In another group that I meet with weekly (via Zoom), we are reading James L. Kugel’s How to Read the Bible: A Guide to Scripture, Then and Now. Kugel is an Orthodox Jew who taught for years a Harvard University and then Bar Ilan University in Israel. As one reviewer of Kugel’s book noted: “Kugel's How to Read the Bible, [is] an awesome, thrilling and deeply strange book. Kugel, an emeritus professor of Hebrew literature at Harvard and, mark this, an Orthodox Jew, aims to prove that you can read the Bible rationally without losing God.”
He begins with Genesis and works his way through the entire Hebrew Bible comparing and contrasting the interpretations of Second Temple Jews and the early Christians with the interpretations of modern biblical scholars (over the last 200 years). As the final chapter of his book demonstrates, it is quite the ride; one that each member of our group is challenged by and yet enjoying immensely.
In the last couple of weeks, we have read chapter 22, “Joshua and the Conquest of Canaan” and chapter 23, “Judges and Chiefs.” I have been a Jesus follower for more than 43 years and these two biblical texts, Joshua and Judges, have proven to be the most difficult for me to accept as “God-breathed.” This has been demonstrated by the fact that in my 35 plus years of preaching and teaching I have hardly mentioned, let alone taught, from these books. The number one reason for my reticence in endorsing these texts is the way they consistently portray the God of Israel (i.e., Yahweh) as an angry, vengeful, vindictive, warrior god who calls for and/or condones the slaughter of thousands upon thousands people (men, woman and children). The second reason, not separate from the first, is the choice of many of the so-called “judges” of Israel–some of whom are mentioned in Hebrews 11 as examples of faithful lives–specifically, Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah. First, there is Gideon, the idolator (Judges 8:22–28). Then there is Barak, the coward (Judges 4:1–10). Worse yet is Samson, the arrogant, immoral womanizer (all of Judges 14–16). And probably worst of all is Jephthah who made an impulsive vow to Yahweh and thus had to sacrifice his daughter as a burnt offering (Judges 11:30–40)!
How is any of this consistent with the teachings of Jesus, as recorded in the Gospels and specifically in the so-called “Sermon on the Mount” (Matthew 5–7). Read, again, what Jesus taught here and tell me how the books of Joshua and Judges reconcile with Jesus’ teachings:
- “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (5:9).
- “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; 40 and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well; 41 and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. 42 Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you” (5:38–42)
- “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (5:43–48)
- “And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors…For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; 15 but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (6:12, 14)
- “Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. 2 For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. 3 Why do you see the speck in your neighbour’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your neighbour, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ while the log is in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbour’s eye” (7:1–5).
- “In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets” (7:12).
Jesus' life and teachings are the reasons I became a Christian 43 years ago. I’m glad that at that time I didn’t know anything about the books of Joshua and Judges and/or that I wasn’t challenged to believe that all the biblical texts are word-for-word from the mouth of God or that the Bible as a whole is inerrant–i.e.,without historical, scientific or theological error, inaccuracy or contradiction. Had that been a criteria for me being baptized into Christ, and had I known about the books of Joshua and Judges, I may not have become a Christian!
If Jesus is the Word become flesh––i.e., that Jesus is the image of the invisible God and the exact representation of his being (and I have chosen to believe that)––then I cannot accept that the god who is revealed in the books of Joshua and Judges, is the true God. Rather, the god of Joshua and Judges, and many other portions of the Hebrew Bible, has more in common with the Canaanite storm god Baal than he does with Jesus. I cannot believe in a god who commands and/or condones violence as a means to accomplish his goals in this world. I cannot believe in a god who is vengeful, petulant, wrath filled, and who commands humans to slaughter or capture and enslave other humans. I cannot believe in a god who is so dramatically inconsistent in character and action with Jesus’ life and teachings. If God in the flesh calls his followers to be peacemakers, to turn the other cheek, to forgive those who sin against us, to not judge others and to do to others what we would have them to us–and he does–then the invisible God must do the same! This is not the god who is on display in the books of Joshua and Judges. Instead, the God whom the Word became flesh has made known to us through Jesus’ life and teachings, is the God I choose to believe in and will strive to imitate and obey.
Kugel's book, as well as many others like his, have helped me identify the cognitive dissonance I began to experience part way through my life as a Christian but denied and/or buried for many years. Finally, I allowed my confusion and disagreement to rise to the surface so I could resolve it, either by giving up my faith in Jesus entirely or by giving up my faith in an inerrant, word-for-word God-breathed Bible. I chose the latter and not the former. As Kugel, and others, have helped me see, one can read the Bible rationally without losing God!
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