معرفی
H. Clay Smith is a Faculty Fellow at Seaver College, Pepperdine University, specializing in Hebrew Bible and Old Testament studies. His research examines Deuteronomy's relationship with ancient Near Eastern treaties, ritual-driven identity formation, and textual analysis of biblical literature. Previously, he taught at Baylor University, Harding School of Theology, and Harding University.
Education
- PhD, Religion (Biblical Studies/Hebrew Bible), Baylor University, 2024
- MDiv, Harding School of Theology, 2017
- BA, Biblical Languages, Harding University, 2010
Research Focus
Dr. Smith investigates how ritual practices in Deuteronomy shaped Israelite identity through comparative analysis with Assyrian loyalty oaths. His work spans textual criticism, social theory applications to worship, and the historical context of biblical covenants. Current projects explore ritual's cognitive impact on community formation in ancient religious texts.
Publications
His scholarly output demonstrates consistent focus on compositional techniques in Ezra-Nehemiah and sociological dimensions of Psalms. Recent articles employ interdisciplinary methodologies blending literary analysis with ancient Near Eastern history, revealing patterns of identity negotiation in Second Temple Judaism.
