Moses: Heroic Man, Man of God
Overview
Moses is a hero. His prominence in the narratives of exodus from Egypt, the wanderings in the wilderness, and the journey to the brink of the Promised Land make Moses a central figure in Old Testament history and literature. Further evidence of the magnitude of Moses’ influence is also found outside the Christian and Jewish traditions—in extra-biblical literature, in Renaissance art, in modern Hollywood depictions of his life, and elsewhere.
Moses: Heroic Man, Man of God explores the character of the Moses traditions in the Old Testament to see more clearly why they have influenced the world as much as they have. Although Coat’s volume is primarily concerned with literary analysis, he does not ignore the insights of historical and sociological studies. The result is a landmark volume on the life and influence of one of the key figures of the Hebrew Bible.
Top Highlights
“And the validation has a twofold character: (a) Moses (b) who is known as the man of God. The twofold character suggests that Moses facilitates a final authority beyond himself. Moreover, this twofold character is precisely the character of the heroic image defined above. The authority of the law resides in its origin in Moses. But in fact, Mosaic authority is valid because of his relationship with God. It does not affirm that validation is not really in Moses, but rather in God. It affirms that validation is in the double edge. The image is thus quite complementary to the heroic shape of the Moses tradition. It adds to the shape of the image the conviction that Moses, in some particular manner, belongs to God.” (Page 180)
- Title: Moses: Heroic Man, Man of God
- Author: George W. Coats
- Publisher: Sheffield Academic Press
- Publication Date: 1988
- Pages: 250
