King Manasseh and Child Sacrifice: Biblical Distortions of Historical Realities

King Manasseh and Child Sacrifice: Biblical Distortions of Historical Realities
ISBN-10
3110899647
ISBN-13
9783110899641
Category
Religion
Pages
420
Language
English
Published
2004-01-01
Publisher
Walter de Gruyter
Author
Francesca Stavrakopoulou

Description

The Hebrew Bible portrays King Manasseh and child sacrifice as the most reprehensible person and the most objectionable practice within the story of 'Israel'. This monograph suggests that historically, neither were as deviant as the Hebrew Bible appears to insist. Through careful historical reconstruction, it is argued that Manasseh was one of Judah's most successful monarchs, and child sacrifice played a central role in ancient Judahite religious practice. The biblical writers, motivated by ideological concerns, have thus deliberately distorted the truth about Manasseh and child sacrifice.

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