Edward Feld is the author of the new book The Book of Revolutions: The Battles of Priests, Prophets, and Kings That Birthed the Torah. A rabbi, his other books include Joy, Despair, and Hope: Reading Psalms.
Q: What inspired you to write The Book of Revolutions, and how was the book’s title chosen?
A: I wanted to show that the different strands of biblical writing had a specific historical context, but that they each also had uncovered deep spiritual insights that still speak to us today.
What I discovered in my research was that each of these moments were products of often violent struggles – wars, assassinations, and coups. The ideas were revolutionary and so were the circumstances under which they came to the fore.
Q: How did you research the book, and what did you learn that especially intrigued you?
A: I worked on two tracks. I was interested in the literary evidence of the text, and engaged in close readings of biblical materials aided by the wonderful work of many scholars. I was also especially interested in the results of recent archaeological evidence and what that told us about how we should the text.
Q: The Publishers Weekly review of the book says, in part, “Feld displays a remarkable talent for balancing accessible language with depth of thought and rigorous research, all while exercising a penetrating insight for how ancient conflicts factor into contemporary discourse.” What do you think of that description, particularly the reference to the impact on contemporary discourse?
A: Almost everything I write is aimed at the interested layperson. I eschew academic writing. But I also want to make sure that what I have to say will pass scholarly muster.
I’ve been pleased that although this is not an academic book, biblical scholars have said that they have had something to learn from my writing. And I’ve also begun to hear from readers that they are profoundly thankful for the book – it puts so much of the Bible in context for them.
Q: What do you hope readers take away from the book?
A: The Bible has a history, and we better understand its language and its message when we immerse ourselves in that history. History can uncover deeper meaning and interestingly, that meaning can have abiding spiritual significance.
Finally, what is most surprising is that the final authors of the Five Books of Moses, the Torah, incorporated different materials that they knew sometimes contained contradictions, but they wanted readers to confront this varied material.
Their sense of pluralism, that spiritual truth is best displayed in a variety of presentations, that, if you will, Divine truth, is represented by a rainbow of opinion has much to teach us.
Q: What are you working on now?
A: I’m thinking of a book about the biblical prophets. What is the relation of prophecy and poetry? What made the prophets’ message credible to their audience? How is social justice connected to religious belief?
Q: Anything else we should know?
A: History is not the enemy of belief, but can help us understand our beliefs and in that way deepen our lives and the way we go out to the world.
--Interview with Deborah Kalb
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