Story as Torah: Reading Old Testament Narrative Ethically

by Gordon J. Wenham

Publisher:

T&T Clark

, 2000

Overview

What do the grand stories of Israel and her heroes, as well as the many seemingly mundane incidents found in these narrative stories, contribute to guiding contemporary readers in their daily behavior?

Renowned scholar Gordon J. Wenham offers Story as Torah, a succinct monograph demonstrating how Old Testament narratives can indeed function as “Torah,” informing one’s ethical choices. Wenham examines how certain narrative phenomena—such as the repetition of key words or themes, the overall rhetorical purpose of a book, intertextual correspondence and key contextual indictors of mood—provide clues to the ethical message of the implied author. He uses the books of Genesis and Judges as test cases, examining texts that offer clear moral guidance as well as those in which ethical lesson is dubious. The end result is an accessible book which will help seminarians, pastors and other students and scholars of the Bible use Old Testament narratives more responsibly.

Save more when you purchase this book as part of the Old Testament Studies Series Collection (8 Vols.)!

Praise for the Print Edition

Wenham is not only a thoughtful exegete but a well-versed reader of the literature of Christian ethics.

—Bruce C. Birch, Interpretation

Product Details

• Title: Story as Torah: Reading the Old Testament Narrative Ethically
• Author: Gordon J. Wenham
• Publisher: T&T Clark
• Publication Date: 2000
• Pages: 192

About Gordon J. Wenham

Gordon J. Wenham (Ph.D., Cambridge) is Professor of Old Testament Studies at the University of Gloucestershire. He is the author or editor of ten books, including major commentaries on Leviticus (New International Commentary on the Old Testament) and Genesis (2 volumes, Word Biblical Commentary). He is co-editor of the Apollos Old Testament Commentary series.

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