Ethical Ambiguity in the Hebrew Bible
Philosophical Analysis of Scriptural Narrative

Elucidates the Scriptural moral tradition by subjecting ethically challenging biblical texts to moral philosophical analysis.

Shira Weiss (Author)

9781108429405, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 6 September 2018

258 pages
23.5 x 15.7 x 1.9 cm, 0.52 kg

In this book, Shira Weiss elucidates the moral tradition of the Hebrew Bible by subjecting ethically challenging biblical texts to moral philosophical analysis. Examining the most essential questions of Jewish Thought, she uses contemporary philosophy to decipher Scriptural ethics as uncovered from a variety of biblical stories. Aided by ancient, medieval, and contemporary resources, Weiss presents a comprehensive discussion of enduring ethical questions that arise from biblical narrative and continue to be contested in modern times. She shows how such analysis can unsettle assumptions and beliefs, as well as foster moral reflection. Ethical Ambiguity in the Hebrew Bible will be of interest to scholars and students of ethics, philosophy, Jewish thought, biblical theology, and exegesis.

1. Religion and morality
2. Divine command morality
3. Divine justice
4. Ethics of price gouging
5. Ethics of deception
6. Ethics of spy seduction
7. Conclusion
Appendix: ethics of treatment of war captives.

Subject Areas: Judaism: theology [HRJT], Judaism: sacred texts [HRJS], Judaism [HRJ], Philosophy of religion [HRAB], Religion & beliefs [HR], Humanities [H]