Pathways Through the Bible: Classic Selections from the Tanakh

by Cohen, Mortimer J.; Stein, David E. S.; Szyk, Arthur

• ISBN13: 9780827607347
• ISBN10: 0827607342
• Edition: 3rd
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2002-02-01
• Publisher: Univ of Nebraska Pr

Summary

This new edition shares the same essential features as the original, especially the core principle that Pathways Through the Bible, in Cohen's words, "is not intended to replace The Holy Scriptures...it is rather to be regarded as preparatory to the reading of the Bible itself.... Its purpose is to open for you pathways into the magic realm of the greatest literature ever written."

Table of Contents

Foreword to the 2002 Edition	xv
Foreword to the Original Edition	xvii
Your Bible	xxi
The Torah (Teaching)
Genesis
Introduction	3	(2)
Creating a Good World	5	(3)
Evil Enters the Good World	8	(4)
The Cleansing Flood	12	(5)
The Tower of Babel	17	(1)
Abraham---Founder of a People	18	(5)
Twin Cities of Sin	23	(4)
Abraham's Supreme Test	27	(3)
Isaac and Rebekah	30	(5)
Jacob Obtains the Covenant	35	(5)
The New Name---``Israel''	40	(6)
Joseph in Egypt	46	(18)
Exodus
Introduction	63	(1)
Moses---The Liberator	64	(5)
Pharaoh Versus God	69	(3)
Pesah---The Festival of Freedom	72	(3)
God Triumphs over Pharaoh	75	(3)
Starting the Long Journey	78	(4)
The Covenant at Mount Sinai	82	(6)
The Tabernacle---God's Palace	88	(4)
Leviticus
Introduction	91	(1)
Priest and Levite	92	(2)
Feast and Fast	94	(3)
Holiness---The Golden Heart	97	(3)
Neighbors	100	(3)
Laws of Purity	103	(2)
National Problems	105	(5)
Idolatry---The Gravest of All Sins	110	(1)
Rewards and Punishments	111	(3)
Numbers
Introduction	113	(1)
Journey's Beginning	114	(2)
The Challenges of Leadership	116	(3)
Crisis and Decision	119	(3)
Korah's Rebellion	122	(3)
The Sin of Moses	125	(2)
Israel Meets Hostile Nations	127	(3)
Balaam Blesses the New Israel	130	(5)
The Five Sisters' Query	135	(1)
Joshua---The Next Leader	136	(2)
Deuteronomy
Introduction	137	(1)
First Oration: Obedience to the Covenant	138	(2)
Second Oration: Love---The Spirit of the Covenant	140	(2)
Third Oration: The Rewards of the Covenant	142	(3)
The Song of Moses	145	(2)
The Unknown Grave	147	(6)
The Prophets
Joshua
Introduction	151	(2)
Joshua Takes Command	153	(1)
The Two Spies	154	(2)
Jericho and Ai Captured	156	(3)
The Crafty Gibeonites	159	(2)
Division of the Land	161	(2)
Joshua's Farewell Address	163	(3)
Judges
Introduction	165	(1)
Disloyalty---Punishment---Peace	166	(2)
Deborah---Mother in Israel	168	(4)
Gideon---The Man Who Refused to Be King	172	(4)
Abimelech---The Man Who Wanted to Be King	176	(2)
Samson---A Brave Man Who Used His Strength Foolishly	178	(9)
Ruth
Introduction	185	(2)
Ruth's Loyalty	187	(2)
The Meeting of Ruth and Boaz	189	(3)
Ruth's Marriage to Boaz	192	(5)
Samuel
Introduction	195	(2)
The Birth of Samuel	197	(4)
Israel's Ruthless Enemy---The Philistines	201	(3)
Saul---First King of Israel	204	(4)
Saul---The Rejected	208	(4)
David---The Shephered Boy	212	(4)
Saul and David	216	(5)
David---Refugee from Saul	221	(5)
The Death of Saul and Jonathan	226	(4)
From Shepherd Boy to King	230	(3)
Jerusalem---The City of God	233	(2)
Nathan---The People's Conscience	235	(3)
``Absalom, My Son! My Son!''	238	(10)
Kings
Introduction	245	(3)
Solomon Ascends the Throne	248	(2)
``A Wise and Understanding Mind''	250	(2)
Solomon Builds the Temple	252	(3)
Splendor, Fame---and Trouble	255	(3)
The House Is Divided	258	(3)
Elijah---The Prophet	261	(6)
Elijah Confronts and Abuse of Power	267	(5)
Elisha---One Who Loved His Fellowmen	272	(5)
Elisha Destroys the House of Omri	277	(3)
Athaliah---The Bloody Queen	280	(2)
The Kingdom of Israel Ends	282	(2)
Hezekiah the Good King	284	(4)
The Prophet Micah
King Josiah---Restorer of the Covenant	288	(5)
The Prophets Zephaniah and Nahum
Zedekiah---Last King of Judah	293	(7)
Amos
Introduction	297	(3)
The Prophet of Doom	300	(2)
God Against Israel	302	(1)
Wicked Samaria	303	(3)
The God of Justice	306	(2)
The Priest Expels the Prophet	308	(1)
Amos's Final Hope	309	(5)
Hosea
Introduction	311	(3)
Fruits of Unfaithfulness	314	(2)
The God of Love	316	(1)
The New Betrothal	317	(5)
Isaiah
Introduction	319	(3)
Isaiah's Vision---The God of Holiness	322	(2)
God's Vineyard: A Parable	324	(2)
Vintage of Wild Grapes	326	(3)
Not Sacrifice So Much as Holiness	329	(2)
``Be Firm and Be Calm!''	331	(2)
``The End of Days''	333	(4)
Isaiah of the Exile
Introduction	336	(1)
``Speak Tenderly to Jerusalem''	337	(3)
Cyrus---God's Shepherd	340	(2)
``The Servant of God''	342	(2)
God of the Whole World	344	(8)
Jeremiah
Introduction	349	(3)
The Prophet's Call	352	(3)
Evils That Destroy Within	355	(3)
``The Temple Shall Become Like Shiloh!''	358	(3)
The Burning of the Book	361	(3)
Jeremiah's Letter	364	(2)
Jeremiah's Act of Faith	366	(2)
The God of the Inner Spirit	368	(6)
Ezekiel
Introduction	371	(3)
The God of Power	374	(3)
Each One Is Responsible	377	(2)
For God's Own Honor	379	(2)
The Valley of Dry Bones	381	(4)
Jonah
Introduction	383	(2)
Jonah's Flight	385	(2)
Jonah's Second Chance	387	(2)
The Depressed Prophet	389	(6)
The Writings
Psalms
Introduction	393	(2)
Sweet Singer in Israel	395	(4)
David, the Good Shepherd	395	(1)
When David Fled from Saul	396	(1)
When David Brought the Ark to Jerusalem	396	(2)
When David Fled from Absalom	398	(1)
On Nature and Humans' Place in It	399	(5)
God, Creator of the World	399	(2)
Humans' Place in God's World	401	(1)
God in Nature and Morality	402	(2)
On Our Pilgrimage Through Life	404	(6)
Two Ways of Life	404	(1)
The Person God Loves	405	(1)
God's Protecting Care	405	(1)
God---Source of Our Help	406	(1)
In the Depths of Despair	407	(1)
God Is Everywhere	407	(1)
At Life's End	408	(2)
On Israel and Zion	410	(7)
Longing for God	410	(1)
On Pilgrimage to Zion	411	(1)
Within the Temple Courts	411	(1)
God in the Midst of Zion	412	(1)
Sorrows of Exile	413	(1)
Joyful Return to Zion	414	(1)
Proverbs
Introduction	415	(2)
Invitation to Wisdom	417	(3)
The Art of Living Together	420	(3)
Sharing the Burdens	423	(2)
The Good Citizen	425	(2)
What Delights God	427	(7)
Job
Introduction	429	(5)
Job's Complaint	434	(1)
Eliphaz and Job	435	(2)
Bildad and Job	437	(2)
Zophar and Job	439	(3)
Elihu the Bystander	442	(2)
God's Voice Speaks	444	(5)
The Song of Songs
Introduction	447	(2)
Love in Springtime	449	(1)
In Praise of the Bride	450	(2)
In Praise of the Bridegroom	452	(2)
The Lovers Reunited	454	(2)
Lamentations
Introduction	455	(1)
Desolation and Misery	456	(3)
God's Consolations	459	(4)
Ecclesiastes
Introduction	461	(2)
Nothing New Beneath the Sun	463	(1)
A Ruler's Search for Happiness	464	(3)
The Advice of the Sage	467	(6)
Esther
Introduction	471	(2)
The Emperor's Banquet	473	(2)
Haman Schemes Revenge	475	(3)
Queen Esther Before Ahasuerus	478	(3)
The Jews' Triumph	481	(4)
Daniel
Introduction	483	(2)
Four Courageous Jewish Youths	485	(2)
Nebuchadnzzar's Dream	487	(3)
In the Fiery Furnace	490	(3)
The Handwriting on the Wall	493	(3)
Daniel's Final Faithfulness	496	(5)
Ezra-Nehemiah
Introduction	499	(2)
The Pioneers	501	(4)
The Prophets Haggai and Zechariah
Ezra the Religious Leader	505	(3)
The Prophet Malachi
Nehemiah the Nation-Builder	508	(3)
Nehemiah's Great Reforms	511	(2)
The Torah as the Constitution	513	(2)
Along the Pathways	515	(2)
About Mortimer J. Cohen	517	(2)
About Arthur Szyk	519	(2)
Editor's Note to the 2002 Edition	521