An acknowledged expert on the Hebrew Bible, Thomas Dozeman offers a fresh translation of the Hebrew and Greek texts of the book of Joshua and explores the nature, function, and causes of the religious violence depicted therein. By blending the distinct teachings of Deuteronomy and the Priestly literature, Dozeman provides a unique interpretation of holy war as a form of sacred genocide, arguing that, since peace in the promised land required the elimination of the populations of all existent royal cities, a general purging of the land accompanied the progress of the ark of the covenant. This essential work of religious scholarship demonstrates how the theme of total genocide is reinterpreted as partial conquest when redactors place Joshua, an independent book, between Deuteronomy and Judges. The author traces the evolution of this reinterpretation of the central themes of religious violence while providing a comparison of the two textual versions of Joshua and an insightful analysis of the book's reception history.

About the Author
Thomas B. Dozeman is emeritus professor of Hebrew Bible at United Theological Seminary in Ohio. His previous books include God at War and Methods for Exodus. He lives in Chicago, IL.

Reviews
"Dozeman's first instalment of a new commentary on Joshua will not disappoint readers... a fine commentary in a well-established series. It will make a lasting contribution to scholarship on the book of Joshua."-Paul Foster, Ecclesiology Today -- Paul Foster * Ecclesiology Today *



Book Information
ISBN 9780300149753
Author Thomas B. Dozeman
Format Hardback
Page Count 656
Imprint Yale University Press
Publisher Yale University Press
Weight(grams) 1043g
Dimensions(mm) 235mm * 156mm * 41mm