Moses : A Life

Quite academic, very thought provoking work. It incorporated many views, even though some would disagree at times. It does make one pause to verify or at least look at the history, both from a biblical point as well as secular. All points are valid and as an objective student of history one must take into account even opposing thought, perhaps even challenging ones own dogmatic perception. I myself did not agree with all the subjective analysis or personal points. However, it is even within the more subjective views still thought provoking. One is either strengthened or offended, yet that very same will be moved non the less to much greater thought. Very inspiring and more than worth the read!

Kirsch's book is basically a line-by-line reading of Exodus. He operates from the presumption that the books of the Torah were written by several different people over a period of centuries, and, in looking at the text line-by-line, attempts to resolve certain contradictions that he sees in that book's portrayal of Moses. Kirsch also supplements his reading of the Torah with reference to the Midrash and other rabbinical lore from hundreds or thousands of years ago. In so doing, he finds that there are several different distinct and contradictory versions of Moses to be found throughout what we now think of as the Bible, with even the facts of his life story (his siblings, his wife's country of origin, his number of children, and his father-in-law's name) varying from chapter to chapter, if not verse to verse. Think of his book as secular Bible study."Moses" is, in that sense, an exhilirating read, an effort to figure out just who Moses might really have been. The book is basically a mystery without a solution: the author notes that there is no archaeological proof of Moses' existence, or of the Exodus from Egypt (note that I chose to read this book during Passover). By looking at the life of Moses, and the story of the Exodus and the wandering of the Israelites through the Sinai Peninsula over a 40-year-period, through the prism of the different strands of Bible authorship, and of the different rabbinic traditions that have sprung up around the life of Moses, Kirsch tells a story that does not move in a straight line, that does not arrive at a single conclusion.Indeed, depending on which revisionist Bible historian Kirsch is quoting from (there are about 4 or 5 authors whose names dominate about 90% of the footnotes), his theories on Moses' life will vary from chapter to chapter. In one chapter, for example, he surmises that Aaron and Miriam were real, historical figures, but that Moses was not; in a later chapter, he will describe Aaron as the invention of priests in the Northern Kingdom of Israel living almost a millennium later. He then attributes the book of Deuteronomy to the king Josiah, but a few pages later notes that there's no archaelogical proof that Josiah ever existed, either. At times I wished that Kirsch would just take a stand, rather than smirking at every single side of the Moses "debate".It all comes together in the last chapter, though, when Kirsch decides that the lack of historical proof behind the story of Moses does not change the fact that Moses is a tremendously important and signifcant figure in our current moral and ethical culture, and proceeds to explain why. The author may have offended a lot of people (knowingly or otherwise) in taking this journey, but I think we can all agree that his end result makes the book a worthwhile exercise.

Objective and comprehensive. I enjoyed it as much if not more than his other work. Mr. Kirsch does not embellish Moses nor does he demean him. He makes him human. It is a biography compilled from numerous sources, rich in detail and broad in scope. The story of a man with all his human strenghs and weaknesses convinced by God to undertake a task he did not want and did not feel capable of.This work might be objectionable and unsettling to the faith based, but read with an open mind it rewards the reader with insight and new appreciation. A great tale in every regard that can nurture your spiritand reinforce your faith if read with an open heart and an open mind.

I wasted my money on this screed by Jonathan Kirsch. He spreads his lack of biblical scholarship thick with arrogance and skepticism. Why did he write his book if he has such disdain for all things sacred. To call this a national bestseller is meaningless and reveals the mindless endorsements. They will say anything to sell a book. This is junk writing of the worst sort.

At times surprising, at times chilling, at times funny. Jonathan Kirsch presents the up-to-date information on biblical scholarship along with insights from ancient rabbinical writings. The author encourages his readers to read the Bible with open eyes and open hearts. Then, even the biggest sceptics can discover a piece of valuable wisdom for themselves.

“Moses: A Life” by Jonathan Kirsch is well researched and well written. He frequently reminds the reader that he doubts Moses ever existed; it was helpful for me to keep this in mind as I read his work.

I was told by a minister friend that this book was a. great biography of Moses. If you believe the OT is inerrant, please stop reading. While its a good read for a liberal religious person, the evidence about Exodus and the Israelites being slaves in Egypt is not supported by the archeological evidence. The building of the pyramids and Egyptian temples, etc. was more than likely a means to employ excess labor. Also there is evidence to support Canaanites coming to Egypt during a famine (the Joseph part of the story). And much later when a dynasty collapsed, Canaanites taking advantage of the chaos and essentially invading Egypt. When a new dynasty was in power these Canaanites did leave Egypt with whatever goods they could carry. Obviously they had enough gold to make a golden calf and others were reported in the OT to have considerable wealth, such as the individual who challenged Moses and was swallowed up by the earth. Did a historical Moses exist. Maybe, but there is no archeological evidence they were leaving Egypt as "freed" slaves. Believeres will believe and skeptics check the evidence. It's a good well-written biography of a perhaps fictional Moses.

Written by an attorney who writes on a number of Jewish subjects. It is plainly written without a lot of religious stuff. He has researched it well. I would recommend other books he has written that I have read.

Good condition thanks

This is not a review on the contents of the book, I have just received it and Jonathan Kirsch is a fantastic author, if its half as good as his book "King David " it will be outstanding. This is a review on the product I received. I'm assuming something went wrong when the book was being made, it is printed from back to front and is upside down( The cover of the book is upside down to the pages) The page numbers go up from left to right and to someone observing me it would look like I was holding the book the wrong way round. It did make me laugh and the book isn't damaged in anyway,