The Pentateuch is one anchor of the Western religious heritage, a
rich source of theological and spiritual instruction capable of
being plumbed again and again. In "Treasures Old and New"
accomplished biblical scholar Joseph Blenkinsopp engages twelve
topics of great interest to thoughtful people today, and does so in
dialogue with texts from the Pentateuch.
In keeping with the view that the Pentateuch is far too
multiplex to be encapsulated in a single theological system,
Blenkinsopp has written "Treasures Old and New" as a sketchbook of
theology in the Pentateuch. This fruitful approach allows him to
consider themes that easily fall through the cracks of more
systematic works of biblical theology. Among the many interesting
subjects Blenkinsopp explores are the role of memory in the
construction of the past, the dependence of Christianity on
Judaism, the close connection between sacrifice and community in
Old Testament Israel, the proper meaning of human stewardship of
the world, and belief (or lack of belief) in a meaningful
post-mortem existence.
Blenkinsopp believes that scripture is infinitely interpretable,
and that we are free to read the Bible in more flexible,
fascinating, and exciting ways. In keeping with the great variety
of discourses in the Pentateuch, the standard historical-critical
method must coexist with other, and in some cases, much older
interpretive approaches to texts. Blenkinsopp here ably
demonstrates this perspectival approach to scripture by reading
well-known texts from less well-known angles. The Garden of Eden
story, for example, gains in resonance when read together with
"Gilgamesh," and the laws governing diet and cleanliness come
clearer in thelight of current ecological concerns. Blenkinsopp's
approach also throws new light on such important yet enigmatic
stories as the Creation, Cain and Abel, the Flood, the Tower of
Babel, the Call of Abram, Sodom and Gomorrah, and others.
Blessed with an extraordinary ability to transmit complex issues
in concise and lucid fashion, Blenkinsopp has put forth great
effort to make this sketchbook accessible. Footnotes have been kept
to a minimum, and Blenkinsopp has transliterated the few Hebrew
references and used his own, more idiomatic translations of
biblical texts wherever they seemed clearer than the standard
translations. As a result, this volume can be pursued profitably by
scholars, students, and readers alike. Above all, "Treasures Old
and New" shows that serious engagement with biblical texts, while
sometimes demanding, can be intellectually and religiously
rewarding.
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