Traditions of the BibleJames Kugel's The Bible As It Was (1997) has been welcomed with universal praise. Here now is the full scholarly edition of this wonderfully rich and illuminating work, expanding the author's findings into an incomparable reference work. Focusing on two dozen core stories in the Pentateuch--from the Creation and Tree of Knowledge through the Exodus from Egypt and journey to the Promised Land--James Kugel shows us how the earliest interpreters of the scriptures radically transformed the Bible and made it into the book that has come down to us today. Kugel explains how and why the writers of this formative age of interpretation--roughly 200 B.C.E. to 150 C.E.--assumed such a significant role. Mining their writings--including the Dead Sea Scrolls, works of Philo and Josephus and letters of the Apostle Paul, and writings of the Apostolic Fathers and the rabbinic Sages--he quotes for us the seminal passages that uncover this crucial interpretive process. For this full-scale reference work Kugel has added a substantial treasury of sources and passages for each of the 24 Bible stories. It will serve as a unique guide and sourcebook for biblical interpretation. |
What people are saying - Write a review
We haven't found any reviews in the usual places.
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
Abraham according actually Adam ancient angels Antiquities apparently beginning Bible biblical blessing brothers Cain called century certainly Chapter Christian cited commandments connection created creation daughters death Decalogue Deut divine earlier early earth Egypt Egyptians elsewhere Enoch Esau Exod explain fact father fire followed further Genesis give given God's Greek hand heaven Hebrew human idea imply interpreters Isaac Israel Israelites Jacob Jewish Jews Joseph Jubilees keeping killed king land later Levi light live Lord means mentioned Moses motif Note offered original passage perhaps Pharaoh Philo phrase present priest prophet punishment question Rabba reason reference says Scripture seems seen sense sons sources speak specifically story suggested Targum Testament things took Torah tradition translation turn understanding verse whole wife wisdom writings written
Bibliographic information
| Title | Traditions of the Bible |
| Author | James L. KUGEL |
| Edition | illustrated, revised |
| Publisher | Harvard University Press, 1998 |
| ISBN | 0674791517, 9780674791510 |
| Length | 1055 pages |
| Subjects | › › Reference / General Religion / Biblical Commentary / Old Testament Religion / Biblical Criticism & Interpretation / Old Testament Religion / Biblical Studies / Old Testament |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |