Desire, Discord and Death

Neal Walls is Associate Professor of Old Testament Interpretation at Wake Forest University. A scholar of the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament and related ancient Near Eastern texts, Walls is fascinated by the breadth, depth, and complexity of Old Testament literature. He enjoys helping students to become skillful interpreters of scripture, to appreciate the diversity of theological perspectives within the canon, and to reclaim the Old Testament’s abundant theological imagination for the church’s ministries today. Walls also leads pilgrimages and travel programs to Africa and the Middle East.

• Introduction: Hidden Riches in Secret Places Methods and Approaches 1. The Allure of Gilgamesh: The Construction of Desire in the Gilgamesh Epic Introduction: The Construction of Desire: Queering Gilgamesh The Erotic Gilgamesh: The Prostitute and the Primal Man: Inciting Desire, The Gaze of Ishtar: Denying Desire, Heroic Love: Requiting Desire, The Death of Desire Conclusion 2. On the Couch with Horus and Seth: A Freudian Analysis Introduction: Oedipus in Ancient Egypt A Contentious Court: Two Episodes: The Insult and the Enigma, Island Intrigue The Three Contests: Under the Water, In the Bed, On the Boat Conclusion 3. Desire in Death’s Realm: Sex, Power, and Violence in “Nergal and Ereshkigal” Introduction: Giving Death its Due Crucible of Desire: Ereshkigal’s Wiles A Goddess Scorned: Ereshkigal’s Complaint To Reign in Hell: Nergal’s Return, Gender and Power Conclusion: Desire and Death References Subject Index Text Index