Ancient Israel: The Former Prophets: Joshua, Judges, Samuel, a...

by Robert Alter

$52 · Offered by eBay · No longer available

Discover the compelling narrative of Israel’s ancient history through Robert Alter’s acclaimed translation of the Hebrew Bible. Renowned for its literary excellence and engaging storytelling, this translation brings to life the dramatic events and complex characters that shaped early Israel. From heroic deeds to political intrigue, Alter’s version offers an entertaining and profound exploration of these foundational texts. The books of the Former Prophets are vividly rendered in this translation, revealing a captivating blend of high literary achievement and riveting action. Readers encounter Samson, the vigilante superhero of Judges, who slaughters thousands of Philistines with the jawbone of a donkey. David, the Machiavellian prince of Samuel and Kings, stands out as one of the great literary figures of antiquity. His life, from brilliant youth through vigorous prime to failing old age, embodies a ruthless yet deeply human monarch navigating power and betrayal. Samson and David serve as emblematic figures in the rise and fall of ancient Israel, a nation marked by internal divisions and external threats. The narrative traces Israel’s origins from a scattering of contentious desert tribes united by faith in a special covenant with God. The story recounts the bloody massacres of Canaanite populations in Joshua and the anarchic violence depicted in Judges. As David consolidates national power, his rule is rooted in conspiracy, and he dies bitterly isolated in his court, surroun

• Publisher: Norton & Company, Incorporated, w. w.
• Year: 2013
• Binding: Hardcover
• ISBN: 0393082695
• Condition: Very Good

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