Joseph: Portraits through the Ages

by Alan T. Levenson

The complex and dramatic story of Joseph is the most sustained narrative in Genesis. Many call it a literary masterpiece and a story of great depth that can be read on many levels. In a lucid and engaging style, Alan T. Levenson brings the voices of Philo, Josephus, Midrash, and medieval commentators, as well as a wide range of modern scholars, into dialogue about this complex biblical figure.

Levenson explores such questions Why did Joseph’s brothers hate him so? What is achieved by Joseph’s ups and downs on the path to extraordinary success? Why didn’t Joseph tell his father he was alive and ruling Egypt? What was Joseph like as a husband and father? Was Joseph just or cruel in testing his brothers’ characters?

Levenson deftly shows how an unbroken chain of interpretive traditions, mainly literary but also artistic, have added to the depth of this fascinating and unique character.

 

 

312 pages, Hardcover

Published September 1, 2016

Reviews

[Navin Karri · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author doesn’t have a high view of scripture. He may view it as a national treasure, but none spiritually what so over. I don’t know if this happens to be a recurring theme of Jewish thought or is specific to the author himself. Three stars are for some insights I haven’t had with just the plain reading of the Bible. This is definitely a character study of Joseph through more of a secular nationalist Jew rather than a devout one.

[Eva Hilzenrath · Rating 4 out of 5]

if i was joseph I would definitely lie in some of those interpretations……..