Studies in the Five Books of Moses

The five studies in this volume focus on aspects of the narratives in the Five Books of Moses (The Pentateuch) that have frequently been glossed over by commentators, ancient and modern, and remain contentious to this very day. These studies address issues such as the complex triangular relationships between Sarah, Abraham, and Hagar as depicted in the book of Genesis; the 'bridegroom of blood' episode in the story of Moses and his Midianite wife Zipporah as related in the book of Exodus; the meaning and implications of the Golden Rule of biblical ethics as set forth in the book of Leviticus; the zealotry of Phinehas as seen from different perspectives in the book of Numbers; and the differences between the episodes of the Israelite spies as depicted in the books of Numbers and Deuteronomy. Although these studies do not claim to resolve the issues they examine, it is their purpose to stimulate further interest in the complexities of the ancient biblical narratives and the hidden insights about human nature they provide.