The long-awaited conclusion of William H. C. Propp’s masterful study of Exodus, this informative, clearly written commentary provides a new perspective on Israelite culture and on the role of ritual, law, and covenant in biblical religion.
Exodus 19–40 sets a new standard in biblical scholarship. Thorough and up-to-date, it is the first commentary on Exodus to include critical textual evidence from the recently edited Dead Sea Scrolls. Informed by Propp’s deep understanding of ancient cultural mores and religious traditions, it casts new light on the Israelites’ arrival at Sinai, their entry into a covenant with God, their reception of the Law, their worship of the golden calf, and their reconciliation to God. The incisive commentary on the building of the Holy Tabernacle–God’s wilderness abode–is supplemented by numerous illustrations that clarify the biblical text. Propp extends the scope and relevance of this major work in five appendices that discuss the literary formation of the Torah, the historicity of the Exodus tradition, the origins of Israelite monotheism, the Exodus theme in the Bible, and the future of Old Testament scholarship. By taking an anthropological rather than strictly theological approach, Propp places familiar stories within a fresh context. The result is a fully accessible guide to one of the most important and best known books of the Bible.
The immense popularity of Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code may be traced to several factors, among them good suspense writing, an intriguing mystery, and popular anti-Catholicism. This essay, however, focuses on its themes of masculine conspiracy and misogyny. In the widespread folktale “The Swan Maiden,” a man subdues and weds a mythical female. Her eventual murder of her husband and escape into freedom exposes underlying tensions between the genders. This essay compares the plot of The Da Vinci Code with a “Swan Maiden” myth from New Guinea, where men’s fear of women has led to the creation of secret men’s societies. That similar themes are found in an American best-seller and a myth from Melanesia indicates that they are widespread if not universal masculine concerns.
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