"REMEMBER AMALEK!"
VENGEANCE, ZEALOTRY, AND GROUP DESTRUCTION IN THE BIBLE …
Louis H. Feldman
250 pages | ~7 hrs
"REMEMBER AMALEK!"
VENGEANCE, ZEALOTRY, AND GROUP DESTRUCTION IN THE BIBLE ACCORDING TO PHILO, PSEUDO-PHILO, AND JOSEPHUS (Monographs of the Hebrew Union College)
By Louis H. Feldman
This scholarly exploration delves into one of the Hebrew Bible's most challenging moral dilemmas: the divine command to completely destroy the Amalekite people. Author Louis H. Feldman examines how three pivotal ancient Jewish thinkers grappled with what modern readers might recognize as a troubling call for total annihilation.
Through careful analysis of their writings, Feldman reveals how Philo of Alexandria, the enigmatic Pseudo-Philo, and the historian Josephus each wrestled with profound ethical questions surrounding collective punishment and inherited guilt. These early commentators faced the difficult task of reconciling their understanding of divine justice with a commandment that demanded the elimination of an entire nation, including innocent children and animals, for the actions of distant ancestors.
For contemporary spiritual seekers, this work offers valuable insights into how religious thinkers have historically approached moral complexity within sacred texts. The book illuminates the intellectual struggles of those who sought to understand divine will while maintaining their ethical sensibilities. Readers interested in the evolution of religious thought, the interpretation of difficult biblical passages, and the ongoing dialogue between ancient wisdom and modern moral consciousness will find this examination particularly relevant.
Feldman's research provides a window into how spiritual authorities have navigated the tension between scriptural authority and moral reasoning, offering perspectives that remain significant for anyone seeking to understand the complexities of religious interpretation and ethical reflection.
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore Wraak
- ✓ Explore Amalekites
- ✓ Explore Amalécites
- ✓ Explore Vengeance
- ✓ Explore Criticism, interpretation, etc., Jewish
- ✓ Study Bible from spiritual perspective
- ✓ Explore Views on revenge in the Bible
- ✓ Explore Bible
Topics
Details
- Published
- 2004
- Publisher
- Hebrew Union College Press
- ISBN-13
- 9780878204557
- ISBN-10
- 0878204555
- Pages
- 250
- Language
- EN
