{"product_id":"the-original-torah-the-political-intent-of-the-bibles-writers-paperback-softback-9780814798331","title":"The Original Torah; The Political Intent of the Bible's Writers (Paperback \/ softback) 9780814798331","description":"\u003cfont face=\"Georgia\"\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"6\"\u003eThe Original Torah\u003c\/font\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\r\n\u003cfont size=\"5\"\u003eThe Political Intent of the Bible's Writers\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"4\"\u003eS. David Sperling (Author)\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e9780814798331\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003ePaperback \/ softback, published 1 February 2003\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e185 pages\u003cbr\u003e22.9 x 15.2 x 1.1 cm, 0.272 kg\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003cp align=\"justify\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e\"An excellent and provocative read . . . challenges the reader to rethink previously held suppositions concerning biblical texts.\" - Carl S. Ehrlich,York University \"Likely to be the standard work on this subject for years to come, and to contribute to one of the most important debates in the history of the Jewish people, on the very nature of Israel and the Covenant.\" - James R. Russell,Harvard University \"The modern biblical interpreter . . . faces a daunting task in trying to unravel the intentions of the Torah's authors. S. does not retreat from the challenge.\" (Theological Studies)\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp align=\"justify\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eIs the Torah true? Do the five books of Moses provide an accurate historical account of the people of ancient Israel's origins?\u003cbr\u003e  In \u003cb\u003eThe Original Torah\u003c\/b\u003e, S. David Sperling argues that, while there is no archeological evidence to support much of the activity chronicled in the Torah, a historical reality exists there if we know how to seek it.\u003cbr\u003e  By noting the use of foreign words or mentions of technological innovations scholars can often pinpoint the date and place in which a text was written. Sperling examines the stories of the Torah against their historical and geographic backgrounds and arrives at a new conclusion: the tales of the Torah were originally composed as allegories whose purpose was distinctly and intentionally political.\u003cbr\u003e  The book illustrates how the authors of the Pentateuch advanced their political and religious agenda by attributing deeds of historical figures like Jeroboam and David to ancient allegorical characters like Abraham and Jacob. If \"Abraham\" had made peace with Philistines, for example, then David could rely on a precedent to do likewise. \u003cb\u003eThe Original Torah\u003c\/b\u003e provides a new interpretive key to the foundational document of both Judaism and Christianity.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003c\/font\u003e","brand":"NYU Press","offers":[{"title":"Brand New","offer_id":52702369317144,"sku":"9780814798331","price":22.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"url":"https:\/\/freshlyprintedbooks.co.uk\/products\/the-original-torah-the-political-intent-of-the-bibles-writers-paperback-softback-9780814798331","provider":"Freshly Printed Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}