Genesis Ideology: Essays on the Uses and Meanings of Stories

Genesis Ideology explores the purpose of stories in the book of Genesis as building blocks for ancient Israelite culture. This book exposes the intersection of the authors ideological agenda and the contemporary readers interpretive practice. This volume written for a general readership is informed by contemporary scholarly approaches to biblical literature as well as questions of contemporary relevance. On very rare occasions a book appears that screams Read me! Genesis Ideology is such a book. In clear and cogent language David Aaron provides an original framework for understanding the book of Genesis in light of the ideological concerns of its authors. Drawing on his vast knowledge of Ancient Near Eastern literature and modern literary theory Aaron allows seemingly familiar biblical passages to yield novel ethical and religious meanings. This book will richly reward its readers! --David Ellenson Director Schusterman Center for Israel Studies Brandeis University; Chancellor Emeritus former President Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion David H. Aaron is Professor of Hebrew Bible and the History of Interpretation at Hebrew Union College Jewish Institute of Religion (Cincinnati). His books include Biblical Ambiguities (2001) and Etched in Stone (2006).