Understanding Genesis (The Heritage of Biblical Israel) and over one million other books are available for Amazon Kindle. Learn more



or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering
Sell Us Your Item
For a $0.28 Gift Card
Trade in
More Buying Choices
Have one to sell? Sell yours here
Start reading Understanding Genesis (The Heritage of Biblical Israel) on your Kindle in under a minute.

Don't have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here, or download a FREE Kindle Reading App.
Sorry, this item is not available in
Image not available for
Color:
Image not available

To view this video download Flash Player

 

Understanding Genesis (The Heritage of Biblical Israel) [Paperback]

Nahum M. Sarna
4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)

List Price: $15.95
Price: $12.51 & FREE Shipping on orders over $25. Details
You Save: $3.44 (22%)
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
Only 5 left in stock (more on the way).
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available.
Want it Thursday, May 23? Choose One-Day Shipping at checkout. Details

Formats

Amazon Price New from Used from
Kindle Edition $9.95  
Hardcover --  
Paperback $12.51  
Unknown Binding --  
Image
Save on Popular Books This Summer
Browse our Bookshelf Favorites store for big savings on popular fiction, nonfiction, children's books, and more.

Book Description

January 13, 1970
"This book...is designed to make the Bible of Israel intelligible, relevant, and hopefully, inspiring to a sophisticated generation, possessed of intellectual curiosity and ethical sensitivity...It is based on the belief that the study of the Book of Books must constitute a mature intellectual challenge, an exposure to the expanding universe of scientific biblical scholarship...Far from presenting a threat to faith, a challenge to the intellect may reinforce faith and purify it."--from the Introduction

Frequently Bought Together

Understanding Genesis (The Heritage of Biblical Israel) + Exploring Exodus: The Origins of Biblical Israel + On the Book of Psalms: Exploring the Prayers of Ancient Israel
Price for all three: $43.97

Buy the selected items together


Editorial Reviews

Review

"This book...is designed to make the Bible of Israel intelligible, relevant and, hopefully, inspiring to a sophisticated generation, possessed of intellectual curiosity and ethical sensitivity." - NYT Book Review.

"In the recent literature on Genesis this is the most comprehensive and careful interpretation of the Bible's initial book in light of the extra biblical sources bearing upon it, and as such, is to be highly recommended." --George M. Landes, Journal of Biblical Literature

"An insightful classic that retains its vitality. A front-rank scholar and teacher has poured a lifetime of learning into this outstanding commentary." --Hershel Shanks

From the Inside Flap

"This book...is designed to make the Bible of Israel intelligible, relevant, and hopefully, inspiring to a sophisticated generation, possessed of intellectual curiosity and ethical sensitivity...It is based on the belief that the study of the Book of Books must constitute a mature intellectual challenge, an exposure to the expanding universe of scientific biblical scholarship...Far from presenting a threat to faith, a challenge to the intellect may reinforce faith and purify it."--from the Introduction

Product Details

  • Paperback: 267 pages
  • Publisher: Schocken (January 13, 1970)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0805202536
  • ISBN-13: 978-0805202533
  • Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.8 x 8 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #70,948 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

This book displays excellent scholarship, yet it is very easy and informative to read. Ventura D  |  5 reviewers made a similar statement
This book deals with interpretation of some of the stories in Genesis (creation, flood, tower etc). Charles E. Meadows  |  1 reviewer made a similar statement
It's perhaps the best written book I have read in years. Charles Elliott  |  1 reviewer made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
24 of 25 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book takes an exegetical approach to Genesis as a work created by writers who saw far beyond their contemporary culture to create an enduring statement about a singular God, his greatest creation (the human being) and the moral and ethical demands that God places upon us. He compares Genesis to other great creation myths, and shows two primary things; 1) that a the monotheistic belief places God above and beyond all of nature, which is radically different from other contemporaneous polytheistic religions, and 2) that there is an order, logic and morality in the world that people must follow in order to not be estranged from God and ultimately themselves and society. Law, justice, mercy, charity are values expressed in a book which was written at a time when these were radical ideas. The author's mastery of history and religion are forged into an engaging, powerful exposition of the profound meaning of Genesis and it's seminal importance in the history of human thought.
Comment | 
Was this review helpful to you?
19 of 20 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Even better than his book on Exodus January 23, 2002
Format:Paperback
Sarna puts Genesis in its historical context, showing details that would have made many stories from Genesis more comprehensible to Bible-era readers. For example, today's readers may be a bit baffled by Abraham's occasional attempts to pass off Sarah as his sister. But Sarna explains that in the ancient Mideast women had the status of a "sister-wife", superior to other wives. Similarly, Sarna clarifies the Tower of Babel story, explaining how the Torah makes fun of paganism. Reading Sarna won't necessarily change your mind about large theological questions; believers will remain believers after reading him, and unbelievers will remain unbelievers. But Sarna gives background that makes the Torah come to life a bit more.
Comment | 
Was this review helpful to you?
21 of 25 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Jewish insight into Genesis June 16, 2003
Format:Paperback
This book deals with interpretation of some of the stories in Genesis (creation, flood, tower etc). Sarna explains that these accounts were written particularly to show the superiority of Yahweh to pagan religions and not as much to simply narrate how these things happened historically. The author writes from a relatively conservative standpoint here but does not assume LITERAL interpretation of many parts of genesis - rather he sees them as being written in ways that pagan polytheists of 5000 years ago would understand and appreciate. Highly recommended for any Jew/Christian interested in the REAL interpretation of Genesis.
Comment | 
Was this review helpful to you?
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Wow, things I never knew!
I found this book at the local library and was wowed! So I bought it at Amazon. If you are looking for knowledge and understandability, this is very excellent!
Published 4 months ago by elln
5.0 out of 5 stars Spectacular short book
Great the same author has written a much longer 400 page tretisie on the book of Genesis this is a short, concise version. Excellent...
Published 4 months ago by richard fogel
5.0 out of 5 stars Responsible scholarship
As a Christian Pastor I welcomed the mist helpful comments by a Jewish scholar. Sarna is not only a thorough scholar but writes like a novelist - two charyteristics that do not... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Paul R. Pulliam
3.0 out of 5 stars Kindle editing
The book is interesting enough, but the Kindle edition is poorly edited, containing many format errors, lacunae, and even spelling errors. Read more
Published 11 months ago by J. Stewart Schneider
4.0 out of 5 stars A Classic
This book displays excellent scholarship, yet it is very easy and informative to read. Sarna compares and contrasts the Israelite theological views with those of their... Read more
Published on February 26, 2011 by Ventura D
2.0 out of 5 stars Romantic nothingness
When I started reading Sarna it turned out to be quite different from what I expected. It's written from a spiritually Jewish perspective. Read more
Published on April 26, 2010 by E.L.B.
5.0 out of 5 stars Prismatic Origins
I learned of this book through Prof. Christine Hayes' free Introduction to the Hebrew Bible video lecture series on the Yale University web site. I trusted Prof. Read more
Published on April 12, 2010 by D. Beard
5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read for American Evangelicals.
As a self-professed evangelical Christian who is tired of the anti-science, anti-intellectual rhetoric that typifies the discourse coming from the American religious right these... Read more
Published on September 13, 2009 by Dean Chang
5.0 out of 5 stars Stunningly well written
This is simply a brilliant book! Brilliant in scope and analysis certainly, but the beauty of the language provides a most delicious read. Read more
Published on April 16, 2009 by Charles Elliott
4.0 out of 5 stars Useful for understanding
Sarna brings a wealth of historical and current knowledge into the reading of Genesis. He presents each story in its historical and cultural context. Read more
Published on December 5, 2007 by Gary Sprandel
Search Customer Reviews
Only search this product's reviews




What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?


Forums

There are no discussions about this product yet.
Be the first to discuss this product with the community.
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
 





Look for Similar Items by Category