Several Bible characters travelled to other regions to sojourn there, either temporarily, or for the rest of their lives. Some of them left their place of birth because of famine, war, or conflicts with relatives, while others were deported. Not only the Bible but also other texts from the ancient Near East call attention to the plight of desperate foreigners and express the obligation to offer them help and asylum. The articles in this volume are devoted to the status of foreigners in ancient Israel and in the ancient Near East, as well as in Early Judaism and in the Early Church, and the influence of these foreigners on those who welcomed them. Special attention is given to contextual Bible reading, an approach that highlights the influence of readers' opinions on the interpretation of ancient texts, including texts about foreigners.
