bible One Volume Commentary, David L. Petersen, Beverly Roberts Gaventa(eds.)(Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2010), 253-262.

“Covenant and Liberation: Diachronic Perspectives,” in Brooks Schramm and Kurt Noll (eds.) Raising a Faithful Exegete. Essays in Honor of Richard Nelson (Winona Lake: Eisenbrauns, 2010), 261-274.

“The Bible and the Hermeneutics of Liberation: Worldwide Trends and Prospects” with P. R. Andiñach, in A. F. Botta and P. R. Andiñach (eds.) The Bible and the Hermeneutics of Liberation. Semeia Studies 59 (Atlanta, GA: Society of Biblical Literature, 2009), 1-10.

“How to Hide an Elephant on Fifth Avenue: Universality of Sin and Class Sin in the Hebrew Scriptures,” in A. F. Botta and P. R. Andiñach (eds.). In The Bible and the Hermeneutics of Liberation. Semeia Studies 59 (Atlanta, GA: Society of Biblical Literature, 2009), 105-112.

“Levítico, introducción, traducción y notas,” in Biblia Traducción Interconfesional (Madrid, Estella: BAC, Sociedades Bíblicas Unidas, Editorial Verbo Divino, 2008), 151-196.

“Números, introducción, traducción y notas,” in Biblia Traducción Interconfesional (Madrid, Estella: BAC, Sociedades Bíblicas Unidas, Editorial Verbo Divino, 2008), 197-257.

“1 & 2 Crónicas,” in Armando Levoratti (ed.) Comentario Bíblico Latinoamericano (Estella, Spain: Editorial Verbo Divino, 2005), 845-874.

“Sin and Forgiveness in the Demotic Story of Setne I,” in Irene Shirun-Grumach (ed.), Jerusalem Studies in Egyptology. Ägypten und Altes Testament 40 (Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz, 1998), 233-242.

Journal Articles

“Aspectos de la vida cotidiana en la colonia judía de Elefantina,” Antiguo Oriente 9 (2011), 63-84.

“A Reevaluation of the use of זבן andיהב in Elephantine,” Antiguo Oriente 6 (2008), 95-104.

“How Long Does an Eternal Covenant Last? עולם in the Light of Aramaic-Egyptian Legal Documents,” The Bible Translator 59.3 (2008), 158-163.

“The Legal Function and Egyptian Background of the שליט Clause: A Reevaluation,” Maarav 13.2 (2006), 193-209.

“רחק in the Bible, a Reevaluation,” Biblica 87 (2006), 418-420.

“Scribal Traditions and the Transmission of Legal Formulae in the Aramaic Papyri from Elephantine.” Revista del Instituto de Historia Antigua Oriental 1 Nueva Serie (2006), 153-168.

“1 Reyes 12:1-20: Análisis estructural,” Cuadernos de Teología 24 (2005), 9-16.

“Las Cartas Arameas de Hermópolis y el Formulario Epistolar del Cercano Oriente antiguo,” Revista de Estudios de Egiptología 6-7 (1996-1999), 57-80.

“The Cowardly Crocodile in cOnchsheshonqy 22/15 and Merikarc P. 97-98″ (with S. Vinson). Enchoria-Zeitschrift für Demotistik und Koptologie 23 (1996), 177-178.

“Problemas Históricos en torno a los orígenes de Israel,” Boletín Teológico 57 (1995), 61-70.

“Matrimonio y Divorcio en los Papiros Arameos de Elefantina,” Revista de Estudios de Egiptología 4 (1993), 113-133.

Dictionary and Encyclopedia Entries

The Encyclopedia of the Bible and its Reception, Edited by Hans- Josef Klauck, Bernard McGinn, Choon-Leong Seow, Hermann Spieckermann, Barry Dov Walfish, Eric Ziolkowski (Berlin: Walter de Gruyter, 2013). Vol. 7 “Elephantine.”

The Eerdmans Dictionary of Early Judaism,J. Collins and D. Harlow, General Editors (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2010): “Elephantine,” pp.574-577; “Sanballat,” pp. 1190-1; and “Slavery,” pp. 1232-3.

The New Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible, 5 Volumes. K. Doob Sakenfeld, General Editor (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2006-2009): “Nethinim,” (Vol. 4, 260-1; “Sea, Molten,” (Vol. 5, 140-1), “Shemaiah,” (Vol. 5, 225-6), “Solomon’s Servants,” (Vol. 5, 334).

Short Contributions

“Exodus,” “Leviticus,” and “Numbers.” In Covenant Bible Study, edited by Theodore Hiebert and Jamie Clark-Soles, (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2014), 31-40.

Year A – Gen. 12:1-4a; Ps. 121; Rom. 4:1-5, 13-17; Mt. 17:1-9.” In WJK Lectionary Commentary: Preaching for Social Justice & Transformation, edited by Ronald J. Allen, Dale P. Andrews, and Dawn Ottoni Wilhelm, 130-134. Louisville, KY: Westminster-John Knox, 2013.

“Year C – Gen. 15:1-12, 17-18; Ps. 27; Phil. 3:17-4:1; Lk. 13:31-35.” in WJK Lectionary Commentary: Preaching for Social Justice & Transformation. Edited by Ronald J. Allen, Dale P. Andrews, and Dawn Ottoni Wilhelm (Louisville, KY: Westminster-John Knox, 2012).

“Year B – Gen. 17:1-7, 15-16; Ps. 22:23-31; Rom. 4:13-25; Mk. 8:31-38 in WJK Lectionary
Commentary: Preaching for Social Justice & Transformation. Edited by Ronald J.
Allen, Dale P. Andrews, and Dawn Ottoni Wilhelm (Louisville, KY: Westminster-John Knox, 2011).

“Introduction to Ezra,” in The People’s Bible. Edited by C. P. DeYoung, L. Guardiola-Saenz, W. Gaffney,T. Tinker, and F. Yamada (Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Fortress, 2008), 588-9.

“Introduction to Nehemiah,” in The People’s Bible. Edited by C. P. DeYoung, L. Guardiola-Saenz, W. Gaffney,T. Tinker, and F. Yamada (Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Fortress, 2008), 599.

“La realidad de la mujer hispana en los EE.UU: una relectura de Jueces 11;” in A. Beltran-Gaetan, et.al. Módulo III: La mujer hispana-latina en el liderazgo de la Iglesia (UMC: Nashville, TN, 2005), 27.

“¿Qué es la Biblia y como se produce la interpretación bíblica?;” in A. Beltran-Gaetan, et.al. Módulo III: La mujer hispana-latina en el liderazgo de la Iglesia (UMC: Nashville, TN, 2005), 28-29.

“Reflexión teológica: La mujer como socorrista del varón: Una relectura de Génesis 2:4b – 25;” in A. Beltran-Gaetan, et.al. Módulo III: La mujer hispana-latina en el liderazgo de la Iglesia (UMC: Nashville, TN, 2005), 52-54.

“El supuesto patriarcalismo paulino y la participación de la mujer en la Iglesia;” in A. Beltran-Gaetan, et.al. Módulo III: La mujer hispana-latina en el liderazgo de la Iglesia (UMC: Nashville, TN, 2005), 55-56.

Reviews

S. Hafthorsson, A Passing Power: An Examination of the Sources for the History of Aram-Damascus in the Second Half of the Ninth Century B.C.

Coniectanea Biblica Old Testament Series 54 (Stockholm: Almqvist & Wiksell, 2006), for Svensk exegetisk årsbok 74 (2009), 224-6.

Andrew D. Gross, Continuity and Innovation in the Aramaic Legal Tradition (Leiden: Brill, 2008), for Aramaic Studies7 (2009), 91-96.

Carlos J. Gil Arbiol, Los Valores Negados: Ensayo de exégesis socio-científica sobre la autoestigmatización en el movimiento de Jesús (Estella: Verbo Divino, 2003), 481 pp.

Review of Biblical Literature, SBL. January 2006.

María Teresa Ortega Monasterio, Las Masoras del Libro de Éxodo: Códice M1 de la Universidad Compluense de Madrid (Madrid: CSIC Instituto de Filología, 2002).

Review of Biblical Literature, SBL. October 2006.

Papers Read at Professional Meetings and Invited Lectures

• “Control and Resistance etsi deus non daretur.” Poverty in the Biblical World Section. Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA, November 22-25, 2014
• “A Few (other) Remarkable Ancient Egyptian Women.” Literature and History of the Persian Period Section. Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA, November 22-25, 2014.
• “Aramaic and Demotic Legal Terms/Formulae and their Mesopotamian Equivalents. 12. Internationale Konferenz für demotische Studien – Würzburg . August 31 – September 4th 2014.
• “Demythologization and Biblical Studies.” Hispanic Youth Leadership Academy (Graduate students section). Boston University, September 1st, 2014.
• “The Challenges of Biblical Studies in an Academic Setting.” Hispanic Youth Leadership Academy Summer Program, (College students section). Boston University, August 31th, 2014.
• “Delitos y fechorías en Egipto durante el período Persa.” Paper presented at the Centro de Estudios de Historia del Antiguo Oriente (CEHAO), Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina, Buenos Aires, Argentina, October 23, 2013.
• “Who Are My People? Jeremiah And Micah’s Response to Foreign Threats”. Prophecy and Politics in Ancient Near Eastern Cultures. 2012 International Meeting Department of Biblical Studies, University of Haifa, Israel, 28–30 May, 2012.
• “Law in Elephantine: Crimes and Misdemeanors,” Society of Biblical Literature International Meeting, St. Andrews, Scotland, July 8th, 2013.
• “The Bible of the Oppressed,” Society of Biblical Literature Consultation: “Latino/a and Latin American Biblical Interpretation,” Annual Meeting in San Francisco, CA, November 19-22, 2011.
• “The Elephantine Papyri: Three Millennia of Continuity and Change,” Literature and History of the Persian Period & Aramaic Studies section, Society of Biblical Literature, Annual Meeting in San Francisco, CA, November 18-22, 2011.
• “Ancient Near Eastern Background of Demotic Legal Terminology’ (with Brandon Simonson) Eleventh International Congress of Demotic Studies, Oxford, England, 30 August – 3 September 2011.
• ”Markers of Identity in the Jewish Colony of Elephantine.” University of Chicago, The Divinity School and the Chicago Center for Jewish Studies, February 1st 2011.
• “Who is the Borrower and Who is the Leander? A Reappraisal of the Legal Formulary at Elephantine.” Literature and History of the Persian Period section, Society of Biblical Literature, Annual Meeting in Atlanta, GA, Nov. 19-23, 2010.
• “The Perils of Encaged (Biblical) Scholarship: Challenges from Latin America,” Hebrew Bible/Old Testament scholars Boston Theological Institute Meeting, October 18, 2010.
• “Odio” en el matrimonio y divorcio: nuevas perspectivas desde los Papiros Arameos de Elefantina.” Conference: Cultura y política en las sociedades del Cercano Oriente Antiguo.” Buenos Aires, Universidad Católica Argentina, August 23rd, 2010.
• “To Hate your Spouse or to Divorce Him/Her? A Reassessment of the Use שנא in Elephantine,” Aramaic Studies Section, Society of Biblical Literature, Annual Meeting in New Orleans. Nov. 20-24, 2009.
• “Croatto and Genesis.” Society of Biblical Literature Consultation: “Latino/a and Latin American Biblical Interpretation,” Annual Meeting in New Orleans. Nov. 20-24, 2009.
• Panelist: “What Does it Mean to Be a Latino/a Biblical Critic?” Society of Biblical Literature Consultation: “Latino/a and Latin American Biblical Interpretation,” Annual Meeting in Boston, Nov. 22-25, 2008.
• “Three Additional Aramaic // Demotic Legal Formulae from Elephantine.” 10th International Congress of Demotic Studies, Leuven, Belgium, August 26-30, 2008.
• “Looking for Some Satisfaction: Egyptian Antecedents of טיב לבבי.” Aramaic Studies Section, Society of Biblical Literature, Annual Meeting in San Diego. Nov. 19, 2007.- “Aramaic-Demotic Equivalents. Additional Evidence and Methodological Considerations.” Workshop (by invitation): “From Sumer to the Genizah—Diplomatic and Legal Documents in the Ancient World”, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. March 11-13, 2007.
• “Traducción bíblica y mediación socio-analítica.” RIBLA’s week, ISEDET Buenos Aires, Argentina. October 27, 2006.
• “El libro de Levítico: problemas de interpretación.” Instituto Ministerial Hispano, Dallas, TX. March 26, 2006.
• “Rastreando el origen de fórmulas legales en el Cercano Oriente antiguo: Reflexiones metodológicas.” Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Filosofía y Letras, Instituto de Historia Antigua Oriental Dr. Abraham Rosenvasser. December 9, 2004.
• “How to Hide an Elephant on Fifth Avenue: Universality of Sin and Class Sin in the Hebrew Scriptures,” Theology of the Hebrew Scriptures Section of the Society of Biblical Literature, Annual Meeting in San Antonio. November 20, 2004.
• “The Origins of the שליט Clause, A Reevaluation.” Aramaic Studies Section of the Society of Biblical Literature, Annual Meeting in Atlanta. Nov. 23, 2003.
• “Tracing Ancient Near Eastern Legal Formulae: Methodological Issues,” Oriental Institute, University of Chicago. March 5 2003.
• “The Beginnings of Israel: Historiographic Perspectives.” Oriental Institute, University of Chicago. March 4 2003.
• “El libro de Crónicas: valoraciones historiográficas,” Instituto Universitario ISEDET. Buenos Aires. December 11, 2002.
• “Reading the Bible from a Latin American Perspective in a Hispanic Context.” Hispanic Week, Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary, Evanston, IL. Nov. 20, 2002.
• “Aramaic and Demotic Epistolary Formulae.” International Conference for Demotic Studies. Würzburg. August 25, 2002 (with Bezalel Porten).
• “Woman as Holder of Rights in the Jewish Colony of Elephantine.” Bridwell Library Judaica Lecture series, Southern Methodist University. May 5 2002.
• “The Cleansing of the Temple in the Light of the Hebrew Bible.” United Methodist North Texas Conference Clergy Retreat, October 16, 2001.
• “‘Get away from me!’ An Egyptological Approach to the Withdrawal Clause in the Elephantine Papyri.” Aramaic Studies Section of the Society of Biblical Literature, Annual Meeting in Boston, November 21-23, 1999.
• “Sojourners in Egypt: The Jewish-Aramaic Legal Formulary at Elephantine.” Workshop on Ancient Societies, University of Chicago. March 9, 1999.
• “The Exodus in the New Testament,” for the course “New Testament Interpretation,” Prof. Osvaldo Vena. Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, Evanston IL. February 25, 1999.
• “Jerusalem: Peoples, Places and the Past.” Public Lecture aboard the Orient Lines Cruise Ship Marco Polo. October 29, 1998.
• “Historiografía Bíblica e Historiografía Moderna: Reflexiones acerca del Libro de Crónicas y la Revolución de Mayo.” Latin American Theological Fraternity, Chicago Group. Desplaines, IL. August 15, 1998.
• “Sin and Forgiveness in the Demotic Story of Setne I.” Workshop: “Sin, Punishment and Forgiveness in Ancient Egypt,” organized by the German-Israeli Foundation: The Hebrew University of Jerusalem – University of Leipzig. Jerusalem. May 28-29, 1996.
• “Historiografía Bíblica: El Libro de Crónicas.” Latin-American Theological Fraternity. Buenos Aires Meeting. Buenos Aires, Argentina. November 1991.
• “Los Orígenes de Israel: Historia y Tradición.” III National Meeting of the Latin-American Association of Afro-Asiatic Studies. National University of La Plata. Faculty of Humanities and Pedagogical Sciences. Faculty of Natural Sciences and Museum. La Plata, Argentina. October 16-18, 1991.
• “Reflexiones sobre la Misión Integral de la Iglesia,” Meeting of National Mennonite Youth Association, Buenos Aires, 1986.
• “Lucas 4 y la Misión de la Iglesia.” First Meeting of Latin-American Students of Theology. Sponsored by the Association of Seminaries and Theological Institutions (A.S.I.T.). J. C. Paz, Pcia. de Buenos Aires, Argentina. 1986