Here's a brief excerpt of my forthcoming review in the Bulletin for Biblical Research of James K. Aitken & Hilary F.
Marlow (eds), The City in the Hebrew Bible: Critical, Literary and Exegetical
Approaches.
Citizens of the West, and virtually all of the world’s population, have some concept of the idea of a city. It is the central hub of commerce, employment and entertainment. It is marked by densely placed housing units in relatively close proximity to said ventures. However, the word “city” carries a wide array of connotations, depending on one’s point of reference. For a rural farmer, “the city” might be the town of 500 where he buys seed and delivers grain. For the obstetrician at the county seat, “the city” might be the municipality where she delivers babies at the regional hospital. For the aspiring actor, “the city” might mean nothing other than New York City’s Broadway. In short, the term “city” is rather subjective even to the modern ear, as one’s definition of “city” is filtered through their personal experiences.
If you are curious about what the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament has to say about cities, divorced from whatever modern conception of the idea you might have, the eleven essays (plus introduction) will give you plenty to think about. The contributors employ a variety of methodologies in their approach to the topic, providing a rich scope of perspectives.
Unfortunately, as a T&T Clark publication, this 248 page hardcover will set you back over $2.18/page, if you want your own personal copy! Or, you can check it out at your university library, which is what T&T Clark, Brill, de Gruyter, Routledge, and their ilk are counting on. But, that's another topic for another day.
Citizens of the West, and virtually all of the world’s population, have some concept of the idea of a city. It is the central hub of commerce, employment and entertainment. It is marked by densely placed housing units in relatively close proximity to said ventures. However, the word “city” carries a wide array of connotations, depending on one’s point of reference. For a rural farmer, “the city” might be the town of 500 where he buys seed and delivers grain. For the obstetrician at the county seat, “the city” might be the municipality where she delivers babies at the regional hospital. For the aspiring actor, “the city” might mean nothing other than New York City’s Broadway. In short, the term “city” is rather subjective even to the modern ear, as one’s definition of “city” is filtered through their personal experiences. If you are curious about what the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament has to say about cities, divorced from whatever modern conception of the idea you might have, the eleven essays (plus introduction) will give you plenty to think about. The contributors employ a variety of methodologies in their approach to the topic, providing a rich scope of perspectives.
Unfortunately, as a T&T Clark publication, this 248 page hardcover will set you back over $2.18/page, if you want your own personal copy! Or, you can check it out at your university library, which is what T&T Clark, Brill, de Gruyter, Routledge, and their ilk are counting on. But, that's another topic for another day.
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