The Good Life in the Old Testament

(Paperback)

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Description

Can we know how the ancient Israelites conceived of "the good life" In this his last work, Norman Whybray brings his considerable learning to this question, in a social and theological study of the Hebrew Bible. He discovers that, far from giving a faint or undifferentiated picture of "the good life," the books of the Old Testament each yield a distinct impression of what this life entails, underpinned by divine guidance and protection.Comprehensive in scope, and marked by Professor Whybray's lucid thought and style, this book is a fitting addition to the work of an illustrious scholar. It will richly reward any reader interested in the social world as depicted in the Bible, and in God's relationship with it.

Reviews

"...Whybray, a prestigious Old Testament scholar, moves easily through all the books of the Protestant canon... showing that "the good life" means different things in different life circumstances. In this way he also provides insight into the social world behind the respective texts."- The Bible Today, April/ May 2006
"This comprehensive study by Whybray is an excellent resource on the conception of the good life' as presented in the OT.... Written in a lucid, enjoyable, and informative style, this book will interest a wide array of scholars, students, and ministers."- D. Charles Smith, Religious Studies Review, Vol. 33 No. 1 January 2007 -- Religious Studies Review

Author Bio

The late was Emeritus Professor of Hebrew and Old Testament Studies at the Univeristy of Hull.