The Historical David: The Real Life of an Invented Hero - Brossura

Baden, Joel

Brossura

ISBN 10: 0062188372 ISBN 13: 9780062188373

Casa editrice: Harperone, 2014

Riassunto

Joel Baden, a leading expert on the Old Testament, offers a controversial look at the history of King David, the founder of the nation of Israel whose bloodline leads to Jesus, challenging prevailing popular beliefs about his legend inThe Historical David.

Baden makes clear that the biblical account of David is an attempt to shape the events of his life politically and theologically. Going beyond the biblical bias, he explores the events that lie behind the David story, events that are grounded in the context of the ancient Near East and continue to inform modern Israel.

The Historical David exposes an ambitious, ruthless, flesh-and-blood man who achieved power by any means necessary, including murder, theft, bribery, sex, deceit, and treason. As Baden makes clear, the historical David stands in opposition not only to the virtuous and heroic legends, but to our very own self-definition as David’s national and religious descendants.

Provocative and enlightening, The Historical David provides the lost truth about David and poses a challenge to us: how do we come to terms with the reality of a celebrated hero who was, in fact, similar to the ambitious power-players of his day?

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Recensione:

“Reading between and behind the lines of the biblical text and its silences, Baden gives an engaging reconstruction of who the true David may have been. This is a brilliant synthesis, with some unexpected and even daring twists of interpretation. A tour de force!” (Michael Coogan, Harvard Divinity School lecturer, Director of Publications for the Harvard Semitic Museum and editor of The New Oxford Annotated Bible)

“This revisionist take on King David—as brilliant politician but despicable human being—combines the best of historical study and literary imagination. Baden’s challenge to traditional understandings of Israel’s king is always provocative, often compelling, and completely fascinating.” (Amy-Jill Levine, Professor of New Testament and Jewish Studies at Vanderbilt University and author of The Misunderstood Jew)

“An invigoratingly grown-up reading of the Bible, taking it seriously but not literally.... David emerges no longer as the author of the Psalms or the slayer of Goliath, yet Baden’s scholarly analysis leaves the usurper-King as one of the most crucial shapers of world history.” (Diarmaid MacCulloch, Professor of the History of the Church, University of Oxford, author of Christianity: The First Three Thousand Years)

“[Baden] succeeds positively, powerfully, and persuasively in locating Israel’s once and future king as an actual historical figure. The multiple layers of fact and fiction, history and theology are cleanly and clearly distinguished but without either modern apologetics or contemporary polemics.” (John Dominic Crossan, author of The Historical Jesus)

“Lively....This is a provocative book that raises questions about the nature of biblical narrative and also about the historical continuity of the Davidic line.” (John J. Collins, Holmes Professor of Old Testament, Yale University)

“All praise be—again—to those biblical studies scholars who can make ancient history matter and can shed light on long–held beliefs. In clear prose and with a documented command of what others have said before him, Baden offers a provocative reinterpretation of one of Western culture’s heroes.” (Publishers Weekly)

“For readers open to debating this beloved biblical figure, The Historical David will make compelling reading.” (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette)

Utterly fascinating and written with sublime lucidity. (Booklist, starred review)

L'autore:

Joel S. Baden is Professor of Old Testament at Yale Divinity School and the author of several works on the Hebrew Bible, including The Composition of the Pentateuch and The Promise to the Patriarchs. Baden's articles have appeared in the Los Angeles Times, The Daily Beast, CNN's Belief Blog, and The Huffington Post. He lives in New Haven, Connecticut.

Su questa edizione

• Editore: Harperone
• Data di pubblicazione: 2014
• ISBN 10: 0062188372
• ISBN 13: 9780062188373
• Rilegatura: Copertina flessibile
• Numero di pagine: 310