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A Letter That Has Not Been Read
Since Freud, the study of dreams has typically involved inquiry into past and present emotional states. The ancients, unfamiliar with the intricate byways of the human soul revealed by modern psychology, typically saw dreams as channels of communication between human beings and external sources. Shaul Bar explores the etymology of key terms for dreams in the Hebrew Bible, presents dozens of examples of biblical dreams and visions, and categorizes them as prophetic, symbolic, or incubation. He studies biblical dreams and visions in the context of similar phenomena in the literature of neighboring cultures and analyzes the functions of dream reports in the biblical corpus. The literature of dr...
God's First King
Saul was the first king of Israel (1029-1005 BCE). His life was full of drama and tribulations, and ended tragically. The book of Samuel portrays Saul as a colorful personality with excesses--as the classic tragic hero. Moreover, Saul's excellent virtues qualified him for the monarchy. He had courage and military power. Saul was modest and shy. In contrast to the positive portrayal of Saul in some biblical narrative, many other passages in the Hebrew Bible portray Saul negatively--as a paranoid man who chased demons, as obsessed with the pursuit of David. Thus he struggles constantly with his own family members as well as his circle of friends. From the battle at Michmas till the last day of his life, fear is Saul's constant companion. Readers of this volume will rediscover Saul, will have a better understanding of his achievements and failures as the first king of Israel. We trust that this study will afford a provocative and useful insight into the character of Saul.
Samuel
Samuel, the man of God, was instrumental in the transition of a loose confederacy of Hebrew tribes to a centralized monarchy. The book of Samuel starts with his birth and ends with Saul’s death on Mount Gilboa. The character of Samuel, who has been equally compared to Moses and Aaron, serves as a link between the various stories. In two major speeches Samuel rejects the idea of monarchy; still, as a loyal servant of the Lord, he anoints Saul as the first king of Israel and later, he anoints David. Why did Samuel vehemently reject the idea of kingship? Did Samuel have his own agenda, and was his opposition to the monarchy motivated by his own personal aspiration? There are several titles that label him: priest, prophet, seer, judge, and “the man of God.” Who was Samuel? Nowhere else in the Hebrew Bible is there a description of a person such as Samuel, who was raised from the grave and delivered a message of doom. Readers of this volume will rediscover Samuel through a better understanding of achievements and failures.
Isaac
Throughout his life, Isaac remained a passive tent dweller. He did not go to find a wife; his servant brought a wife to him. He did not go to war; and when conflict arose, he withdrew. In the story of his binding, he was passive, and it appears as though he was bound forever on the altar. Isaac was dominated by his father Abraham, his wife Rebecca, Abimelech king of Gerar, and his sons Jacob and Esau. For most of his life, he is led by others, and his actions are reactions to the developing situations. He appears to have little personality and is better known as the son of his father Abraham, or the father of his sons Jacob and Esau.
A Nation Is Born
A life's journey that started with a struggle and deception continues into adulthood. Jacob's life was full of drama--feuding with his brother Esau, wrestling with an angel, and jealousy between his wives Rachel and Leah. One beloved wife who is barren at first and one unloved wife who is blessed with sons. Fathering children who formed the twelve tribes of Israel. The Jacob story invites the reader into tensions between settling and wandering, hope and despair, trickery and fidelity, faith and doubt. These stories reflect Jacob's life and his struggles with people and God. Regarding the Jacob stories, the question of their composition and historical value has captured the attention of Biblical scholars for centuries. Some view these accounts as myths or literary epics. So what is behind these stories? To answer these questions the author examines the patriarch's beliefs, customs, and daily life. In this book the author provides provocative and useful answers regarding who the father of the nation of Israel was.
Daily Life of the Patriarchs
The Biblical narrative portrays the patriarchs and the matriarchs as fallible human beings. Were the patriarchs real people? Or were many details in the Book of Genesis fictions projecting later romantic ideals? To answer these questions the authors examine the patriarchs' daily life, beliefs, and customs.
Here Comes the Dreamer
The Joseph story starts when he was seventeen years old and ends with his death at one hundred and ten. These years included near death experiences, hatred among brothers, jealousy, a bizarre world of dreams, temptation, imprisonment, and his rise to power as grand vizier of Egypt. All of these events led to a change--once an arrogant young man with grandiose dreams, now he became a down to earth man with a sense of humility and a basic sentiment of religion. There was no more hatred among brothers, but love, which led to their eventual reconciliation. Joseph's life as portrayed in the book of Genesis was the starting point of many legends and commentaries found in the Talmud, Midrashim, and medieval commentaries. His behavior was an exemplary prototype of a righteous man; it served as a model for how a person should conduct himself.
The Samson Story
Love, seduction, betrayal, violence, riddles, and myth all find their place in the biblical story of Samson. Samson is the last of the judges, with 20 percent of the book devoted to him--more than any other judge. From the beginning, Samson is unlike any other judge, which the author suggests when narrating Samson's birth. Samson is destined, even before his birth, to deliver Israel. He doesn't lead his people into battle, he acts alone; his battles are personal vendettas. Samson fights with a lion, defeats the Philistines with the jawbone of an ass, captures foxes, sets Philistine fields on fire, and carries the Gates of Gaza on his shoulders. So what stands behind these stories? Was Samson...
God’s First King
Saul was the first king of Israel (1029-1005 BCE). His life was full of drama and tribulations, and ended tragically. The book of Samuel portrays Saul as a colorful personality with excesses--as the classic tragic hero. Moreover, Saul's excellent virtues qualified him for the monarchy. He had courage and military power. Saul was modest and shy. In contrast to the positive portrayal of Saul in some biblical narrative, many other passages in the Hebrew Bible portray Saul negatively--as a paranoid man who chased demons, as obsessed with the pursuit of David. Thus he struggles constantly with his own family members as well as his circle of friends. From the battle at Michmas till the last day of his life, fear is Saul's constant companion. Readers of this volume will rediscover Saul, will have a better understanding of his achievements and failures as the first king of Israel. We trust that this study will afford a provocative and useful insight into the character of Saul.
The Jewish Economic Elite
1. Amsterdam: a center of credit -- 2. Frankfurt an der Oder: Central European middlemen -- 3. Border lands: legal restrictions, army supplying, and economic success -- 4. Praga: a stepping stone -- 5. Warsaw: the rise of a Jewish economic elite
