Michael Coogan's The Old Testament: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short PDF

By Michael Coogan

ISBN-10: 0195305051

ISBN-13: 9780195305050

Eminent biblical student Michael D. Coogan deals right here a wide-ranging and stimulating exploration of the outdated testomony, illuminating its significance as heritage, literature, and sacred text.

Coogan explains the variations among the Bible of Jewish culture (the "Hebrew Bible") and the outdated testomony of Christianity, and in addition examines the several contents of the Bibles utilized by Roman Catholics, jap Orthodox Christians, and Protestants. He seems on the upward push of recent biblical scholarship in addition to the restoration of historical close to japanese literatures and their value for biblical interpretation. Coogan explores using invented discussion and historic fiction within the previous testomony, the presence of mythic parts in it appears historic bills, and the connection of historical Israelite myths to these in their buddies. The booklet considers the previous Testament's thought of divine justice, specifically in Ecclesiastes and activity, and appears at notions of the afterlife within the old close to East and in historic Israel. Coogan highlights the importance of the background and literature of the previous testomony and describes how non-biblical proof, similar to archaeological facts and texts, has put the previous testomony in a bigger and extra illuminating context. The e-book additionally discusses legislation and formality within the Bible in addition to the biblical understandings of prophecy.

Here then is a wonderful evaluate of 1 of the nice pillars of Western faith and tradition, a publication whose importance has continued for millions of years and which is still extremely important this present day for Jews, Christians, and Muslims worldwide.

Reviews:

"By skillfully interpreting well-selected biblical texts, Coogan has provided readers a beneficial window into the complexity, attractiveness, and value of the Hebrew Bible. via compelling analogies, he clarifies the which means of the Bible, and permits the trendy pupil to understand this complicated historical assortment in its context."--Marc Zvi Brettler, Dora Golding Professor of religious study, Brandeis college, and writer of ways to learn the Jewish Bible (Oxford), and co-editor of The Jewish examine Bible (Oxford).

"This publication is a impressive success. obtainable, informative, and authoritative, it packs into its small dimension an grand quantity of data, not just concerning the literature of the outdated testomony and its cultural and historic context, but in addition concerning the tools of biblical scholarship that revolutionized the certainty of the outdated testomony over the last centuries. it really is a fantastic creation for a variety of readers: the non-religious who're occupied with this cultural monument, Jews and Christians who wish an orientation to their advanced scriptures, and scholars looking an summary of the previous testomony in severe perspective."--Carol Newsom, Candler Professor of outdated Testament/Hebrew Bible, Emory University

"Marked by way of an marvelous comprehensiveness, this booklet offers validated proof and contested concerns alike with irenic readability. Balancing panoramic perspectives with deeper exegetical probes, Coogan deftly interweaves insights gleaned from Canaanite, Egyptian, and Mesopotamian texts, archaeology, reception background from Ben Sira to Luther to Kierkegaard, and modern feminist feedback. the result's a compelling invitation to readers who search to appreciate the traditional sociopolitical conflicts, rituals, and theologies that animate the outdated Testament."--Carolyn Sharp, affiliate Professor of Hebrew Scriptures, Yale Divinity School

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Additional resources for The Old Testament: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions)

Sample text

Perhaps both are partisan and partial accounts of separate episodes in an ongoing struggle between Moab and Israel. The Mesha Stela and the book of Kings, therefore, are two independent sources that corroborate each other on basic information but do not tell exactly the same story. This is doubtless due to their respective political and religious perspectives, so both sources need to be interpreted. Archaeology and the Bible In addition to inscriptions, archaeologists also uncover another kind of evidence, called ‘‘material culture’’—the walls, animal bones, pottery, tools, and other artifacts that have survived underground for thousands of years.

The Old Testament intervention controls events. The contest between Moses (and Aaron) and Pharaoh (and his magicians) is also a contest between Yahweh and the Egyptian deities, a contest in which Yahweh ultimately defeats them, as he predicts: ‘‘I will pass judgment on all the gods of Egypt’’ (Exod. 12:12)—so it seems that Yahweh is not (yet) a monotheist himself! ’’ (Exod. 15:11)—Yahweh has proven his superiority to all other deities. The account of the event at the Sea of Reeds makes use of the widespread tradition of the defeat of the primeval sea by the storm god.

It is the paradigmatic event—the crossing of the Jordan River as the Israelites entered the Promised Land is explicitly linked to the crossing of the Sea of Reeds (Josh. 4:23), and, much later, the return from exile in Babylon in the sixth century bce will be understood as a new Exodus (Isa. 43:15–21). Moreover, the Passover, one of ancient Israel’s—and subsequently, Judaism’s—primary religious observances, although originally a composite agricultural festival, 51 The Exodus from Egypt: a deep probe who pierced the dragon?

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The Old Testament: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions) by Michael Coogan


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