David J Zucker
Biographic Data
| ID | 1567574 |
|---|---|
| NAME | David J Zucker |
| GIVEN NAMES | David J |
| FAMILY NAME | Zucker |
| SIGNATURE | ZUCKER D J |
| AFFILIATIONS | David J. Zucker, Ph.D. (University of Birmingham, UK), is an independent scholar residing in Aurora, Colorado. He is the author of American Rabbis: Facts and Fiction (2nd edition, Wipf & Stock, 2019) and, with Moshe Reiss, of The Matriarchs of Genesis: Seven Women, Five Views (Wipf & Stock, 2015). Other works by Zucker include The Bible’s Prophets: An Introduction for Christians and Jews (Wipf & Stock, 2013), and The Bible’s Writings: An Introduction for Christians and Jews (Wipf & Stock, 2013).. |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-7072-1685 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 20 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 0 |
| WORKS AS AUTHOR | 20 |
| WORKS AS EDITOR | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 1988 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 0 |
David’s Wives
King David has eight wives and numerous concubines. Michal, Abigail, and then Bathsheba are his most prominent wives, certainly in the sense of material found in the books of Samuel and Kings. “David’s marriages offer an intriguing narrative of gender relations and power on a number of levels...” and they cast an “important light on the role of women in securing political power—and also in losing it.” (Hackett: 157). Following a brief summary of …
Gehazi’s Active Post-Biblical Afterlife
Gehazi the servant/disciple of Elisha appears briefly in the Bible (2 Kings chapters 4, 5, and 8). There he is depicted as both a faithful and caring servant, and as a villain who is punished. Gehazi has an intriguing post-biblical afterlife in the writings of Jewish and Christian exegetes from ancient times to the present, as well as being of interest for contemporary scholarship. This article considers three views of Gehazi, those based on bibl…
Tamar, Abigail, Esther
Although subject, time, place, and characters differ in these three texts, many of the plotlines and themes that appear in the narrative that addresses Tamar (Gen. 38) reappear in the narrative addressing Abigail (1 Sam. 25), and then also reappear in the book of Esther. This article points out those matters showing how this really is a thrice-told tale
Fictional Rabbi-Sleuths
Although American sleuth fiction became popular in the late nineteenth century, the first clerical fictional protagonist appeared in 1910 with G. K. Chesterton’s Father Brown series. More than five decades later, in the mid-1960s, a rabbi-sleuth protagonist debuted in Harry Kemelman’s weekday Rabbi Small series (Friday the Rabbi Slept Late, Saturday the Rabbi Went Hungry, etc.). Following in Kemelman’s footsteps, several authors claim to have bee…
Fictional Rabbis’ Spouse Sleuths
This article explores an overlooked yet distinctive literary phenomenon: the fictional rabbi’s “spouse sleuth.” These spouse sleuths first appear more than three decades after Harry Kemelman’s pioneering Rabbi David Small mysteries. They occupy a liminal “outsider within” position in their communities. Through analysis of four characters—Sharon Kahn’s Ruby Rothman (1998–2006), Rochelle Krich’s Molly Blume (2002–2005), Naomi Graetz’s Toby Kramer (…
Exodus 32
Exodus 32:7-14 relates the narrative of the dialogue between God and Moses atop Sinai, as Aaron and the Israelites, at the base of the mountain are involved with the golden calf. For well over two millennia Jewish, Christian, and secular sources have sought to understand and explain the dynamics of what is taking place on Mt Sinai. This article looks at a variety of representative samples from the ancient world such as Rewritten Bibles, including…
Idolizing Aaron
Without doubt Aaron is intimately involved in the creation of the molten/golden calf. Does he act with good faith seeking to delay action until Moses descends from Mt Sinai, or because he fears for his life if he refuses to act? (He did the best he could under the circumstances.) Idolizing Aaron could mean “Defending Aaron.” Or Idolizing Aaron could mean Aaron-as-idol-maker, “Disparaging Aaron.” The preponderance of post-biblical writings exonera…
Unrequited Lust
precis: This essay discusses how the Potiphar's wife/Joseph interactions described in Genesis 39 are dealt with by sources both within Jewish tradition and from a Christian viewpoint. The Jewish sources begin with examples from the Late Second Temple period and beyond, followed by illustrations from midrashim from the ancient world and commentaries through the present. The events in Genesis 39 are then explored by way of Christian sources from th…
Jephthah
Jephthah (Judges 11–12) is the eighth of the twelve charismatic/military leaders in the book of Judges. Prior to a crucial battle he vows that if he is successful and returns safely “then the one who comes out of the doors of my house to meet me ... shall be offered up by me as a burnt offering to yhwh” (Judg 11:31). It is difficult to know what Jephthah means by these words. The Hebrew verb used ( ha-yotzey) in this context could mean equally “t…
Reading Esther as Abigail Redux
One way of reading the book of Esther is that parts of the work consciously serve as a subversive sequel to 1 Samuel 25. The plot in Esther “mines and undermines” the episode which features Abigail of Maon meeting with a hot-headed bent-on-revenge pre-monarchic David. Through her actions Abigail successfully neutralizes David, just as Esther neutralizes the hot-headed bent-on-revenge Haman
Promoting Empowerment
Dealing with painful suffering is discussed in a passage featuring an interchange between several rabbis in the Babylonian Talmud. As part of that discussion someone says, “Give me your hand.” Who speaks that phrase, and what is the purpose behind this request? What practical lessons can this passage teach us today? The explanations offered here propose an alternative understanding to the conventional explanation of who initiates the action. I su…
Four Women in Samuel Confront Power—Part 1
Abigail of Maon, the Medium of Endor, the Wise Woman of Tekoa, and the Wise Woman of Abel: at personal risk, all dared to confront power. In part 1 of this article contemporary scholars comment on their actions. Part 2, to be published in our next issue (BTB 51/2—May, 2021), discusses their appearance in the Aramaic Bible, the Targum Jonathan; and in the writings of both the ancient Rabbis and the Church Fathers
A Review Article—A History of the World's Scriptures
Four Women in Samuel Confront Power, Part 2
In 1-2 Samuel Abigail of Maon, the Medium of Endor, the Wise Woman of Tekoa, and the Wise Woman of Abel all dare to confront power. The Aramaic Bible, the Targum Jonathan; ancient Rabbinic sources; as well as the Church Fathers refer to them and draw different conclusions from their actions
He said/She said; Shaming, Blaming … Reframing
Describing the terms of “shaming, blaming, naming, claiming, and reframing” as the possible changing dynamics in some human relationships to achieve a resolution, is a fairly recent insight. Through analyzing a short section of an ancient text, Biblical Antiquities, we show how those matters, although not named as dynamics, were recognized as stages in human interactions millennia ago. They were played out in the announcement and subsequent birth…
A Jubilee (50) of Fascinating Facts about the Book of Jubilees
The Book of Jubilees, dating from about 2300 years ago, contains material that is very similar to narratives found in the Hebrew Bible (Masoretic Text [MT]), specifically the books of Genesis and the first half of Exodus. The text in Jubilees both adds to and omits data found in the MT. In addition, a striking feature of Jubilees is its reliance on a jubilee (50) year cycle, made up of seven sets of “weeks,” and its reliance on solely a solar cal…
My Punishment Is Too Great to Bear
This article considers how some selected ancient Jewish and Christian sources as well as some contemporary commentators have dealt with the background context for Cain’s enigmatic statement in Genesis 4:13b, “My punishment is too great to bear!” These responses are framed broadly as different ways to interpret the phrase “Raising Cain.” Raising Cain can mean raising/starting trouble, in this context essentially seeing Cain as a negative figure; o…
The Importance of Being Esther
The Book of Esther was written as a parody or farce. It has both appalled and appealed to its possible readership. The rabbis may have struggled with whether to accept Esther into the canon, but once it was in, they engaged in fanciful stories about the book. Christians also struggled with accepting the Book of Esther, but for them, too, it did become part of the canon. Esther does have some very dark sides, especially in its treatment of women a…
Counselling and Psychotherapy of Religious Clients
Religion and Society in the American West
Journal Article Religion and Society in the American West: Historical Essays. Ed. by Carl Guarneri and David Alvarez. (Lanham: University Press of America, 1987. xvi + 491 pp. Cloth, $36.50; paper, $23.75.) Get access David J. Zucker David J. Zucker Southwest Missouri State University Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Journal of American History, Volume 75, Issue 3, December 1988, Pages 904–905, https://doi.…
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Religion and Society in the American West
Journal Article Religion and Society in the American West: Historical Essays. Ed. by Carl Guarneri and David Alvarez. (Lanham: University Press of America, 1987. xvi + 491 pp. Cloth, $36.50; paper, $23.75.) Get access David J. Zucker David J. Zucker Southwest Missouri State University Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Journal of American History, Volume 75, Issue 3, December 1988, Pages 904–905, https://doi.…
Counselling and Psychotherapy of Religious Clients
The Importance of Being Esther
The Book of Esther was written as a parody or farce. It has both appalled and appealed to its possible readership. The rabbis may have struggled with whether to accept Esther into the canon, but once it was in, they engaged in fanciful stories about the book. Christians also struggled with accepting the Book of Esther, but for them, too, it did become part of the canon. Esther does have some very dark sides, especially in its treatment of women a…
He said/She said; Shaming, Blaming … Reframing
Describing the terms of “shaming, blaming, naming, claiming, and reframing” as the possible changing dynamics in some human relationships to achieve a resolution, is a fairly recent insight. Through analyzing a short section of an ancient text, Biblical Antiquities, we show how those matters, although not named as dynamics, were recognized as stages in human interactions millennia ago. They were played out in the announcement and subsequent birth…
A Jubilee (50) of Fascinating Facts about the Book of Jubilees
The Book of Jubilees, dating from about 2300 years ago, contains material that is very similar to narratives found in the Hebrew Bible (Masoretic Text [MT]), specifically the books of Genesis and the first half of Exodus. The text in Jubilees both adds to and omits data found in the MT. In addition, a striking feature of Jubilees is its reliance on a jubilee (50) year cycle, made up of seven sets of “weeks,” and its reliance on solely a solar cal…
My Punishment Is Too Great to Bear
This article considers how some selected ancient Jewish and Christian sources as well as some contemporary commentators have dealt with the background context for Cain’s enigmatic statement in Genesis 4:13b, “My punishment is too great to bear!” These responses are framed broadly as different ways to interpret the phrase “Raising Cain.” Raising Cain can mean raising/starting trouble, in this context essentially seeing Cain as a negative figure; o…
Promoting Empowerment
Dealing with painful suffering is discussed in a passage featuring an interchange between several rabbis in the Babylonian Talmud. As part of that discussion someone says, “Give me your hand.” Who speaks that phrase, and what is the purpose behind this request? What practical lessons can this passage teach us today? The explanations offered here propose an alternative understanding to the conventional explanation of who initiates the action. I su…
Four Women in Samuel Confront Power—Part 1
Abigail of Maon, the Medium of Endor, the Wise Woman of Tekoa, and the Wise Woman of Abel: at personal risk, all dared to confront power. In part 1 of this article contemporary scholars comment on their actions. Part 2, to be published in our next issue (BTB 51/2—May, 2021), discusses their appearance in the Aramaic Bible, the Targum Jonathan; and in the writings of both the ancient Rabbis and the Church Fathers
A Review Article—A History of the World's Scriptures
Four Women in Samuel Confront Power, Part 2
In 1-2 Samuel Abigail of Maon, the Medium of Endor, the Wise Woman of Tekoa, and the Wise Woman of Abel all dare to confront power. The Aramaic Bible, the Targum Jonathan; ancient Rabbinic sources; as well as the Church Fathers refer to them and draw different conclusions from their actions
Jephthah
Jephthah (Judges 11–12) is the eighth of the twelve charismatic/military leaders in the book of Judges. Prior to a crucial battle he vows that if he is successful and returns safely “then the one who comes out of the doors of my house to meet me ... shall be offered up by me as a burnt offering to yhwh” (Judg 11:31). It is difficult to know what Jephthah means by these words. The Hebrew verb used ( ha-yotzey) in this context could mean equally “t…
Reading Esther as Abigail Redux
One way of reading the book of Esther is that parts of the work consciously serve as a subversive sequel to 1 Samuel 25. The plot in Esther “mines and undermines” the episode which features Abigail of Maon meeting with a hot-headed bent-on-revenge pre-monarchic David. Through her actions Abigail successfully neutralizes David, just as Esther neutralizes the hot-headed bent-on-revenge Haman
Exodus 32
Exodus 32:7-14 relates the narrative of the dialogue between God and Moses atop Sinai, as Aaron and the Israelites, at the base of the mountain are involved with the golden calf. For well over two millennia Jewish, Christian, and secular sources have sought to understand and explain the dynamics of what is taking place on Mt Sinai. This article looks at a variety of representative samples from the ancient world such as Rewritten Bibles, including…
Idolizing Aaron
Without doubt Aaron is intimately involved in the creation of the molten/golden calf. Does he act with good faith seeking to delay action until Moses descends from Mt Sinai, or because he fears for his life if he refuses to act? (He did the best he could under the circumstances.) Idolizing Aaron could mean “Defending Aaron.” Or Idolizing Aaron could mean Aaron-as-idol-maker, “Disparaging Aaron.” The preponderance of post-biblical writings exonera…
Unrequited Lust
precis: This essay discusses how the Potiphar's wife/Joseph interactions described in Genesis 39 are dealt with by sources both within Jewish tradition and from a Christian viewpoint. The Jewish sources begin with examples from the Late Second Temple period and beyond, followed by illustrations from midrashim from the ancient world and commentaries through the present. The events in Genesis 39 are then explored by way of Christian sources from th…
Gehazi’s Active Post-Biblical Afterlife
Gehazi the servant/disciple of Elisha appears briefly in the Bible (2 Kings chapters 4, 5, and 8). There he is depicted as both a faithful and caring servant, and as a villain who is punished. Gehazi has an intriguing post-biblical afterlife in the writings of Jewish and Christian exegetes from ancient times to the present, as well as being of interest for contemporary scholarship. This article considers three views of Gehazi, those based on bibl…
Tamar, Abigail, Esther
Although subject, time, place, and characters differ in these three texts, many of the plotlines and themes that appear in the narrative that addresses Tamar (Gen. 38) reappear in the narrative addressing Abigail (1 Sam. 25), and then also reappear in the book of Esther. This article points out those matters showing how this really is a thrice-told tale
Fictional Rabbi-Sleuths
Although American sleuth fiction became popular in the late nineteenth century, the first clerical fictional protagonist appeared in 1910 with G. K. Chesterton’s Father Brown series. More than five decades later, in the mid-1960s, a rabbi-sleuth protagonist debuted in Harry Kemelman’s weekday Rabbi Small series (Friday the Rabbi Slept Late, Saturday the Rabbi Went Hungry, etc.). Following in Kemelman’s footsteps, several authors claim to have bee…
Fictional Rabbis’ Spouse Sleuths
This article explores an overlooked yet distinctive literary phenomenon: the fictional rabbi’s “spouse sleuth.” These spouse sleuths first appear more than three decades after Harry Kemelman’s pioneering Rabbi David Small mysteries. They occupy a liminal “outsider within” position in their communities. Through analysis of four characters—Sharon Kahn’s Ruby Rothman (1998–2006), Rochelle Krich’s Molly Blume (2002–2005), Naomi Graetz’s Toby Kramer (…
David’s Wives
King David has eight wives and numerous concubines. Michal, Abigail, and then Bathsheba are his most prominent wives, certainly in the sense of material found in the books of Samuel and Kings. “David’s marriages offer an intriguing narrative of gender relations and power on a number of levels...” and they cast an “important light on the role of women in securing political power—and also in losing it.” (Hackett: 157). Following a brief summary of …
Philosophy (15 works) · Biblical Studies and Interpretation (14 works) · Art (9 works) · History (9 works) · Archaeology and Historical Studies (6 works) · Literature (6 works) · Theology (6 works) · Classics (5 works) · Psychology (5 works) · Development, Ethics, and Society (4 works)