*Uses both a narratological and historical-critical method to read these specific passages of Jeremiah *Demonstrates that the story of Jeremiah and Zedekiah is not the typical god prophet/bad king story found in much of prophetic literature and the Deuteronomic History *Provides an intertextual reading of the passages which connects Jeremiah to other figures in the Old Testament The book offers a narratological and intertextual reading of Jeremiah 37:1-40:6, a text that features the dynamic interaction between the prophet Jeremiah and King Zedekiah in the context of events surrounding the fall of Jerusalem. While there have been many literary studies of biblical texts, there has been little such work on the narratives in the book of Jeremiah. This fact is surprising since the Jeremianic stories are narrated in a lively and sophisticated manner and contain complex characters and vivid dialogue and action, reminiscent of texts in the Primary History which have received much more literary attention. Roncace's book begins to uncover the richness of the prophetic narratives in Jeremiah. The study focuses on issues of characterization and point of view as well as the text's connections with other passages in the book of Jeremiah and those beyond it, particularly the Deuteronomistic History. Roncace argues that the text develops complex images of both Zedekiah and Jeremiah. It is not a story of the good prophet and the bad king; times as chaotic and confusing as the final days of Jerusalem do not call for a black-and-white story. Rather the text invites both sympathy and criticism for Jeremiah and Zedekiah. Jeremiah is the embattled prophet of God; yet at times he appears deceptive and manipulative, more concerned about his own well-being than that of the people, and his message can be ambiguous and in the end is not fully correct. Zedekiah, for his part, appears receptive to Jeremiah's word and protects the prophet from others who would harm him; yet he is too irresolute to take any action to save the city. The ambiguity in the portrayals of both figures is further developed by intertextual connections. Jeremiah can be compared to Moses, the Rabshakeh, Daniel, Joseph, Samuel, Nathan, and Micaiah, while Zedekiah can be compared to the monarchs that correspond to these figures (Pharaoh, Hezekiah, Saul, David, and Ahab).

A revolutionary title for and by the global community This exciting first edition of Global Perspectives on the Bible, edited by Mark Roncace and Joseph Weaver, collects writings from a variety of geographic, social, cultural, political, economic, and religious settings. The book features forty chapters, each comprised of four short, accessible essays on a specific biblical text. This design creates a focused, dynamic conversation of perspectives, which will in turn prompt engaging conversations in the classroom. Students will learn about themselves and their own particular context as they explore the ideas and contexts of other biblical interpreters from around the globe. In addition to presenting truly fresh interpretations of the Bible-this is no predictable compendium of scholarly essays-the book features discussion questions at the end of each chapter, as well as many additional questions in the Instructor's Resource Manual. Learning Goals Upon completing this book, readers will be able to: Approach the Bible with a better understanding of how the text means different things to different people. Analyze and compare various interpretations of the Bible. Gain a new understanding of their own perspectives on the Bible. -- ALERT: Before you purchase, check with your instructor or review your course syllabus to ensure that you select the correct ISBN. Several versions of Pearson's MyLab & Mastering products exist for each title, including customized versions for individual schools, and registrations are not transferable. In addition, you may need a CourseID, provided by your instructor, to register for and use Pearson's MyLab & Mastering products. Packages Access codes for Pearson's MyLab & Mastering products may not be included when purchasing or renting from companies other than Pearson; check with the seller before completing your purchase. Used or rental books If you rent or purchase a used book with an access code, the access code may have been redeemed previously and you may have to purchase a new access code. Access codes Access codes that are purchased from sellers other than Pearson carry a higher risk of being either the wrong ISBN or a previously redeemed code. Check with the seller prior to purchase.

While books on pedagogy in a theoretical mode have proliferated in recent years, there have been few that offer practical, specific ideas for teaching particular biblical texts. To address this need, "Teaching the Bible," a collection of ideas and activities written by dozens of innovative college and seminary professors, outlines effective classroom strategies-with a focus on active learning-for the new teacher and veteran professor alike. It includes everything from ways to incorporate film, literature, art, and music to classroom writing assignments and exercises for groups and individuals. The book assumes an academic approach to the Bible but represents a wide range of methodological, theological, and ideological perspectives. This volume is an indispensable resource for anyone who teaches classes on the Bible. "Paperback edition is available from the Society of Biblical Literature (www.sbl-site.org)"

The Bible is dynamic and powerful. But the Good Book isn't always good. It can be confusing, disturbing, and sometimes downright ugly. So it's been censored. It's been robbed of its beauty and truth . . . by the church. Preachers of every ilk and denomination cook the Book, boiling away the unsightly and unpalatable passages. They never tell you that God can be a misogynistic, genocidal maniac, that Jesus encourages self-castration, that the Easter stories in the four Gospels are incompatible, that Paul was wrong about Jesus' second coming, and that the Bible does not forbid abortion or premarital sex.
Fast-paced, hard-hitting, and entertaining, "Raw Revelation" calls Christians to resist the attractively packaged and processed Scripture and to dig in and deal honestly with the messy and tasteless aspects of the all natural Word of God. As Jesus himself says, believers are "to live on "every" word that proceeds from the mouth of God," not only the words carefully selected and sanitized for Sunday sermons and sound bites. Regardless of your beliefs (or non belief), this book offers plenty of food for thought. At a time when wars are fought over religious differences, when the close association of Christianity and American politics puts the Bible in the public square, and when many people around the globe continue to believe in the Bible (even if they have not read it), everyone should know the uncensored content of the world's all time best seller. So here it is. Real. Raw. Scripture.
100 percent of the proceeds from this book will be given to international Christian organizations.

While books on pedagogy in a theoretical mode have proliferated in recent years, there have been few that offer practical, specific ideas for teaching particular biblical texts. To address this need, "Teaching the Bible," a collection of ideas and activities written by dozens of innovative college and seminary professors, outlines effective classroom strategies-with a focus on active learning-for the new teacher and veteran professor alike. It includes everything from ways to incorporate film, literature, art, and music to classroom writing assignments and exercises for groups and individuals. The book assumes an academic approach to the Bible but represents a wide range of methodological, theological, and ideological perspectives. This volume is an indispensable resource for anyone who teaches classes on the Bible. "Paperback edition is available from the Society of Biblical Literature (www.sbl-site.org)"