Review by Choice Review
In this contribution to Yale's "Jewish Lives" series, Wolpe (rabbi, Sinai Temple, Los Angeles) crafts a poignant and provocative interpretive biography of David. Drawing on the Davidic narratives of (predominantly) 1 and 2 Samuel and 1 Kings, augmented by other biblical texts, Wolpe focuses on the roles of David as a means to his writing of David's biography. Thus, he considers the young David, David as lover/husband/fugitive/king/sinner/father/caretaker/Messianic forebear, and other such roles as poet, musician, and warrior. Yet his is more than a biography or a retelling of this classic biblical tale. Wolpe infuses his reading with varied rabbinic sources, text-critical details, parallels with world literature, and an occasional anecdote wherein Davidic deeds or thoughts are reflected in the contemporary world. With Wolpe's first statement about David-"Our first glimpse of David is his absence"-readers will recognize that this is no ordinary telling or text-critical analysis. At the culmination of this biography, readers are forced to consider the value of the "complexity" of David's character as a reflection of humanity in general and the significance of this complexity for David's role as the forerunner of the Messiah. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Lower-level undergraduates through researchers/faculty; general readers. --Heidi M. Szpek, Central Washington University
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
