Immoral Bible

Eryl W. Davies is Professor Emeritus of Hebrew Bible at Bangor University, UK. His previous publications include Prophecy and Ethics: Isaiah and the Ethical Traditions of Israel (1981); a commentary on Numbers in the New Century Bible Commentary Series, and The Dissenting Reader: Feminist Approaches to the Hebrew Bible (2003)

Eryl W. Davies is one of the keen observers of interpretive method in the contemporary study of the Hebrew Bible. In this eminently readable volume, he turns his perceptive eye to ethically problematic texts, especially those tied to "holy war." This volume will help those who study these texts see the implications of their approaches and more carefully craft their interpretive efforts. The concluding chapter articulates nicely a constructive approach to the place of readers in the task of interpretation. Both scholars and students will find much in The Immoral Bible to aid their work. It is a model of how attention to method can actually assist in the task of interpretation.

• Chapter 1IntroductionThe Ethically Problematic Passages of the Hebrew Bible: An OverviewViolence and Warfare in the Hebrew Bible - recent discussions of the subjectHoly War and its Ramifications - the biblical account of the conquest of Canaan in Joshua 6-11Conclusion Chapter 2The Evolutionary ApproachRise of the Evolutionary Approach - scholars during the latter half of the 19th and early 20th centuriesThe Evolutionary Approach and the Holy War Tradition(a)Advantages of the Evolutionary Approach (b)Weaknesses of the Evolutionary ApproachConclusionChapter 3The Cultural Relativists' ApproachThe Theory of Cultural RelativismCultural Relativism and the Hebrew Bible Cultural Relativism and the Holy War Tradition (a) Advantages of the Cultural Relativists' Approach (b)Weaknesses of the Cultural Relativists' ApproachConclusionChapter 4 The Canonical ApproachIntroduction The Canon within the Canon Approach The Canon within the Canon Approach and the Holy War Tradition(a)The Advantages of the Canon within the Canon Approach (b)The Weaknesses of the Canon within a Canon Approach The Holistic ApproachThe Holistic Approach and the Holy War Tradition(a)The Advantages of the Holistic Approach (b)The Weaknesses of the Holistic ApproachConclusionChapter 5The Paradigmatic ApproachIntroductionThe Paradigmatic Approach and the Holy War Tradition(a)The Advantages of the Paradigmatic Approach (b)The Weaknesses of the Paradigmatic Approach ConclusionChapter 6The Reader Response ApproachIntroduction The Reader Response Approach and the Holy War Tradition(a)The Advantages of the Reader Response Approach (b)The Weaknesses of the Reader Response ApproachConclusionChapter 7Conclusion