Figuring Resurrection: Joseph as a Death and Resurrection Figure in the Old Testament and Second Temple Judaism

Introduction There has always been much debate over when the Jewish people first unraveled the doctrine of resurrection. Some say it was Isaiah. Some Daniel. Some even say that Job, who lived much early than those two was the first to hint at the idea of the afterlife. Some way they did not have a doctrine of the afterlife at all, or that it did not come to fruition until the second temple period under the Pharisees. Finally, some say that it is a Christian reading into the Hebrew scriptures. In the book Figuring Resurrection by Jeffery Pulse, this topic is answered clearly through hermeneutical approaches to the story of Joseph, and his portrayal as a symbol of resurrection. Pulse, in his book, analyzes in depth the themes and pictures which the story of Joseph reveals to it's audience. In his introduction, he states that "this book is an attempt to resurrect Joseph's character and present him as he once was seen. Such an attempt may provide a new view of Joseph and may also provide insight into the Hebrew understanding of death and resurrection from ancient times". What he means by this, as he points out from the ancient Jewish commentaries of the passage, as well as comparing the LXX and the Hebrew scriptures, is that he intends to restore who Joseph really is to the Biblical audience. He aims to do this in a couple of ways: 1) Joseph, who is often seen as a heroic character, is not all that he seems to be. In a similar manner, some have more deeply analyzed the life of David, and have showed that he most certainly was not a man of sinlessness, but instead that he was as much a trespasser of the Law than any before him. He points out that Joseph has faltered in more than a few ways; such as a) That Joseph was seen as being unclean. b) That he mistreated his brothers deeply, and c) that he, assimilating to the Egyptian culture. Here he marries a pagan wife. 2) Joseph is undoubtedly a character who's story shows signs of there being resurrection theology among the Jewish community at the time of it's composition. What does Pulse mean by this? He states in his book that there are no less than 10 themes that point to a theology of resurrection, and they are as follows: a) Separation and Reunion b) Three-day/Three-stage separation and restoration c) Barren/Opening of Womb d) Cast into Pit/Being lifted up e) Down to Egypt/Up to Canaan f) Slavery/Freedom g) Imprisoned/Released h) Famine/Deliverance I) Sowing/Fruit j) Into water/out of water k) Exile/Return from Exile l) Stripped/Clothed Through these different examples listed above, we can see the death-and-resurrection "motif" played out in the text of this story. Readability To the average lay person, this book is fairly readable. I would say that the book is more suited towards the Bible college/seminary student who is seeking to delve deeper into the themes of the Old Testament scriptures, and their relation to Septuagint and Rabbinic literature of the ancient world. Knowledge of Greek, Hebrew, and Targumic would make the book more accessible for critical readers, although he does translate non-English texts. Usability The book itself is fair. The covers are nice and sturdy, sure to keep the pages inside safe. The binding seems average, although the glue job looks a little sloppy. The book is light, portable, and aesthetically pleasing all around. The paper is great quality. Applicability This books is very applicable to the audience mentioned above under the section about readability. It discusses thoroughly the topics at hand, and seeks to come to a robust consensus on the issues. This can apply to a pastor who is preaching on the passage, as it give the preacher themes to follow throughout the entire narrative of the next. It also allows the student of the Old Testament to come to a conclusion as to the timing of the development of the doctrine of resurrection in the Jewish communities.