Synopses & Reviews
Review
“From the French Edition:
This book is unpretentious and full of interesting insights. . . . It is the product of a mind that can appreciate Israel's intellectual contributions and theological originality precisely because it has thought deeply about the Mesopotamian creative genius.”
—Jack M. Sasson, Religious Studies Review
Review
“In the mountain of recent works on the Bible, written from almost every conceivable angle and espousing every imaginable agenda, rare is the book that couples erudition with the reader’s humility that allows the ancient text to speak in its own, always invigorating voice. This little book by Bottéro largely manages to do just that.
To conclude, this book is like a word from a favorite old uncle who is a bit creaky and set in his ways, but full of wisdom and a passion for life.”
—Mark Hamilton, Restoration Quarterly
Review
“Bottéro's book is fascinating for its clarity, its rigor, the character of his language, the splendor of the translations he puts before us, and for the mastery of the learning that underlies everything, but without a trace of ostentation. . . . It is a book for every educated reader, whether believer or unbeliever, who recognizes the Bible as the common good of all human beings.”
—Gérard Rochais, Science et esprit
Synopsis
For many people today, the Hebrew Bible is the one supreme channel through which the Word of God was transmitted to humanity. In The Birth of God, Jean Bott$ero, one of the great figures in Ancient Near Eastern Studies, approaches the Bible from a different perspective. He sees in it an astounding variety of documents that reveal much of their time of origin, historical events, and climates of thought. Therefore, we owe to the Bible at least the same respect we give to Homer, Shakespeare, and other classics of world literature.
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. [205]-206) and index.
About the Author
Jean Bottéro, a scholar of rare abilities, is Director Emeritus of Assyriology in the Department of Philology and History at the École pratique des hautes études. Bottéro's other books include Mesopotamia: Writing, Reasoning, and the Gods (1992) and a volume on ancient Mesopotamian cuisine.