King Manasseh and Child Sacrifice: Biblical Distortions of Historical Realities

by Francesca Stavrakopoulou, Francesca Stravrakopoulou

Overview

The Hebrew Bible portrays King Manasseh and child sacrifice as the most reprehensible person and the most objectionable practice within the story of 'Israel'. This monograph suggests that historically, neither were as deviant as the Hebrew Bible appears to insist. Through careful historical reconstruction, it is argued that Manasseh was one of Judah's most successful monarchs, and child sacrifice played a central role in ancient Judahite religious practice. The biblical writers, motivated by ideological concerns, have thus deliberately distorted the truth about Manasseh and child sacrifice.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9783110179941
Publisher:	De Gruyter
Publication date:	08/25/2004
Series:	Beihefte zur Zeitschrift fur die alttestamentliche Wissenschaft Series , #338
Edition description:	Reprint 2012
Pages:	420
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.94(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

D.Phil. thesis under the supervision of Dr Paul M. Joyce, Oxford/Great Britain.

Editorial Reviews

"A wonderful book."
M. Barker in Book List 5/2005

"[...] für die Religionsgeschichte Judas wichtige und innovative Studie."
A. C. Hagedorn in: ZAW 117/2005

From the Publisher