Human-Divine Interactions in the Hebrew Scriptures

This book addresses central theological issues and biblical narratives in terms of a bold thesis regarding relations between God and humans: that the actions of God and the actions of humans are informed by independently valid moral viewpoints which do not entirely overlap.

Berel Dov Lerner received his PhD in philosophy from Tel Aviv University. He is an associate professor at Western Galilee College in Israel.

Introduction: About This Book and How to Read It 1. The Creator God and Humans in Cooperation and at Cross-purposes: the Flood, Sodom, and Imitatio Dei 2. Human Participation in Divine Plans: Eden, Divine Punishment, and the Betrothal of Rebekah 3. Responsible Rebels: Saul, Jonah, and Abraham Contend with God's Requests 4. God's Conversation with Satan is More Telling than His Answer from the Whirlwind in the Book of Job 5. Nations as Moral Communities: Why Babel was Dispersed and Israel Created 6. The Covenant of the Pieces and its Epistemological Implications for Biblical Historiography 7. Obscure Dreams and the Hiddenness of the Tetragrammaton Mark Divine Manipulation and the Loss of Human Knowledge as the Patriarchs Give Way to Joseph and his Brothers 8. Joseph the False Patriarch Executes Economic Policies which set the Stage for the Israelites' Enslavement in Egypt 9. "Harsh Work": Israelite Enslavement and the Loss of Temporality and Agency as Pharaoh's Failed Method of Population Control 10. The Paschal Sacrifice and the Sabbath Restore Israelite Temporality and Agency 11. The Battle at Refidim and How the Miraculous Foundations of Moses' Prophetic Authority Invited Idolatry and Required his Replacement by Joshua 12. Esther, Ruth, and Divine/Human Cooperation in a World Bereft of Miracles