Abstract
This work is a ‘slightly modified’ and extended version of B.’s doctoral thesis presented to the Pontifical Biblical Institute. It is one of a growing number of studies dedicated to the Egyptian Hallel, long known as a liturgical unit, but now more closely attended to with the embrace of ‘canonical’ readings. B.’s approach is situated in this camp, although the theoretical framework receives only a brief elaboration. Equally significant for B. is the early grouping of these psalms in the Jewish liturgical tradition, providing a perception of coherence apart from ‘canonical’ fashion. After an introduction of only seven or so dense pages, the rest of the monograph is devoted to an exegetical study of each of the psalms seriatim. A brief but dense conclusion of eight pages draws together threads of argument and observation. Indices for source references and modern names are provided. Given B.’s approach, a distinctive feature of the exegetical treatments is the inclusion of links between adjacent psalms, typically noticing shared vocabulary and themes. It must be admitted that some of these links can be weak. Psalm 118 is seen to be the ‘climax’ of the corpus (the case argued in its own chapter). The exegesis is rich, even if not ‘exhaustive’; the claim for sequential ‘unity’ is sensibly grounded, and made in awareness that the DSS’s lack of respect for this corpus could be deployed against it. B.’s careful, thoughtful, and detailed study will be a boon to those wishing to engage deeply with the Egyptian Hallel.