How to read the Jewish Bible
Author(s)
Bibliographic Information
How to read the Jewish Bible
（Oxford paperbacks）
Oxford University Press, 2007
- : pbk
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Note
Originally published: Jewish Publication Society, 2005
"First issued as an Oxford University Press paperback, 2007"--T.p. verso
Includes bibliographical references (p. 339-360) and indexes
Description and Table of Contents
Description
Master Bible scholar and teacher Marc Brettler argues that today's contemporary readers can only understand the ancient Hebrew Scripture by knowing more about the culture that produced it. And so Brettler unpacks the literary conventions, ideological assumptions, and historical conditions that inform the biblical text and demonstrates how modern critical scholarship and archaeological discoveries shed light on this fascinating and complex literature.
Brettler surveys representative biblical texts from different genres to illustrate how modern can read these texts. He guides us in reading the Bible as it was read in the biblical period, independent of later religious norms and interpretive traditions. Understanding the Bible this way lets us appreciate it as an interesting text that speaks in multiple voices on profound issues.
Although the emphasis of How to Read the Jewish Bible is on showing contemporary Jews, as well as Christians, how they can relate to the Bible in a more meaningful way, readers at any level of religious faith can benefit greatly from this comprehensive but remarkably clear guide to interpreting the Jewish Bible.
Table of Contents
Preface to the paperback edition-
Preface-Abbreviations-Reading as a Jew and as a Scholar-
What is the Bible, Anyway?-
The Art of Reading the Bible-
A Brief History of Israel-
With Scissors and Paste: The Source of Genesis-Creation vs. Creationism: Genesis 1-3 as Myth-
The Ancestors as Heroes-Biblical Law: Codes and Collections
Incense is Offensive to Me: The Cult in Ancient Israel-
"In the Fortieth YearMoses Addressed the Israelites": Deuteronomy-
"The Walls Came Tumbling Down": Reading Joshua-
"May My Lord King David Live Forever": Royal Ideology in Samuel and Jude-
"For Israel Tore Away from the House of David": Reading Kings-Revisionist History: Reading Chronicles-
"Let Justice Well Up Like Water": Reading Amos-
"They Shall Beat Their Swords into Plowshares": Reading (First) Isaiah-
"I Will make this House like Shiloh": Reading Jeremiah-
"I Will be for Them A Mini-Temple": Reading Ezekiel-
"Comfort, Oh Comfort My People" The Exile and Beyond-
"Those that Sleep in the DustWill Awake": Zechariah, Apocalyptic Literature, And Daniel-
Prayer of Many Hearts: Reading Psalms-
"Acquire Wisdom"-Reading Proverbs and Ecclesiastes-"Being But Dust and Ashes": Reading Job-
"Drink Deep of Love!"-
Reading Song of Songs-
"Why Are You So KindWhy Am I a Foreigner?" Reading Ruth vs. Esther-
The Creation of the Bible-Afterword: Reading the Bible as a Committed Jew
Notes
Sources Cited
Index of Subjects
Index of Biblical Subjects and Other References
by "Nielsen BookData"