The Evolution of Early Lists of Examples: A Comparative Analysis of m. Ta’an. 2:4, 4 Ezra 7:106–111, and Apos. Con. 7:37

m. Ta'an. 2:4, 4 Ezra 7:106-111, and Apos. Con. 7.37 are all exempla that demonstrate the relation between prayer and salvation via biblical figures who prayed and were answered by God. In addition to the general theme, the three lists also share specific details—such as the exemplars themselves. While the affinities between m. Ta'an. 2:4 and Apos. Con. 7.37 and those between m. Ta'an. 2:4 and 4 Ezra 7:106-111 have been noted and commented upon respectively, this paper discusses all three texts together in light of other contemporaneous Jewish exempla. Shedding light on some of the literary features of m. Ta'an. 2:4, this literary analysis also reveals that Apos. Con. 7.37 interweaves specifications from m. Ta'an. 2:4 or 4 Ezra 7:106-111 —texts which in my view follow the same model. The details in Apos. Con. 7.37 that are without parallel in either m. Ta'an. 2:4 or 4 Ezra 7:106-111 appear to have been drawn from other ancient Jewish lists of examples.