Synopses & Reviews
Studying the interplay of figurative language, law, and religious thought, Yochanan Muffs brings us a new understanding of both the Bible and ancient Near Eastern cultures. This first single-volume collection of the pivotal writings of this great religious humanist includes his studies of love and joy as metaphors, the laws of war in ancient Israel, the figurative nature of legal language, the role of the prophet and prophetic speech, and the expressions of belonging which united a culture.
Review
Reading this collection of articles by Yochanan Muffs is like strolling with a friend...seeing familiar landmarks with fresh eyes in unexpected new light. Thorkild Jacobsen
Synopsis
This is a book about law and religion. It opens with a study of prophrtic intercession as a response to the tensions inherent in monotheism, the struggles between love and justice that seem to take place within Israel's God. The final chapters concern the rich legal vocabulary in which Israelites expressed ideas of freedom and spontaneity. The intervening essays also deal wiht religious language and concepts in religious contexts.
Synopsis
Studying the interplay of figurative language, law, and religious thought, Yochanan Muffs brings us a new understanding of both the Bible and ancient Near Eastern cultures. This first single-volumecollection of the pivotal writings of this great religious humanist includes his studies of love and joy as metaphors, the laws of war in ancient Israel, the figurative nature of legal language, the role of the prophet and propheticspeech, and the expressions of belonging which united a culture.
Synopsis
speech, and the expressions of belonging which united a culture.
About the Author
Yochanan Muffs is Rapaport Professor of Philosophies of Religion and Professor of Bible at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America.