{"product_id":"the-trials-of-abraham-the-making-of-a-national-patriarch-9780595337538","title":"The Trials of Abraham: The Making of a National Patriarch","description":"\u003ci\u003eThe Trials of Abraham\u003c\/i\u003e is based on the premise that the primary concern of the Torah is with establishing a conceptual framework within which a unique nation might emerge and flourish for the exclusive purpose of facilitating the emergence of a model civilization for eventual emulation by all the peoples of the earth. \u003ci\u003eThe Trials of Abraham\u003c\/i\u003e is devoted to a consideration of how the biblical author sought to explain through narrative rather than analysis why Abraham was chosen to be the founding patriarch of that new nation.\u003cp\u003e The saga of Abraham is presented in the book of Genesis in a group of stories reflecting a series of progressively severe tests or trials to which Abraham was subjected in order to demonstrate to all but especially to posterity his worthiness to be the founder of a unique nation committed to God's service. The trials illustrate the discrete steps by which he underwent transformation from a natural philosopher to a religious sage, from being a consummate rationalist to becoming a man of faith capable of suppressing even the most pressing demands of reason.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Understanding the biblical narrative requires that we strive to comprehend what the text as we have it is telling us, explicitly as well as implicitly. As is the case with many biblical texts, it is not always clear what is being conveyed or why certain bits of information are provided and others omitted. The challenge for the sympathetic reader is to attempt fill in the seemingly obvious gaps in the narrative and to make sense of that which is or is not said. It is the purpose of \u003ci\u003eThe Trials of Abraham\u003c\/i\u003e to assist the reader in doing just that.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Martin Sicker\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e iUniverse\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 11\/17\/2004\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 300\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.97lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.67d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780595337538\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eThis title is not returnable\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"iUniverse","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":40381093806195,"sku":"9.7806E+12","price":24.85,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0555\/9255\/0515\/products\/img_e8d34a9d-7e63-44b5-b2ec-e0e96ef49f68.jpg?v=1661349321","url":"https:\/\/bookstorenmore.com\/products\/the-trials-of-abraham-the-making-of-a-national-patriarch-9780595337538","provider":"Bookstore N More","version":"1.0","type":"link"}