Just when it seemed that nothing substantially new can be said or written about the first part of Genesis, In the Beginnings presents it in a dramatic new light. Through a close and careful reading of the first eleven chapters of Genesis, this book shows convincingly that hidden beneath the surface of the text, there is not one beginning, but rather two beginnings. Two accounts of creation are followed by two parallel narratives that reflect two distinct and at times competing worldviews regarding the nature of God, of human beings, of our role in the world, of the relationship between the man and the woman, and much more.
Whether one accepts the traditional or the critical view of the Torah’s origins, In the Beginnings is a vivid and powerful testimony to the Torah’s depth, richness, and multivocality, with profound implications for the ways it is to be understood and lived in our day.
The biblical figure Abraham was born in the great Mesopotamian city of UR. His mother tongue was Akkadian, the earliest Semitic language, which is now extinct.
Medieval biblical scholars did not have any understanding of Akkadian, but thanks to archeological discoveries in Mesopotamia and the rediscovery of the Akkadian language in modern times, the biblical text, its idioms, and customs can now, finally, be better and more deeply understood.
This book will uniquely allow you to understand the Book of Genesis as never before.
An introduction describes the method of interpretation known as peshat and reveals how the field of comparative Semitics enlightens us.
Chapter-by-chapter analyses of selected verses of the biblical text examine the meanings of various biblical words in light of information gleaned from Akkadian.
Vocalized Hebrew with transliterations and translations gives access to high-level linguistic understanding even for neophytes.
A glossary explains relevant terminology, and a map and table of chronology give further context to the discussion.
This is a must-have resource for any student of the Bible.