Ancient Judaism: Biblical Criticism from Max Weber to the Present [Hardcover]

Irving M. Zeitlin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1985 | ISBN-10: 074560059X | ISBN-13: 978-0745600598

This book is a contribution to the sociology of religion and to religious and biblical studies. Beginning from the classic work of Max Weber, the author analyzes the origins of Judaism in the light of more recent scholarship. Zeitlin sets out to criticize both those modern scholars who have cast doubts on the scriptural account of the history of Israel, and those who hold that the religion of Israel originated either as polytheism or as a fusion of Baal and Yahweh. He finds unconvincing the non-sociological modes of approaching these all-important questions. Following Max Weber's method, Zeitlin strives to grasp the subjective meanings which the actors themselves attributed to their conduct. Drawing on biblical and extra-biblical evidence, he addresses the question of how the actors concerned - whether they were patriachs, prophets, judges, kings or the people - understood themselves, their world and their faith. Weber pioneered the application of this method throughout his writings on the sociology of religion and most notably in his own work "Ancient Judaism". Over sixty years have elapsed since the publication of that book and in the interval significant changes have taken place in the field of biblical scholarship. Zeitlin therefore completes his study with a critique, suggesting that in certain respects Weber's view must be substantially modified.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'Zeitlin's sociology of Old Testament Judaism is a model of careful scholarship.' Sociological Review

'Irving M. Zeitlin demonstrates courage and a talent for analytical thinking in his extraordinarily interesting Ancient Judaism.' The Jerusalem Post Magazine --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Back Cover

This book is a major contribution to the sociology of religion and to religious and biblical studies. Beginning from the classic work of Max Weber, the author analyses the origins of Judaism in the light of more recent scholarship. The result is a work that will become a standard point of reference in its field, and will be of great interest to the general reader as well as the specialist.

Zeitlin sets out to criticize both those modern scholars who have cast doubts on the scriptural account of the history of Israel, and those who hold that the religion of Israel originated either as polytheism or as a fusion of Baal and Yahweh. He finds unconvincing the non-sociological modes of approaching these all-important questions. Following Max Weber's interparative method, Zeitlin strives to grasp the subjective meanings which the actors themselves attributed to their conduct. Drawing on biblical and extra-biblical evidence, he addresses the question of how the actors concerned - whether they were patriarchs, prophets, judges, kings or the people - understood themselves, their world and their faith.

Weber pioneered the application of this method throughout his writings on the sociology of religion and most notably in his own work `Ancient Judaism'. Over sixty years have elapsed since the publication of that book and in the interval significant changes have taken place in the field of biblical scholarship. Zeitlin therefore completes his study with a critique, suggesting that in certain respects Weber's view must be substantially modified. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 314 pages
• Publisher: Blackwell Pub (March 1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 074560059X
• ISBN-13: 978-0745600598
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,124,386 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Conservative Agenda, March 2, 2003

By 

Jack Turner - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Ancient Judaism: Biblical Criticism from Max Weber to the Present (Paperback)

Zeitlin could be a champion for a conservative approach to ancient Jewish studies. I actually came across this book in a college class I was in, and was immediately struck with the thoroughness of the book. He tends to rely heavily on a literary critical methodology, but he uses it in ways I have never seen before. His discussion of the conquest and Monarchical religion are particularly enlightening. I will say that he made me think about issues in ways I had never tried before. Additionally, he actually changed my opinion about the way Paganism and religious syncretism worked in Ancient Israel. I won't give his views away because have the fun will be reading them for the first time for yourself. Nevertheless, I will say that the discussion on the history of Documentary Hypostasis in the Appendix is worth the price of admission.