The Harlot by the Side of the Road
by Jonathan Kirsch
Ballantine Books

No matter how much some of us might want it to, the Bible just won't go away. Even in this day and age, stories like the Exodus from Egypt, the burning bush and the tale of the Ten Commandments remain well-known standards. But how many of us have learned about Moses being stalked by God during one of the Lord's more homicidal moods? Or about the Midianite men, who, after having been tricked into getting circumcisions, were slaughtered by Simeon and Levi while they lay in bed recovering? Or about the story of Lot's daughters, who had incestous relations with their father after the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah?

In "The Harlot By the Side of the Road," Jonathan Kirsch takes on seven of the most controversial of these stories, and explores the ambiguity, morality (or lack thereof) and contradictions contained within. For each of the stories, Kirsch presents his own retelling in clear, short-story style English, peppering these versions with appropriate supporting passages from the Bible. Then, drawing on his own research and the research of other Bible scholars, Kirsch attempts to find some sort of deeper meaning in the words.

What is particularly appealing about this book is its author's ability to remain relatively evenhanded, even while writing about some of the most appallingly violent, sexist and confusing sections of the Bible. "Harlot" is much less an attack on the contents of the Old Testament (and those who interpret it literally) than it is a trailblazing exploration of rarely traveled Biblical ground. Kirsch also laces his book with an abundance of well-selected quotes from both modern Biblical scholars and ancient rabbinical commentators and is careful to represent a wide swath of viewpoints with his supporting material. A spectrum of voices ranging from modern feminists to ancient Jewish traditionalists weigh in, and this ongoing debate makes "Harlot" a much stronger and more compelling work.

There is no question that the Bible is one of the most moving, ambiguous and powerful works of literature on the planet. Kirsch's book, while challenging, is respectful of the Bible's history, and provides a rich banquet of food for thought.

— James Norton (jrnorton@flakmag.com)