Glimpses of a Strange Land Studies in Old Testament Ethics

by Rodd, Cyril S.

• ISBN13: 9780567087539
• ISBN10: 0567087530
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2001-08-02
• Publisher: Bloomsbury T&T Clark

Summary

In this challenging book Cyril Rodd questions many of the assumptions that lie behind recent studies of Old Testament ethics. He views the 'strangeness' of the biblical world and wonders whether there is an Old Testament ethics in the modern sense of the word - finding rather that the Old Testament writers did not regard many of today's ethical dilemmas as problems at all.Dr Rodd examines all the Old Testament writings on five ethical issues: the poor, war, treatment of animals, ecology and the position of women. He considers their validity and relevance for today and discusses the extent to which they can be referred to for authority - or for inspiration and guidance..

Table of Contents

Preface	ix
List of Abbreviations	xii
Why Only Glimpses?	1	(4)
Ethics and Purity	5	(14)
Ethics and Honour	19	(9)
Adultery	28	(16)
'Such a Thing Is Not Done in Israel'	44	(8)
Abraham's Question	52	(13)
The Imitation of God	65	(12)
The Ten Commandments	77	(17)
Coveting, Homicide and Intention	94	(15)
Motivations	109	(17)
Sanctions	126	(16)
Lending at Interest	142	(16)
Interlude	158	(3)
The Poor	161	(24)
War	185	(22)
Animals	207	(27)
Nature	234	(16)
Women	250	(21)
How Did the Old Testament View What We Call Ethics?	271	(30)
The Old Testament and Ethics Today	301	(29)
Addendum: Walking with God	330	(5)
Books and Articles Referred to in the Text	335	(30)
Index of Subjects	365	(16)
Index of Modern Authors	381	(6)
Index of Biblical References	387