The God of Old: Inside the Lost World of the Bible

by James L. Kugel

Book Overview

Our notion of God today -- all-powerful, invisible, and omnipresent -- is not the same as the God of the Hebrew Bible. So who is this "God of Old?" And what is His place in the modern spiritual world?... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0743235843
• ISBN13: 9780743235846
• Release Date: March 2003
• Publisher: Free Press
• Length: 270 Pages
• Weight: 0.97 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.8" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

Tale of Two Readings

Professor James L. Kugel's the GOD of OLD- Inside The Lost World of the Bible is a fascinating scholarly look at how God was understood by the ancients. Kugel, Starr Professor of Hebrew Literature at Harvard University, offers Biblical scholarship for those of us who have never attended the semi-hallowed Crimson halls, let alone read or understood the original ancient texts. Much of what little I know comes from the King James sponsored version of the Bible and what others early on have told me I should take away from the readings. Like most scholarly works I had to read the book twice because I'd put it down, think about it a bit, leave it for awhile and then come back to it later. Then when I had finished it I found myself going back to it time and again to appreciate the questions it posed more than the questions it answered. But hey, isn't that the benefit of any kind of study, to get us interested in learning more and finding our own answers? If God had sent his Malakh (angels) more frequently in ancient times to tell us what we should or shouldn't be doing more than he does today maybe it's because we expect it to be Instant Messaging or maybe He just got tired of being put on Hold? I'm not the brightest bulb in the fixture of life but thanks to Professor Kugel I'm more switched on to learning more about the topic. Eh...hopefully Harvard won't be billing me.

Insightful, contemplative, well-written

Few people can write as well as Kugel. In discussing the starkness of Psalm 90, Kugel compares the summation of one's life to a painting: "This canvas is the only thing of our existence that endures. To be sure, it does not endure in any tangible way, since nothing tangible endures in any case. [...] But it is no less real for being intangible--that is the essence of the stark world--in fact, it is only thanks to its intangibility that it does endure, and it is the only thing that matters. [...] when it is done it is ours forever--it is all that is ours, on into howling eternity." If "on into howling eternity" doesn't conjure up an image of starkness for you, I doubt any words can. The God of Old examines how our modern concept of God differs from early biblical descriptions. The God of Old will be of interest to anyone who has contemplated this question. An in-depth knowledge of the Old Testament is not required or assumed. It is not excessively long or difficult to read, however you may find yourself re-reading some paragraphs to fully absorb the meaning. If you have any interest in the subject matter, you will enjoy this well-written book.

interesting read

I can recall the experience of afternoon Hebrew school and the small group of us being urged to pontificate on the nature of God - we had several choices, namely, the Watchmaker, the Unmoving Mover, the Captain of a large ship, etc. My utter disappointment in myself at not knowing the correct answer is of course part of this lucid memory. I still retain a certain faith in the nature of right answers but now I appreciate how these right answers can vary, dependent on the multiple realities inherent in them. Kugel's book attests to the fact that the interaction with and perception of God varies by time, by region, and by the individual. It thereby reveals different versions of the same reality, namely the concept of God, or the sense of the numinous, common to all cultures. Evidentially, Kugel supports his thesis. He states that the relationship of man with God has varied and then he describes ways in which it has. In some cases he attempts to explain the experience through the use of analogy. For example, he compares the experience of a young girl taking care of her dolls and her concept of the true nature of what those dolls represent to the worship in a temple and the creation of another sort of representative reality. Kugel presents an egalitarian viewpoint whereby one gets the impression that man's relationship with God has changed not improved over time. Far from claiming the greater authenticity of any given interaction with God, Kugel encourages the reader to consider the veracity of them all. Readers are likely to relate more than one of the experiences of God that Kugel describes. There is a youthful version of us, very much dependent on our parents. In this mindset we might imagine a God as a true to life deity presenting itself unawares-initiating requests (i.e. clean your room, lead your people to the promised land). There is perhaps a later version of ourselves when, having much more control over our environment but hoping that 'this can't be it, if so, what then?' This might be much like the medieval worshipper seeking out a response from God hoping he will answer and raise him to a more spiritual level. There is also a reflective version of us, forced to make a major decision in life and thereby reduce things into their mere black and white components. This notion Kugel describes as 'starkness', accounts which omit much of the richness of detail and ambiguity of real life (or what Kugel referes to as the sun world). All in all, I found this book to be an invitation to use one's imagination. Kugel shows. he does not tell or preach and he does so engagingly. This was a fascinating and revealing book and I look forward to reading more of Kugel's work.

Adoration of this book!

I am only halfway through reading this book, admittedly, but I am stunned by having found someone who so closely discusses my intuitive feelings about God. I do believe that the reason Mr. Kugel has explored his Project so deeply and fruitfully is because he has experienced God himself. Perhaps not as a human being, or even within a burning bush, but he surely knows God. Our world is opening, once again, to KNOWING God as an intimate partner.

Wonderful, insightful, and very clear

James Kugel assured his place as a giant of biblical studies with his opus, The Bible as it Was, which examined various secondary texts to understand the way Israelites read the Bible during the Second Temple Period. Here, Kugel examines a subject that, in his own words, is far thinner. Looking at the Bible, particularly the Five Books of the Torah, he tries to gain insight into how Israel perceived G-d in the Biblical period. He does not disappoint. Examining the occasions when individuals encountered the divine or His messengers, Kugel builds a persuasive case that ancient Israelites understanding of the divine stands as remarkable different from what modern readers seek to project backwards through time.Some may take offense at some of Kugel's assertions, that the ancient Israelites saw G-d as corporeal and did not embrace monotheism as early as modern interpreters argue. However, the modern quirk projecting back modern concepts as far back as possible, while a comforting fiction, bellies our attempts to truly understand our ancestors. The development of Monotheism, easily one of the greatest and most impactful achievements of human history, should not be taken for granted as something that came in a preverbal flash.Kugel does a wonderful job presenting complex material in an accessible format. His sensitivity to the potentially controversial thesis he espouses only further coxes the reader along for this fascinating journey. People interested in this subject should also read Kugel's other work and consider reading the works of Bill Dever and Baruch Halperin, both also excellent.