More than simply a method of communication shared by a common people; the Hebrew language was always an integral part of the Jewish cultural system and; as such; tightly interwoven into the lives of the prophets; poets; scribes; and priests who used it. In this unique social history; William Schniedewind examines classical Hebrew from its origins in the second millennium BCE until the Rabbinic period; when the principles of Judaism as we know it today were formulated; to view the story of the Israelites through the lens of their language.
#2353210 in Books 2010-05-18Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 .90 x 5.10 x 9.14l; .91 #File Name: 0300159110256 pages
Review
1 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Author's Technical Background Shows Through . . . Too MuchBy DavidMr. Dallal may have many academic credentials behind his name; but writing clear; concise prose is not one of his strengths. This is too bad; because it seems that "Islam; Science; and the Challenge of History" has much knowledge to offer. But that knowledge gets lost in Mr. Dallal's penchant for impressing himself with his depth of learning. I read Mr. Dallal's bio; and it seems that before he embarked on his current career in academia; he was an engineer. His engineering background is on display in this work; which reads very much like a technical manual--one with historical names used in an effort to give it more depth. I am 2/3rds the way through this book; and it's taken every ounce of willpower not to quit. I'll slog through to the end; but I wouldn't recommend this work to anybody hoping to understand the history and development of Islamic scientific thought. Unless; of course; the reader is as supposedly well-versed in the subject as is Mr. Dallal.
