The Philosophy of Hebrew Scripture

What if the Hebrew Bible wasn't meant to be read as 'revelation'? What if it's not really about miracles or the afterlife - but about how to lead our lives in this world? The Philosophy of Hebrew Scripture proposes a new framework for reading the Bible. It shows how biblical authors used narrative and prophetic oratory to advance universal arguments about ethics, political philosophy and metaphysics. It offers bold new studies of biblical narratives and prophetic poetry, transforming forever our understanding of what the stories of Abel, Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Moses and David and the speeches of Isaiah and Jeremiah, were meant to teach. The Philosophy of Hebrew Scripture assumes no belief in God or other religious commitment. It assumes no previous background in Bible. It is free of disciplinary jargon. Open the door to a book you never knew existed. You'll never read the Bible the same way again. 'It would be hard to exaggerate the importance of Hazony's splendid work. This bold attempt to distil the intellectual essence of biblical wisdom deserves the widest possible audience and the most careful attention, regardless of religious denomination or lack of it, from philosophers.' Standpoint Magazine 'Not only is The Philosophy of Hebrew Scripture a must for philosophy scholars, but also for every thinking Jew who wants to understand and appreciate the Torah from an intellectual perspective. Written in an accessible style, it casts new light on biblical characters and narrative, encouraging us to use our minds to understand its psychological and philosophical complexity.' Doreen Wachmann, Jewish Telegraph1. Introduction: beyond reason and revelation; Part I: Reading Hebrew Scripture: 2. The structure of the Hebrew Bible; 3. What is the purpose of the Hebrew Bible?; 4. How does the Bible make arguments of a general nature?; Part II: The Philosophy of Hebrew Scripture: Five Studies: 5. The ethics of a shepherd; 6. The history of Israel, Genesis-Kings: a political philosophy; 7. Jeremiah and the problem of knowing; 8. Truth and being in Hebrew scripture; 9. Jerusalem and Carthage; Part III: Conclusion: 10. God's speech after reason and revelation.