Taking the flexible concept of "cultural encounter" as a starting point, this volume presents a variety of studies which focus on the impact of encounters between cultures, groups, and individuals as it relates to ancient Jewish religion, culture, and society.

Mladen Popovic, Ph.D. (2006), University of Groningen, is Professor of Old Testament and Early Judaism and Director of the Qumran Institute at the University of Groningen. He is the author of Reading the Human Body (Brill, 2007) and the editor of Authoritative Scriptures in Ancient Judaism (Brill, 2010) and The Jewish Revolt against Rome (Brill, 2011).
Myles Schoonover is a PhD candidate in Hebrew Bible at the University of Groningen. His dissertation is focused on the cultural contingency of the LXX and its receptions.
Marijn Vandenberghe is a Ph.D. candidate in History at the University of Gent and University of Groningen. He works on the historiography of the Jewish historian Flavius Josephus.