Jacob's Tears

Who is Israel? Who were the priestly authors of the Pentateuch? This anthropological reading of the Bible by a world-renowned scholar starts by asking why the Book of Numbers lists the twelve tribes of Israel seven times. Mary Douglas argues that the editors far from being a separate elite unconcerned with their congregation's troubles cherished a political agenda a religious protest against the government of Judah's exclusionary policies. The priestly theologydepends on God's Covenant with all the descendants of Jacob including the sons of Joseph. It would have been unpatriotic even subversive to speak against the wars with Samaria. This book suggest an explanation of the editors' disappearance from the history of Israel.