Ethical and Unethical in the Old Testament: God and Humans in Dialogue

Description

This volume is interested in what the Old Testament and beyond (Dead Sea Scrolls and Targum) has to say about ethical behaviour through its characters, through its varying portrayals of God and humanity in mutual dialogue and through its authors. It covers a wide range of genres of Old Testament material such as law, prophecy and wisdom. It takes key themes such as friendship and the holy war tradition and it considers key texts. It considers authorial intention in the portrayal of ethical stances. It also links up with wider ethical issues such as the environment and human engagement with the 'dark side' of God. It is a multi-authored volume, but the unifying theme was made clear at the start and contributors have worked to that remit. This has resulted in a wide-ranging and fascinating insight into a neglected area, but one that is starting to receive increased attention in the biblical area.

Katharine Dell is Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Divinity, Cambridge University and Fellow of St. Catharine's College, Oxford.

[This book is] welcomed as another fresh signal that the subject matter of biblical ethics is enjoying a fresh comeback. It is hoped that these essays will spark many others to join the conversation. -- Review of Biblical Literature This is a very thought provoking set of essays which... will encourage readers to think more openly about means by which God is characterized in relation to the people of the ancient near East and their acceptance of religious belief and lifestyle. -- Reviews in Religion & Theology Mentioned in Hebrew Studies, Volume LII. 'This volume, rich in its diversity, attests to the lively energy that is now present in critical exegetical wok that refuses all of the old 'assured results.' '-Review of Biblical Literature This volume is interested in what the Old Testament and beyond (Dead Sea Scrolls and Targum) has to say about ethical behaviour through its characters, through its varying portrayals of God and humanity in mutual dialogue, and through its authors. * J.C.G., Zeitschrift fur die Alttestamentliche Wissenschaft, 2014, Issue 126 *