Reasonable Doubt #2 - "At the Foot of the Alter" - Prof. Robert B. Alter on The Hebrew Bible
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Mar 10, 2024 
In this engaging discussion, Professor Robert B. Alter, a renowned literary scholar and expert on the Hebrew Bible, shares his insights and unique approach to biblical narrative. He explores the documentary hypothesis, advocating for a cohesive literary method instead. Alter discusses his motivations for translating the Hebrew Bible, criticizing modern interpretations that overlook its literary nuances. He also contrasts his translation style with that of Everett Fox and reflects on the enduring appeal of the King James Bible, all while navigating the complexities of Ancient Hebrew.
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From Comparative Literature To Biblical Work
- Robert Alter began reading Biblical Hebrew in his late teens and trained in comparative literature before shifting to biblical studies.
- One article on a literary approach snowballed into several papers and then his influential book, The Art of Biblical Narrative.
Cultural, Not Interventionist, Faith
- Robert Alter does not believe in a God who intervenes directly in history or individual affairs.
- His engagement with the Hebrew Bible springs from a cultural and literary connection to Jewish tradition.
Literary Unity Over Atomistic Splitting
- Alter accepts multiple human contributors to biblical books and sees composites in the text.
- He argued that atomistic source-splitting can obscure literary coherence and produce analytic errors.
