Reaching for the tree of life : the role of eating, drinking, fasting, and symbolic foodstuffs in 4 Ezra

Abstract

This paper considers the role of foodstuffs and their (non-)consumption in 4 Ezra. While foodstuffs figure prominently in this work, no systematic research has been done into it. The paper argues that both the narrative progression of the work is expressed through foodstuffs as well as significant parts of the work’s content.