Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Bill Rea <cctr114 AT its.canterbury.ac.nz>]

Ian Hutchisson wrote:-

>What you have on the side of Ezra is: mistakes in the few historical
>references, mistakes in the Persian Aramaic grammar and *600 years of total
>silence* from the tradition. (One would expect works such as Ben Sira, 2
>Maccabees and even the Enochic Animal Apocalypse (89:72ff) to know Ezra,
>especially when all know Nehemiah.) In combination these point to a late
>writing of the Ezra traditions. This is consistent with the evidence from
>Josephus on the matter.

Got to ask another question here. 

On this list various people have castigated others for "arguing from
silence". Yet, those being so castigated have obviously considered
it a worthwhile line of evidence to advance in support of their case.
Some people are in both camps. Can anyone, not just Ian, suggest 
useful guidelines when interpreting "silence"?

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