An interesting look at the Armies in Spain during the Napoleonic era.
#872071 in Books Mark S Smith 2004-10-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.14 x .47 x 6.06l; .75 #File Name: 0800634853208 pagesThe Memoirs of God History Memory and the Experience of the Divine in Ancient Israel
Review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Readable; reliable; academic; and intensely interesting.By NateThis one is a totally fascinating exploration of early Israelite religion and its transition from polytheistic practice to THE monotheistic faith which has changed the world in unfathomable ways. An important theme discusses how the Torah (and some of the Psalms) contains traces of religious practice that predate the monotheism of the Exile period; and thus contains a treasure trove of cultural "memories." Smith's text is readable and gripping. As the foremost expert on the Ugaritic Baal Cycle (from which much information about early Israelite religion has been gleaned); Smith's book is perfectly academic but accessible to the layman.The parts describing the events at Mt. Sinai were just wonderful; you won't be able to put it down.While the thesis that early Israelite religion was polytheistic might be off-putting to the more orthodox; it is currently the consensus view of academia; fed by archaeological discoveries (see William Dever's books); text analysis and comparisons with other Ancient Near East religions (like that of Ugarit). Moreover; Smith is himself a practicing Catholic. I always retain a great deal of respect for those writers who can "switch hats" depending on the setting. Faith need not depend on the contents of a book or what an archaeologist digs up. Such works as these only serve to give us more knowledge.I highly recommend it to anyone interested in Old Testament studies; Christianity or Judaism. For those already familiar; it will serve as a readable review with a new twist (the application of "memory"). For those unfamiliar; it will be a door to a wonderful field that has much to offer.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Thought provokingBy CustomerVery interesting insight into the origin and shaping of the Jewish religion.0 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Important view of Hebrew religionBy FriarThis is a good overview of the development of Hebrew religion. It traces the journey from polytheism to monotheism with attention to the historical context at different times. All interested in how Monotheism came about need to read this.
