DCHindley

Pete,

I didn't know I could be so influential. Usually no one pays any attention to what I say, presumably because I am not in love with senseless argumentation, and I also assume folks should actually look at the sources involved (yes, even in translation, as long as one is aware of the limitations involved).

My recommendation to you is to get ahold of all four volumes of the revised edition of Schuerer's book (History of the Jewish People in the Age of Jesus Christ) as well as James Charlesworth's 2 volume Old Testament Pseudepigrapha, which contains English translations of fragments from a number of Hellenized Jews who wrote for gentile audiences.

The Schuerer volumes do not include translations of the literary works, but do give an extensive overview of them and quotes select passages where they impact the history of the times, but the volumes often do provide translations of inscriptions, and this is where the common "equations" between the Jewish God and Roman/Hellenistic gods are for the most part found.

Unfortunately, the Schuerer volumes are evidently out of print but some remainders are still available new, except at preposterous prices. I got the whole set for around $120 US back in the 90s. Copies are available used for close to original prices like I paid. I believe they were targeting libraries, so that is the most likely place to find a complete set of them. See previous post for ISBNs of all four volumes if you try to hunt for them.

As for Charlesworth, each volume is still in print, and Amazon has them for about $50 US each:

Vol 1 (or via: amazon.co.uk)
Vol 2 (or via: amazon.co.uk)

DCH