Customer Reviews

Flame of Yahweh: Sexuality in the Old Testament

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There are few things that young people wonder about today besides sexuality. For many years Pastors and Bible teachers have struggled with texts in the Bible regarding sexuality. Hence this book is a MUST for all who teach Bible. Not a single allusion to sexuality is missed in this work. It is not a book to read from cover to cover, but rather a giant one-book reference tool for Bible teachers to use when needed. Finally pastors can preach on sexuality with a solid theological base, rather than mere opinions on the topic. This is a book for you who are interested in solid Bible answers to difficult and sometimes embarrassing texts.

This book is thorough and complete in itself.
Kudos to the Indexes too.

This book is the culmination of the author's twenty-five years of in-depth research into the various manifestations of human sexuality and marriage, as revealed throughout the panoply of Old Testament Scripture. Both academic and conservative, Professor Davidson provides insight from the original languages (Hebrew, Greek, etc.), from the biblical Canon, other ancient Near-Eastern documents, as well as presents alternative theological viewpoints (liberal, feminist, postmodern, etc.). Despite many years as a serious student of Scripture, Flame of Yahweh has given me a better understanding of ancient Near Eastern culture, as well as extended glimpses into the ontological mysteries of sexuality. An indispensable resource for counselors and pastor/teachers. Anyone needing a 'grad-level', seriously in-depth theological, ontological, linguistic, and philosophical exploration of sexuality. Very few stones left unturned.

This is a comprehensive study of sexuality in the Old Testament, discussing social, legal, ethical, and theological factors. There is an extensive discussion of the interrelationships between various parts of the Old Testament. Davidson starts with Eden as a model for human sexuality, gives a close analysis of the laws in the Torah in light of that experience, and then moves exhaustively into a topic-by-topic discussion of how things functioned in ancient Israel, mining all parts of the Old Testament for whatever light can be shed on the topic, and finally concluding with the Song of Solomon as a model for fulfilled sexual experience.

While the primary focus is on the Old Testament, Davidson occasionally addresses the New Testament outlook and discusses application to contemporary ethical questions. Discussions with other theologians are usually carried on in the footnotes, but no less enlightening for all that. This is not a complete Christian theology of sexuality, but it is a necessary building block for any such effort.

The book would probably have benefited from a better editing job, as it is frequently somewhat repetitive. This does make it more useful as a reference source, however, as you don't have to read the whole thing to pick up every nuance of the topic you're investigating.

Highly recommended for those interested in the history of sexuality, the theology of sexuality, contemporary pastoral issues, gender history, and the social history of ancient Judaism

I have been a pastor for more than 25 years and I have never read anything this comprehensive on sexuality in the Scriptures. The breadth and depth of this volume is breathtaking!