About
Stephen Germany is a Lecturer at the Faculty of Theology, University of Basel, specializing in Hebrew Bible studies. His research focuses on the literary history of the Hebrew Bible, particularly the Pentateuch and Former Prophets, with an emphasis on analyzing conflicts between Israel/Judah and neighboring nations like the Philistines and Arameans. He is affiliated with the research project ‘Transforming Memories of Collective Violence in the Hebrew Bible,’ funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation. Germany holds a Habilitation from the University of Basel (2023), a Ph.D. from Emory University (2016), an M.T.S. from Harvard University (2011), and a B.A. from Oglethorpe University (2008).
His research investigates how biblical narratives construct historical patterns and rhetorical functions, such as the portrayal of Philistines and Arameans as ‘stock characters’ in Samuel-Kings. He also explores the formation of biblical texts within their historical contexts, combining literary analysis with archaeological and extrabiblical sources. Germany has contributed to numerous academic publications on topics ranging from book-seams in the Hexateuch to the geopolitical dynamics in Transjordan during the monarchic period.
His work bridges biblical exegesis with historical and interdisciplinary approaches, addressing questions of identity, memory, and historiography. Germany collaborates on projects like the ‘Book-Seams in the Hexateuch’ series and has edited volumes on Israel-Judah relations and collective violence in the ancient Mediterranean.
