The Appeal of Exodus: The Character God, Moses and Israel in the Rhetoric of the Book of Exodus

by Stefan Kurle

Publisher:

Paternoster

, 2013

Overview

Taking Yahweh, Moses, and Israel as literary characters, Stefan Kürle opens up a process to engage with the book of Exodus. He shows the reader how their perception of the concepts is guided by the rhetorical aims of the text. This study differs from traditional critical approaches by focusing more on the rhetorics than on textual or theological criticism. Kürle offers new insights into the purpose of Exodus through exploring its cohesive rhetorical strategy.

Key Features

• Presents new insight into the book of Exodus
• Focuses on a rhetorical analysis of the biblical text
• Engages with the characters of Exodus to discover its purpose

Contents

• Yhwh—‘National Hero’ and ‘King’
• Moses—the Mediator, Not the Hero
• Israel—Between Ideal and Reality
• Summary and Conclusions

Praise for the Print Edition

This is a masterly study of the book of Exodus that brings out its message with clarity and depth. Exploiting the methods of rhetorical criticism and focusing on the characters of God, Israel and Moses, the book explores what the reader is supposed to learn from their behavior. It is an essential read for anyone who would expound these chapters of Scripture.

—Gordon Wenham, professor of Old Testament, Trinity College, Bristol

In The Appeal of Exodus Stefan Kürle offers a careful theological and literary reading of three key characters in the book of Exodus: God, Moses and Israel. This is an illuminating restructuring of our reading of Exodus, and will be a good resource for any careful reader of the book.

—Richard Briggs, director of biblical studies, St John’s College, Durham University

Product Details

• Title: The Appeal Of Exodus: The Characters God, Moses and Israel in the Rhetoric of the Book of Exodus
• Author: Stefan Kürle
• Series: Paternoster Theological Monographs Series
• Publisher: Paternoster
• Publication Date: 2013
• Pages: 321
• Resource Type: Monographs
• Topic: Biblical Studies

About Stefan Kurle

Stefan Kürle is a professor of biblical studies at the South American Theological Seminary in Londrina, Brazil.