Hebrew Life and Literature : Selected Essays of Bernhard Lang (Paperback)

Contents: Preface; Part 1 Introduction: Biblical studies as a vocation: sketch of an academic self-portrait; The Hebrew God: a very short summary. Part 2 Wealth, Fertility, and the Good Life - The 3rd Function: God and the good life; Peasant poverty: rent capitalism in the days of Amos; Women's work, household and property in 3 Mediterranean societies: a comparative essay on Proverbs 31:10-31; A Zoroastrian prophecy of resurrection: a new reading of Ezekiel 37; Joseph the Diviner: careers of a biblical hero; The forbidden fruit: an ancient myth and its transformation in Genesis 2-3. Part 3 War and Violence - The 2nd Function: The 3 sins of Samson the Warrior; Cosmic battles: 'traditional' and 'utopian' monotheism in biblical times. Part 4 Rules, Wisdom, and Prophetic Arts - The 1st Function: Lady Wisdom: poetry, polytheism, and psychology: a pilgrim's progress; Games prophets play: street theatre and symbolic acts in biblical Israel; The number 10 and the iniquity of the fathers: a new interpretation of the Decalogue; A Hellenistic literary canon in the Hebrew Bible: the 'writings'; The riddle of the Lord's Supper: a new solution; Bibliography; Indexes.