Douglas A. Knight

Social Criticism and Social Vision in Ancient Israel

Biblical Studies & Commentaries

“One of today's most prolific and wide-ranging critics of the Hebrew Bible, Walter Brueggemann assembles here eight studies of diverse biblical texts and traditions. They all reflect his consistent interest in sociological analysis, and they share in common a focus on the poignant need for justice in the face of power imbalances and social, economic, and political oppression. A powerful and compelling resource for biblical studies.”

The Elohist

Biblical Studies & Commentaries

“Robert Gnuse brings an impressive knowledge of Pentateuchal scholarship to bear on the long-debated question of the existence and purpose of the Elohist. He builds a strong case for regarding these traditions as distinct cycles of tales crafted largely during the century after the Assyrian conquest to help the exiles deal theologically with this defeat. Carefully comparing these texts with the early prophetic and later Yahwistic traditions, Gnuse offers an illuminating contribution to the discussion.”

The Spirit and the Word

Biblical Studies & Commentaries

“Sigmund Mowinckel, the prolific Norwegian scholar whose career spanned half of a century until his death in 1965, is best known for his work on the Psalms, but he repeatedly returned to the prophets whom he saw as key religious leaders in ancient Israel. In the publications assembled in this book he exhibits a sensitive feel for the character of their life and work, especially the manner in which their utterances grew into a body of oral traditions and finally became the literary books we now have in the Hebrew Bible. With exceptional insight, Mowinckel demonstrates how the prophets' religious and moral fervor lent authority to their message, producing a tremendous impact not only on their own followers but on generations to come.”