See buying choices for this item to see if it's one of the millions that are eligible for Amazon Prime.


Have one to sell? Sell yours here
 
   
The Bible as it Was (Belknap)
 
See larger image
 

The Bible as it Was (Belknap) (Paperback)

by JL Kugel (Author)
4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)

Available from these sellers.


12 used from £17.50
Other Editions: RRP: Our Price: Other Offers:
Hardcover (annotated edition) £24.95 £23.70 9 used & new from £16.44

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

How to Read the Bible: A Guide to Scripture, Then and Now

How to Read the Bible: A Guide to Scripture, Then and Now

by James L. Kugel
£11.54
The God of Old: Inside the Lost World of the Bible

The God of Old: Inside the Lost World of the Bible

by James L Kugel
£7.13
In Defence of History

In Defence of History

by Richard J. Evans
4.4 out of 5 stars (9)  £7.49
From Reliable Sources: An Introduction to Historical Methods

From Reliable Sources: An Introduction to Historical Methods

by Martha Howell
5.0 out of 5 stars (1)  £11.50
Understanding Genesis: Heritage of Biblical Israel (The heritage of Biblical Israel)

Understanding Genesis: Heritage of Biblical Israel (The heritage of Biblical Israel)

by Nahum M. Sarna
5.0 out of 5 stars (1)  £9.89
Explore similar items

Product details

  • Paperback: 696 pages
  • Publisher: Harvard University Press; New edition edition (1 Nov 1999)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0674069412
  • ISBN-13: 978-0674069411
  • Product Dimensions: 25.2 x 16.2 x 3.3 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 991,742 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)
  • See Complete Table of Contents

Customers Viewing This Page May Be Interested in These Sponsored Links

  (What is this?)
Bible Summer Sale
   www.WesleyOwen.com/Bargain_Bibles    UpTo 50% Off Over 1,000s Bibles Free Delivery - Orders over £5.00 
2008: God's Last Warning
   www.the-end.com    The downfall of the US has begun with economic collapse being first 
Bible & Bible Cover Sale
   www.BookCloseouts.com    All our Bibles are 50-90% off Save big with BookCloseouts 
  
 

Product Description

Review
Biblical commentaries from 1,500 years ago? How significant could they be to our modern-day perception of biblical stories? Extremely. The picture painted by James L. Kugel... in his recent book, "The Bible As It Was", is that it was those interpreters, often anonymous and today largely unknown, who significantly molded our understanding of the Bible...Kugel offers a large, well-selected collection of these interpretations on 23 of the better-known biblical stories. He presents them in a masterful way that makes them easily accessible and enjoyable to the layman...[and places them in]...proper historical and religious context..."The Bible As It Was" can be read from cover to cover or it can be used as a resource by someone studying a particular biblical incident. The sources in this book are crucial to understanding our Bible, and Kugel has done a great service by making them accessible to the general public. -- Ari Zivotofsky "Cleveland Jewish News"

Product Description
This is a guide to the Hebrew Bible. Leading the reader chapter by chapter through its most important stories from the "Creation" and the "Tree of Knowledge" through the "Exodus from Egypt" and the "Journey to the Promised Land", James Kugel shows how a group of anonymous, ancient interpreters radically transformed the Bible and made it into the book that has come down to us today. Was the snake in the Garden of Eden the devil, or the garden itself "paradise"? Did Abraham discover monotheism, and was his son Isaac a willing martyr? Not until the ancient interpreters set to work. Poring over every detail in the Bible's stories, prophecies, and laws, they let their own theological and imaginative inclinations transform the Bible's very nature. Their sometimes surprising interpretations soon became the generally accepted meaning. These interpretations, and not the mere words of the text, became the Bible in the time of Jesus and Paul or the rabbis of the Talmud. Drawing on such sources as the Dead Sea Scrolls, ancient Jewish apocrypha, Hellenistic writings, longlost retellings of Bible stories, and prayers and sermons of the early church and synagogue, Kugel reconstructs the theory and methods of interpretation at the time when the Bible was becoming the bedrock of Judaism and Christianity. Here the reader is shown all the major transformations of the text and the development of the Bible is recreated as it was at the start of the Common era, the Bible as we know it.

Suggested Tags from Similar Products

 (What's this?)
Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)
Check a corresponding box or enter your own tags in the field below
biblical studies
biblical history
theology
midrash
biblical criticism

Your tags: Add your first tag
 

 

Customer Reviews

1 Review
5 star:    (0)
4 star:
 (1)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.0 out of 5 stars (1 customer review)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
0 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Thought provoking, well researched and well argued, 30 Jun 1998
By A Customer
This review is from: The Bible as it Was (Hardcover)
The author shows how Jews living in the years before and after the birth of Christ interpreted the Pentateuch and why they did so. It is amazing how their "spin" is still the accepted explanation among Christians today. It led me to re-evaluate many of my beliefs.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)


Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Only search this product's reviews



Customer Discussions

 Beta (What's this?)
This product's forum (0 discussions)
  Discussion Replies Latest Post
  No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
  [Cancel]


Active discussions in related forums
   
Related forums


Listmania!


Look for similar items by category


Feedback


The Body Shop

The Body Shop - Vitamin C Skin Boost
Protect and boost your glow with The Body Shop Vitamin C Skin Boost.

Shop The Body Shop

 

More From James L. Kugel

The Idea of...

The Idea of Biblical Poetry...

Is there poetry in the Bible? Does it have rhyme or meter? How did... Read more

 

A Close Shave

Philips Nivea Coolskin HS8060 Moisturizing Rotary Shaving System
For all types of hair removal, stay smooth with Amazon.co.uk.

Discover Shaving & Hair Removal

 

Treat Someone

Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificates--available in any amount from £5 to £500 With an Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificate, you can get them what they want (even if you don't know what that is).

Learn more about Gift Certificates

 
Ad

Where's My Stuff?

Delivery and Returns

Need Help?

Your Recent History

  (What's this?)
You have no recently viewed items or searches.

After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.

Look to the right column to find helpful suggestions for your shopping session.

Continue Shopping: Top Sellers
The Girl Who Played with Fire
Breaking Dawn (Twilight Saga)
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
The Host
The Host by Stephenie Meyer

amazon.co.uk Amazon Home
International Sites:  United States  |  Germany  |  France  |  Japan  |  Canada  |  China
Business Programs: Sell on Amazon  |  Fulfilment by Amazon  |  Join Associates  |  Join Advantage
Customer Service  |  Help  |  View Basket  |  Your Account
About Amazon.co.uk  |  Careers at Amazon
Conditions of Use & Sale |  Privacy Notice  © 1996-2009, Amazon.com, Inc. and its affiliates