Joseph's Bones: Understanding the Struggle Between God and Mankind in the Bible (Paperback)

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Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

The narratives concerning Joseph, the eldest son of Jacob and Rachel, are related in Genesis, verses 37 to 50. They form the transition between the stories of the patriarchs and the Israelite enslavement in Egypt. Segal points out that Joseph's bones are mentioned three times in the Hebrew Bible and once in the New Testament. He posits that the first six books, Genesis through the Book of Joshua (sometimes called the Hexateuch), reveal a single, powerful, and coherent story that does, in some ways, resemble Greek mythology. "It is not Pious. It does not revere God, but depicts a constant struggle between God and humanity, and in many ways, its sympathies lie with mankind." Philosopher Segal has written a perceptive and intelligent book. George Cohen
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

Modest in manner but brilliant in the closeness of its readings, Joseph's Bones is a work of stunning originality. Nothing quite like it has appeared in years. -- Jack Miles, author of God: A Biography --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Riverhead Trade (February 26, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1594482896
• ISBN-13: 978-1594482892
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #443,201 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars accessible and well argued, May 11, 2007

By	E. Lang - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Joseph's Bones: Understanding the Struggle Between God and Mankind in the Bible (Hardcover)

Joseph's Bones offers a radically different interpretation from traditional views of the relationship between God and the Israelites (and more generally humanity). Dr. Segal presents the case that, at least initially, while God is powerful, he is not omniscient, nor particularly benevolent, and indeed, may be somewhat insecure and emotionally immature. Thus, the book is concerned with understanding the content of the Bible, rather than whether the Bible itself is true or whether God exists. Nevertheless, the issues the book raises may be troublesome for people who truly believe in God (though perhaps not impossible to accept, because, by its end, the book also raises the possibility that God may have evolved into a being that could be worthy of worship). Indeed, this book may be more difficult for true believers to dismiss than are books that outright deny the existence of God, because its arguments are so tightly bound to the Bible and therefore show that the Bible itself paints a not very pretty picture of God.
The author's case is not airtight. For example, at a few points in the text assumptions or interpretations are chosen because of their interest value rather than their validity (which is impossible to prove). That said, most of the assumptions are amply buttressed by evidence and quotations from the Bible, and the arguments that flow from them are clearly laid out. Moreover, I don't believe it was the author's intention to absolutely prove his thesis, which, in fact, may be an impossibility, just as proving any particular interpretation of the Bible may be. Instead, the author has put forth an interesting and logically plausible interpretation of the historical events, and the relationship between God and humans, that are described in the Bible. In that he has succeeded admirably.
Finally, while one might expect an extended logical argument on the interpretation of events in the Bible to result a dry scholarly work, Joseph's Bones is not. Instead, the text flows nicely, and the arguments and backing evidence are presented in a very accessible fashion. In sum, the book makes for an enjoyable and stimulating read.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars stimulating and compelling, April 26, 2007

By	P. Levine (Washington, DC USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Joseph's Bones: Understanding the Struggle Between God and Mankind in the Bible (Hardcover)

Joseph's Bones will be controversial. Most people will not be persuaded by its radical interpretation of the Hebrew Bible. However, if you can read it with an open mind, you will find it full of insights. Segal bases his interpretation on a close reading of the text, minus the metaphysical and theological assumptions that we take for granted as the legacy of mainstream Judaism and Christianity. He does not clutter his argument with secondary scholarship or jargon, but focuses tightly on the story, which he deeply appreciates and admires. His interpretation unfolds with some of the suspense of a detective novel, but the stakes are much higher.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I love this book, October 10, 2007

By	David C. Belden "Dave Belden" (El Cerrito, CA, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Joseph's Bones: Understanding the Struggle Between God and Mankind in the Bible (Hardcover)

This book is a great and enjoyable read. I was raised Christian and an enthusiastic one at that, then went secular, then eclectically spiritual. The Bible remains a huge influence in my life but not one I have looked into much in recent years. This book turned my understanding of what it may mean upside down in a most exciting way: the idea that the first six books of the Bible is the story of a relationship with a powerful God who needed to be taught morality by the people he was protecting. I am no Biblical scholar but Tikkun magazine (where I work) recently included a very positive review of the book by highly respected scholar Jack Miles, Distinguished Professor of English and Religious Studies at the University of California, Irvine, and the author of Christ: A Crisis in the Life of God. The review can be found at www.tikkun.org and put "Joseph's Bones" in the search function.