by hadassah | Nov 4, 2008 | Critical Approaches to the Bible
Because of the stern injunction against representing God, images depicting the Almighty are rarely found in Jewish book art. However, artists did find other ways of depicting divine presence, as in this illustration of one of the most momentous episodes in the Hebrew...
by hadassah | Jul 20, 2008 | Critical Approaches to the Bible
Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the break of dawn. (Genesis 32-24) Utterly alone in the dead of night, Jacob is attacked by a mysterious assailant. Despite the fact that Scripture identifies Jacob’s antagonist simply as a man, Rembrandt...
by hadassah | Jul 20, 2008 | Critical Approaches to the Bible
An Angel Prevents the Sacrifice of Isaac, Rembrandt (1606-1669). Consider the play of hands in this canvas painting. The helpless hands behind Isaac’s back render him a passive sacrificial offering. As for the hands of the angel of the Lord – one...
by hadassah | Jul 20, 2008 | Critical Approaches to the Bible
…And the two of them walked on together. Then Isaac said to Abraham his father, ‘Father!’ and he answered, ‘Yes, my son.’ And he said, ‘Here are the fire and the wood; but where is the sheep for the burnt offering?’ And...
by hadassah | Jul 20, 2008 | Critical Approaches to the Bible
The matter distressed Abraham greatly, for it concerned his son…And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a skin of water, and gave them to Hagar. He placed them over her shoulder, together with the child, and sent her away. (Genesis 21-14)...
by hadassah | Jul 15, 2008 | Critical Approaches to the Bible
Overview Introduction to Genesis 12-50, Christine Hayes, Open Yale Courses (Transcription), 2006. Primary sources Genesis 12-36 Genesis 37-50 Genesis 22- The Sacrifice of Isaac, Texts and Traditions, ed. Lawrence H. Schiffman, Ktav Publishing House, Hoboken NJ, 1998....
