From Gods to God

Avigdor Shinan is the Yitzhak Becker Professor of Jewish Studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He is the author of numerous books in Hebrew on rabbinic literature, Jewish liturgy, and the Aramaic translations of the Bible.  Yair Zakovitch is the Emeritus Father Takeji Otsuki Professor of Bible Studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and a professor of Jewish Peoplehood at the Interdisciplinary Center (IDC) Herzliya. He is the author of numerous books in Hebrew on biblical literature and ancient interpretation of the Bible.  Valerie Zakovitch is a translator and editor of works in Jewish studies and the humanities.

• Acknowledgments Translator's Note Introduction: When God Fought the Sea DragonsPart 1. The World of Myth 1. Eden's Winged Serpent 2. When Gods Seduced Women 3. Moses or God? Who Split the Sea of Reeds? 4. What Is Manna? 5. The Hero Who Stopped the Sun Part 2. Cult and Sacred Geography 6. The Wandering Gate of Heaven 7. Seeing and Weeping: Managing the Story of a Divine Defeat 8. Where Were Rachel and Jacob Buried? 9. Where in the Wilderness Did Israel Receive the Torah? 10. Some More Reasons for Eating Matzah 11. Was Worshiping the Golden Calf a Sin? 12. Where Was the Law Given? In the Wilderness or in the Land of Israel? 13. When and How Was the City of Dan Sanctified? Part 3. Biblical Heroes and Their Biographies 14. What Did Ham Do to His Father? 15. Out of the Fire: Recovering the Story of Abraham's Origins 16. The Reinterpretation of a Name: Jacob's In Utero Activities 17. Were the Israelites Never in Egypt? A Peculiar Tradition about Ephraim 18. Moses's Most Miraculous Birth 19. Moses's African Romance 20. Moses's Necessary Death 21. Son of God? The Suspicious Story of Samson's Birth 22. A Cinderella Tale: Clues to David's Lost Birth Story 23. Finding the Real Killer of Goliath 24. How a Savior Became a Villain: Jeroboam and the Exodus Part 4. Relations between Men and Women 25. Sister or Not: Sarah's Adventures with Pharaoh 26. The Story of Rebekah and the Servant on the Road from Haran 27. Reuben, Bilhah, and a Silent Jacob 28. Seduction before Murder: The Case of Jael 29. No Innocent Death: David, Abigail, and Nabal 30. Not Just Riddles: Solomon and the Queen of Sheba In Closing Glossary of Extra-Biblical Sources Index

http://nebraskapress.typepad.com/university_of_nebraska_pr/2012/10/jps-spotlight.html "Shinan and Zakovitch approach 30 specific Bible stories (e.g., Was Goliath really slain by a young boy named David?) as literary archaeologists. . . . Their thoughtful and sympathetic exegesis uncovers possible explanations why the biblical authors saw their interpretations of these stories as best suited to instruct a nation. Most important, they introduce the oral and literary traditions of ancient Israel with breathtaking clarity and ease."—Christopher McConnell, Booklist "A meticulously researched primer on the Hebrew Bible's role as part of an evolving theological and political discourse. . . . Shinan and Zakovitch paint a richly nuanced portrait of the biblical literature as an interlocutor in the debates of its day. . . . An illuminating, challenging look at the original significance of many of the Bible's stories."—Kirkus "This book is wonderful, not just for its scholarship or for its many fascinating themes, but also because it is, simply, a joy to read."—Bob Rickard, Fortean Times "Readers interested in the legends of ancient Israelites or examining the possibilities of the biblical text from a different viewpoint will enjoy exploring the lessons of From Gods to God."—Rabbi Rachel Esserman, Reporter "This was a well researched book and shares some strong arguments on how we have come to be where we are today."-Christopher Lewis, Dad of Divas’ Reviews "This book will open readers' eyes to a whole new way of reading our sacred texts. It could forever change the way its readers will approach the subject. The term "must read" may be overused, but I believe it is appropriate in describing this book."-Stuart Lewis, Jewish Chronicle "Approachable and illuminating, the book enriches our understanding of both the biblical text and the environment in which it emerged."-Howard Freeman, JWeekly.com "[From Gods to God] can serve as both primer for the beginners as well as wide collection of case-studies and source-references for more experienced students and scholars.  . . . The authors themselves draw from the centuries-old traditions of biblical interpretation and prove that what should count in academic entourage is diversity and creativity-one cannot and should not be satisfied with a single or most popular interpretation."-Wojciech Kosior, Polish Journal of Biblical Research "In this remarkable volume, Avigdor Shinan and Yair Zakovitch have channeled their prodigious learning into a narrative about the legacy of the Bible that is not only readable but compelling. Anyone who loves the Bible and the interpretive challenges it has bequeathed generations of readers will enjoy the encounter with these two illustrious commentators."—Gary A. Anderson, Hesburgh Professor of Catholic Theology, University of Notre Dame http://www.thetower.org/article/where-denominations-lose-their-meaning/