I really appreciate the first chapter’s discussion of Fluidity of Divine Embodiment and Selfhood in Mesopotamia and Canaan. The discussion on the salmu and mis pi ceremonies was interesting. In the introduction I liked that Dr. Sommer pointed out that when in Exodus 33:20 G-d tells Moses, “‘A human cannot see Me and live.’…this text does not claim that G-d has no body for us to see; the point is rather that seeing G-d’s body will lead immediately to death.” I appreciated him mentioning that in Genesis 18 Abraham couldn’t at first distinguish G-d from the human looking visitors.
I appreciated the disscusion on scholarly denial, where he said that starting with Saadia Gaon and then Maimonides “the denial of G-d’s corporality was a crucial aspect of monotheism; a G-d with a body was a G-d who could be divided, and for these philosophers the belief in a divisible G-d constituted what one might call internal polytheism. The internal polytheism implied by the belief in a physical G-d was even more objectionable to these thinkers than a belief in many gods.”
I liked where he said Deuteronomy 4:15 “…does not deny that G-d has a form, however;…Deuteronomy insists only that G-d’s body never comes to earth because it always remains in heaven. Similarly, the Ten Commandments prohibit Israelites from making a physical representation of G-d, but never deny that G-d has a body that might in theory be represented” ( p. 9).
I appreciated the discussion on the shem and the mal’akh on page 59. “ …shem functions outside the deuteronomic and priestly texts both as a synonym for G-d and as a hypostasis or emanation of G-d that is not quite a separate deity.” The discussion on the kabod was also interesting. “G-d’s kabod in several nonpriestly Biblical texts means G-d’s body and, more specifically in many passages, G-d’s intensely bright body, which is normally surrounded by a cloud.”
I understand the Golden Calf incident differently after reading this book.
Chapter 6 “The Perception of Divinity in Biblical Tradition: Implications and Afterlife” was especially interesting. I appreciated Dr. Sommer saying, “…portrayals of YHWH as possessing multiple bodies and overlapping selves do occur in ancient Israel’s scriptures. Editors who were primarily loyal to priestly and deuteronomic outlooks in effect covered these portrayals with a veil, but they neither destroyed them nor altered them beyond recognition. These less common portrayals constitute what we might call a minority position within the Hebrew Bible…The final from of the Hebrew Bible tempers that tradition and calls it into question, but it allows it to remain within the sacred precincts” (p. 125).
He also says that, “…every passage in sacred scripture is there to teach us something. We may have the right to react to what is in scripture; we may have the right to disagree with it; but we have no right to ignore it. A Jewish understanding of G-d that does not reflect the fluidity tradition us a defective one” (p. 125).
I liked the discussion on Multiple Conceptions of the Shekhinah in Rabbinic Literature in this chapter and “Fluidity in Kabbalah”. I enjoyed the discussion on “Fluidity in Christianity”. He said, “For all the trouble that Jewish and Muslim philosophers have had with this notion, the trinity emerges as a fairly typical example of the fragmentation of a single deity into seemingly distinct manifestations that do not quite undermine that deity’s coherence” (p.132). Reading this book, made the concept of trinitarianism actually make sense. “Classic language of trinitarian theology, such as…one nature, three persons or one substance, three manifestations, applies perfectly well to examples of YHWH’s fluidity in the Hebrew Bible and to the fluidity traditions ini Canaan and Mesopotamia” (p.133).
The discussion on “Christianity in Light of Judaism’s Embodied G-d” on pages 135-137 was extremely interesting as Dr. Sommer went into reasons aside from Trinitarianism why Jews do not believe in Jesus, which for me prompts further study.
I enjoyed reading the appendix. Different forms of monotheism interest me. So, I liked reading about monolatry and henotheism.
Enjoy fast, free delivery, exclusive deals, and award-winning movies & TV shows with Prime
Try Prime
and start saving today with fast, free delivery
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Join or create book clubs
Choose books together
Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.
Frequently bought together
$53.54
Get it as soon as Wednesday, May 15
Only 2 left in stock - order soon.
Total price:
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Choose items to buy together.
Similar items that may deliver to you quickly
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
About the author
Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
Reviewed in the United States on August 5, 2016
Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2012
Reviewed in the United States on January 23, 2016
Reviewed in the United States on February 20, 2019
Reviewed in the United States on June 7, 2010
