James L. Kugel - The Bible as it was

This book made available by the Internet Archive.

Once again, to R.

VIII CONTENTS

6. The Tower of Babel 121

They Tried to Storm Heaven A War against God Nimrod Built It The Builders Were Giants The Tower Lies in Ruins

7. Abraham Journeys from Chaldea 131

Abraham the Monotheist Terah, Priest of Idolatry Abraham the Astronomer Tipped Off by the Stars Abraham Rescued from Chaldea Abraham Saved from Fire Abraham Was Upset Abraham's Dream

8. Melchizedek 149

A Generous Host Righteous King and Priest Divinely Appointed High Priest The Heavenly Melchizedek The Christian "Order of Melchizedek" An Uncircumcised Priest? Melchizedek in Samaria Melchizedek Was Shem Services No Longer Needed

9. The Trials of Abraham 163

Abraham the Tested Abraham Saw a Dire Future Challenged by Angels God Made It Known Isaac Was a Willing Victim Together in Mind Offering Foreshadowed Crucifixion

10. Lot and Lot's Wife 179

Lot the Righteous Lot the Wicked Sodomites' Sexual Sins The Proud and the Stingy Abraham's Hospitality Lot Learned from Abraham Lot's Wife Sinned A Visible Reminder Lot's Daughters Meant Well

11. Jacob and Esau 197

Jacob Was Not Just "Simple" Jacob the Scholar Esau the Wicked Good and Evil in Utero Esau the Warrior Esau Means Rome Esau the Deceiver Esau Didn't Care Jacob Told the Truth God Wanted Jacob to Be Blessed The Ladder Was a Message Angels Wanted to See Him

CONTENTS IX

12. Jacob and the Angel 215

Jacob Knew Right Away Deluded in the Dark Additional Trickery Required Weak, Bleary Eyes "Nice Eyes, But..." God Multiplied Jacob's Flocks Rachel Was Not a Crook Jacob Struggled with an Angel Mighty with God's Help Israel Means Seeing God

13. Dinah 231

Uncontrolled Anger Shechem Deserved Death

Foreigners Are Different Intermarriage Is Forbidden

A Wise Answer The Whole City Was Guilty

City with a Criminal Past God Said No

God Ordered Their Destruction Dinah Married Job

14. Joseph's Ups and Downs 245

It's a Wise Child Eating from the Flocks

Resembled Jacob in All Things Deeds of Youthful Foolishness

For the Price of Shoes Joseph's Great Virtue

A Very Handsome Man Girls Climbing the Walls

Cast Down Their Jewelry Joseph Was Not Tempted

Remembered Jacob's Teachings Saw Jacob's Face

A Collective Accusation Pharaoh's Servants Applauded

Joseph Had Been Scorned

15. Jacob's Sons in Egypt 263

A Good Reason for ConceaUng Joseph Tested His Brothers

Joseph Disdained Revenge Reuben Lost His Inheritance

Bilhah Bathing Bilhah Was Asleep

Jacob Foretold the Future Kingship Will Not Depart Forever

Another King Will Come Until a New King Comes

A Ruler of the World Why Did Joseph Put It Off?

X CONTENTS

16. Growing Up in Pharaoh's Court 285

A Plan to Finish Them Off Why Only the Boys?

A Future Savior Jannes and Jambres Balaam, Job, and Jethro

Death by Water Schooled in Every Wisdom

Moses' Speech Defect Jealous of Moses

Zipporah the Ethiopian Miraculously Burning Bush

The Medium Was the Message "I Am the One Who Is ... "

"I Am the Eternal ..." An Angel in the Hotel

Circumcision Delayed Is Circumcision Denied

A Prenuptial Agreement

17. The Exodus from Egypt 309

A Godlike Man No Mere Magician's Trick

Pharaoh Didn't Realize Divine Punishment of the Egyptians

Deservedly Punished by Water A Dark Dungeon for Egypt

Metaphorical Darkness Justifiable Death for the Firstborn

Egyptians Gave Willingly Fair Wages at Last

The Symbolic Passover Laws The (Paschal) Lamb of Christianity

18. The Red Sea 331

Pillar of Luminous Cloud Protective Covering

An Angel in the Cloud Final Payment

Get Back Our Goods! Rebellion at the Sea

More than One Miracle A Grassy Plain Miraculous Timing

If Looks Could Kill... Light and Dark Together

Ups and Downs of the Egyptians Red Sea as Baptism

How Did They Know the Words? Seeing God at the Sea

Infants Sang Too Miriam's Separate Song A New Song

19. Into the Wilderness 353

Water, Water ... A Symbolic Tree

The Water Was Divine Wisdom The Food of Angels

Heavenly Grain Adapted to Any Taste Spiritual Sustenance

The Traveling Rock Miriam's Well

Amalek Destroyed at the End-Time

The Symbolic Hands of Moses

The Christian Battle with Amalek Jethro the Polytheist

Jethro the Good

CONTENTS XI

20. At Mt. Sinai 371

Heaven on Earth Celestial Sinai Heavenly Moses

God Spoke All Ten God Spoke Only Two The Ten Were All

The Decalogue Epitomizes Five and Five

Which Ten Commandments? No Talk of Weekday Matters

Guard the Sabbath Borders Do Not Go Out Too Far

Do Not Take Vain Oaths No False Oaths

Honor Your Heavenly and Earthly Fathers

A Mishap to the Baby A Mishap to the Mother

Money for an Eye Traditions of the Elders

Moses Was Given More than the Torah

Oral Teachings from Moses A Hidden Torah

Moses' Secret Book A Book before Moses

Children of the Chosen Singled Out from the Start

Other Nations Knew^ Anyway Other Nations at Fault

Remember This Blood

21. The Golden Calf 415

A Celestial Sanctuary Copied from Heaven

A Likeness of the Universe Aaron Tried to Stop Them

Aaron Feared for His Life Hur Murdered by the Rabble

The Letters Flew Off Tables Became Too Heavy

Divine Traits of Character

Steadfast Love for Thousands of Generations

No Pardon for the Wicked Thousands of Sins Forgiven

Moses' Face Beamed Light Moses Grew Horns

22. Worship in the Wilderness 439

An Error in Priestly Procedure A Holy Death Coats Not Burned Control of Appetites Ruminating with One's Mind Gentle Birds for Gentle People Day of Repentance The Day of Partial Atonement Hatred Means Hypocrisy Reproach Prevents Hatred Reproach Gently to Prevent Sin Reproach before Charging Love As You Would Be Loved Love Only Your Neighbor The Whole Torah

XII CONTENTS

23. Trouble along the Way 461

Quails Weren't for Grousing A Wife Related to Prophecy

Trusted Servant Par Excellence

Whose Bad Idea? Solemnly Warned Tassels Set Off Revolt

Moses Accused of Favoritism Moses Was Polite

Korah's Symbolic Death A Truly Dangerous Figure

Aaron's Symbolic Staff

24. The Bronze Serpent, Balaam, and Phinehas 477

Looking Didn't Cure Serpent Was Like Moses' Hands

Balaam the Wicked God Knew Who They Were

A Prophet for Hire Balaam Foresaw the Messiah

ARuler of the World The Star Is the Messiah