NOTE:

This post has been withdrawn. The post has been published in my book, Rereading the Biblical Text: Searching for Meaning and Understanding.  The approach taken in the book is to compare how different translations have approached difficult texts in the Old Testament. The goal of the book is to invite readers to reread the biblical text in light of the new understanding of the intent of the original writer of the text.  You can order the book from Amazon.

Rereading the Biblical Text

Visit my Amazon author’s page to purchase the book (click here).

Claude Mariottini
Emeritus Professor of Old Testament
Northern Baptist Seminary

A Note About This Post:

Before “Revisiting Isaiah 50:1: The Problem of Divorce in the Old Testament” was withdrawn for publication, “Revisiting Isaiah 50:1: The Problem of Divorce in the Old Testament” was read by 837 readers. “Revisiting Isaiah 50:1: The Problem of Divorce in the Old Testament” was also shared 4 times by readers who enjoyed reading the post. You can read “Revisiting Isaiah 50:1: The Problem of Divorce in the Old Testament” and other articles on problems in Bible translation by reading my book Rereading the Biblical Text: Searching for Meaning and Understanding. Below is the content of the book:

CONTENTS

Acknowledgments – Page xi
Abbreviations – Page xii
Introduction – Page xv

SECTION 1 — THE PENTATEUCH

Chapter 1. The Creation of Animals in Genesis 2:19 – Page 3

Chapter 2. The Serpent Was Right (Genesis 3) – Page 7

Chapter 3. The Seed of the Woman (Genesis 3:15) – Page 11

Chapter 4. Were They Really Giants? (Genesis 6:4) – Page 17

Chapter 5. “As Far as Dan” (Gen 14:14) – Page 20

Chapter 6. Abraham and the Promises of God – Page (Genesis 12:7) – Page 23

Chapter 7. The Sacrifice of Isaac (Genesis 22:8) – Page 26

Chapter 8. The Rape of Bilhah (Genesis 35:22) – Page 29

Chapter 9. Miriam, a Leader in Israel (Exodus 15:20) – Page 32

Chapter 10. Azazel (Leviticus 16:8-10) – Page 35

Chapter 11. Understanding Numbers 24:24 – Page 38

SECTION 2 — THE HISTORICAL BOOKS

Chapter 12. The Levite and His Concubine (Judges 19:1–30) – Page 43

Chapter 13. The Sacrifice of Jephthah’s Daughter (Judges 10:6–12:7) – Page 47

Chapter 14. The Fate of Jephthah’s Daughter (Judges 10:6–12:7) – Page 4750

Chapter 15. The Virginity of Jephthah’s Daughter (Judges 10:6–12:7) – Page 54

Chapter 16. Who Went Back to the City? (Ruth 3:15) – Page 59

Chapter 17. Was Ruth Barren? (Ruth 4:13) – Page 59

Chapter 18. King Saul: Little in His Own Eyes (1 Samuel 15:17) – Page 63

Chapter 19. How Old Was Saul? (1 Samuel 13:1) – Page 64

Chapter 20. David and Melchizedek (Psalm 110:4) – Page 67

Chapter 21. David’s Sons Were Priests ((2 Samuel 8:18) – Page 70

Chapter 22. “Him that Pisseth against the Wall” (1 Samuel 25:22) – Page 72

Chapter 23. Whose Cloak Did Ahijah Tear? (1Kinga 11:4–7) – Page 78

Chapter 24. The Challenges of Parenthood (2 Kinga 21:25–26) – Page 82

SECTION 3 — THE WISDOM AND POETICAL BOOKS

Chapter 25. Psalm 8:5: In Search of a Better Translation – Page 87

Chapter 26. Understanding Psalm 17:14 – Page 90

Chapter 27. Jezebel’s Wedding Song (Psalm 45:1–17) – Page 93

Chapter 28. Psalm 100:3: In Search of a Better Translation – Page 99

Chapter 29. Sons or Children? (Psalm 127:3-5) – Page 103

Chapter 30. Proverbs 29:18 – Page 106

Chapter 31. “Black and Beautiful” or “Black but Beautiful”? (Song of Songs 1:5) – Page 108

SECTION 4 — THE PROPHETICAL BOOKS

Chapter 32. The Use of Gender Inclusive Language (Isaiah 9:1) – Page 115

Chapter 33. “You Have Increased Their Joy” (Isaiah 9:3) – Page 118

Chapter 34. Who Will the Messiah Strike? (Isaiah 11:4) – Page 120

Chapter 35. The Way of the Lord (Isaiah 40:3) – Page 122

Chapter 36. “All Their Goodliness” (Isa 40:6) – Page 126

Chapter 37. The Proclaimer of Good News (Isaiah 40:9) – Page 129

Chapter 38. The Problem of Divorce in the Old Testament (Isaiah 50:1) – Page 132

Chapter 39. Beulah Land (Isaiah 62:4) – Page 135

Chapter 40. The Balm of Gilead (Jeremiah 8:22) – Page 138

Chapter 41. The Mother of Seven (Jeremiah 15:9) – Page 142

Chapter 42. The Coming of the Messiah (Daniel 9:25–27) – Page 144

Chapter 43. The Seventy Weeks of Daniel (Daniel 9:25–27) – Page 148

Chapter 44. The Knowledge of God (Hosea 4:1) – Page 152

Chapter 45. The Word “Hesed” in the Book of Hosea (Hosea 4:1) – Page 154

Chapter 46. The Word “Justice” in Amos (Amos 5:24) – Page 157

Chapter 47. “What the Lord Requires” (Micah 6:8) – Page 160

Bibliography – Page 165
Index of Subjects – Page 169
Index of Authors – Page 171
Index of Scriptures and Other Ancient Documents – Page 173

Claude Mariottini
Emeritus Professor of Old Testament
Northern Baptist Seminary

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