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David Harbater has written an astounding book; in many ways, it is one of a kind… The book is studded with fresh insights, deep conceptual and ethical teachings and is an intellectual, spiritual fest... Harbater dissolves the binary absolute clash between the religious Jewish Bible reader and the non-religious reader. I urge all readers to suspend their standard assumptions and convictions, to ignore standing party lines, and open up to learn Genesis 1-11 with a master teacher, one who is an inspired reader with a thousand theological insights. You will be rewarded with new insight after new insight that will inspire and dazzle and drive you to read the Torah with fresh eyes.

For anyone puzzled by the apparent inconsistencies and complexities that about throughout the Torah Harbater shines a great light. The dark places are illuminated, inconsistencies resolved, faith strengthened. In the Beginnings is a work to be treasured.

You may have studied the first chapters of Genesis many times before, but once you have read David Harbater’s groundbreaking and captivating book In the Beginnings, it will seem as though you are studying them for the very first time.

Whether you come to this book from a traditional view of the Bible’s origins or a more critical one, you will emerge enriched by Harbater’s central argument of a multifaceted text and often delighted by his abundant insight into the text’s nuances and its complex messages. Ultimately, In the Beginnings is a work of faith – in the depth and sophistication of the biblical word and in the Torah’s timeless relevance.

With surgical precision, Harbater splits the integrated story into its two component parts, which are now vividly presented to us as they stand juxtaposed with one another. This intriguing disentanglement of the text will enrich the spiritual world of the readers and their appreciation that “these and those are the words of the living God.

In the Beginnings… is a fascinating and thought-provoking exploration of the foundational texts in the Bible from a theological student's perspective… The author's meticulous research and deep understanding of the subject matter are evident throughout the book, making it an intellectually stimulating read… It is a rich and enlightening resource that will undoubtedly enhance biblical scholarship and theological discussions. I highly recommend it for its academic rigor, thought-provoking analysis, and its ability to challenge and broaden one's perspective on these foundational biblical texts.