The story of Lot and his daughters in the Hebrew Testament was written to tell the people of that time what God would do to them if they sinned. After the story of what happened in the cave after Sodom was destroyed, Lot’s story abruptly ends and a New Testament Epistle calls him “a righteous man.” Needless to say this story is not told in Sunday School lessons! But there is a greater story to tell about the lives of these people and how they played out against the background of famine, abductions, earthquakes, distruction, and family dynamics. Lot and his daughters were in the lineage of Jesus. Ruth was a Moabite who married Boaz. Their son was Obed, whose son was Jesse, whose son was King David, and the generations continued to the birth of Jesus We cannot ignore this exciting and powerful lineage any longer!

The Book of Ruth is one of the most appealing to modern biblical interpreters, touching as it does on so many subjects of current concern: the emergence of female equality, the significance of legal evolvement, the acceptance of the outsider, to name a few. Benjamin Segal, author of earlier biblical commentaries (on the Song of Songs, Psalms, and Ecclesiastes,) here undertakes the difficult and controversial task of deciphering the original literary import of this exciting engaging book. Following a verse- by- verse commentary, this volume offers a new overview of the Book of Ruth, framed as: a series of revolutionary changes described via a once-upon-a-time ideal:, a former time when all seemed perfect, if only for a moment. At that time and place, women assumed an equal role in societal leadership, foreigners were to be acceptedwelcomed, historical precedents represented faults to be overcome (notrather than permanent stains), the law bent yielded to humane societal concerns , kindness was rewarded, and God' s will was carried out by men and women. Rabbi Segals suggests that in each case the book text itself indicates that change did not endure. As is true in idealistic literatures of other societies, Every two steps forward brought one step back (as is the case in idealistic literatures of other societies). However, biblical tradition would never be the same, as a glimpse of the ideal moment became a permanent cultural inheritance. Historical idyll became ongoing challenge. This commentary is an invitation to the reader to reenter the dialogue between modernity and ideals.

An incisive and provocative work on male-female relationships explores the complex relationship of fathers and daughters and of older men and younger females in history, life, art, and culture.

Hailed as "the most radical repackaging of the Bible since Gutenberg", these Pocket Canons give an up-close look at each book of the Bible.

From celebrated translator of the Hebrew Bible Robert Alter, the "groundbreaking" (Los Angeles Times) book that explores the Bible as literature, a winner of the National Jewish Book Award. Renowned critic and translator Robert Alter's The Art of Biblical Narrative has radically expanded our view of the Bible by recasting it as a work of literary art deserving studied criticism. In this seminal work, Alter describes how the Hebrew Bible's many authors used innovative literary styles and devices such as parallelism, contrastive dialogue, and narrative tempo to tell one of the most revolutionary stories of all time: the revelation of a single God. In so doing, Alter shows, these writers reshaped not only history, but also the art of storytelling itself.

The untold story of how a secret society rebuilt London. In 1666, a spark from a baker’s over led to the Great Fire, which ravaged much of London. After the flames had been put out and the dead buried, London was once more a blank canvas for the builders and architects to create a new city -- a city that could be rebuilt to reflect its glorious destiny. The men at the centre of London’s reconstruction were, in the main, members of the Rosicrucian-founded Royal Society, men such as Sir Christopher Wren. This society believed in the mystical wisdom of the ancient world and the millenarianist beliefs of its founders. They were convinced that London had long been the chosen site of the New Jerusalem -- the city that would descend from the sky at the Second Coming as foretold in the Book of Revelations. Now, the Great Fire had given them the chance to recreate the city in a more fitting image. In this eye-opening book, Adrian Gilbert, author of Signs in the Sky, reveals a hidden London and the true significance of such well-known sites as St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Monument and Temple church. He also introduces us to the men and women who shaped seventeenth century London according to their beliefs. Combining personal detective story and archaeological investigation with rigorous historical research, The New Jerusalem is a colourful historical portrait of a London we have never seen before.

In many ways Germany is one of the most important nations that has ever existed. It is still important and in the future may become even more so. The Edomites settled in Germany and have influenced its national identity and historical attitude. Edom was the twin brother of Jacob (Israel).The two entities are adversaries to each other. In the End Times it was prophesied that there would be a final war between Edom (Esau) and Joseph the leading Israelite Tribe. Descendants of Edom were to be found in many countries and at some stage were predominant in Germany. Meanwhile, Israel became the Jews of Judah and the Lost Ten Tribes. Joseph is dominant in the English-speaking nations. This work proves the Israelite origin of certain western peoples. It also shows the Edomite influences in Germany and other countries. At an early stage Esau (Edom) merged with the Hurrian inhabitants of Seir who are ascribed "Indo-European" attributes. The Edomites were to be found in several areas throughout the Middle East including Tyre of the Phoenicians and the region of Assyria. Later, different groups of Edomites went all over the world. Many came to Rome and to what is now Germany. These same movements of population also brought the Lost Ten Tribes of Israel to the west. Edomites had assisted the Assyrians in exploiting the labor of Israelite captives and transporting them to areas of Western Europe. Like the Israelites, Edomites were also to be found in areas of Celtic civilization. The Celtic god Esus derives from the Phoenician god Isus whose cult derived from worship of Esau. Esus evolved into the Germanic idol known as Wotan who many considered to personify Germany. Hitler was later equated with Wotan. An additional name in Germans for Wotan was "Koz" which was also the name of the national god of the Idumeans (of Edom) in the Middle East. It had been prophesied that Esau would live by his sword and enjoy material benefits from his land. This has been fulfilled by Germany. The Germans display many of the known characteristics of Edom even though most Germans are not necessarily descended from Esau. It is enough that an influential minority come from Esau and that they have helped determine the German national Identity. In the past there were many Israelites in Germany but this Hebrew element mostly moved out to North America and other areas.

What did Napoleon Bonaparte, Henry Ford, and Andrew Carnegie all have in common as the key to their success? They each had immense confidence in their goals. They left no room or quarter for failure. They had faith. Author Paul Ramseyer takes the works of Napoleon Hill, a leading expert on success, and shows readers how to apply the same principles to their faith in God. Paul discovered how to use this power to drive stage 4 cancer out of his body. He also shows the reader how the Bible commands that requests in prayer be made in faith. He goes on to explain how this required faith is the only method we have to reach our full potential. With examples drawn from the most successful men in history, Paul doesn't just tell you to have faith, but teaches how you, like they, can decide to claim it and then gives detailed instructions how you can put it to work on your behalf. Are people sick, stuck in poverty, or victims to repeating sins? He shows readers that they don't have to be. In faith, all things are possible. With the Mechanics of Faith, readers are able to see how faith works to produce in their lives the results that they have been promised. Paul Ramseyer lives in Bloomfield, Iowa. In 2006, Paul learned from the past masters of industry and technology and the Bible how to drive stage four cancer from his body and is called to teach people everywhere how they too can be overcomers and not mere victims of circumstance.

Jacob and Solomon were polygamists. Tamar and Rahab were prostitutes. What are polygamists and prostitutes doing on the pages of Holy Scripture? And God told the prophet Hosea to marry a prostitute. What about Cain—did he really marry his sister? Abraham did, and he was also a polygamist. Lot offered his daughters up for rape, David committed adultery (or rape?) and the Bible calls both men righteous. Love, Old Testament style, was bizarre. As readers of the Old Testament encounter these weird, confusing, and horrific “love” stories they ask, “What’s up with sex in the Old Testament?” The church often ignores the R-rated bits of the Bible, so it’s hard for people to find answers to their disturbing questions about sex in Scripture, which can lead people to give up on God and God’s word. However, these stories were included in the Bible for a reason, to reveal an even more shocking “love” story. When humans behave badly, God behaves graciously. God not only forgives people with sexual baggage, but also redeems their lives and includes them in his mission. God’s word records their story to benefit us. Just as sex was not often ideal in the Old Testament, it’s often not ideal today. Instead of ignoring these stories, Prostitutes and Polygamists engages, discusses, and learns from them.