Embedded within the Bible lies a largely unknown story of the founding of early Israel and its religion, interwoven with tales documenting the creation of the Torah. Known as the Priestly Source, the complete text has not appeared on its own in either Hebrew or English—until now. This edition contains for the first time the full biblical Hebrew along with a new translation, annotated to guide readers through the text. This translation by Liane M. Feldman, an authority on the text, reveals the mythical foundation for the practice of sacrifice in ancient Israelite and Jewish religion. Beginning with the creation of the world and ending at the edge of the Promised Land, the Priestly Source offers a distinctive account from over two thousand years ago of the origins of the people of Israel and a unique perspective on their relationship with their god, Yahweh—one in stark contrast to what is found when we read the Bible now.
Due to printing constraints, please note that this edition is paginated left to right in both Hebrew and English sections. Those who find this inconvenient may wish to purchase the ebook.
Liane M. Feldman is Assistant Professor in the Department of Religion and the Program in Judaic Studies at Princeton University. She is author of The Story of Sacrifice: Ritual and Narrative in the Priestly Source.
“This book will challenge and delight anyone interested in ancient Israel and the Bible. Thanks to its accessible and engaging introduction and its thoughtful translation, it will also be an essential tool for teaching.”—Annette Yoshiko Reed, author of Jewish-Christianity and the History of Judaism
"Liane Feldman has provided students and scholars with a valuable resource for critically evaluating the Priestly Source. This volume will empower readers to draw their own conclusions."—Yitzhaq Feder, author of Purity and Pollution in the Hebrew Bible
"Feldman makes accessible a work of ancient Israelite literature that has been hiding in plain sight–one of the most important voices from the Bible, now available to everyone in all its literary and theological beauty. This book is a masterful piece of scholarship."—Joel Baden, Professor of Hebrew Bible, Yale University
418 pp.5.5 x 8.5Illus: 2 b/w illustrations
9780520383678$85.00|£71.00Hardcover
May 2024