Bible Review, October 2001
Features
Lilith
Seductress, heroine or murderer?
For 4,000 years Lilith has wandered the earth, figuring in the mythic imaginations of writers, artists and poets. Her dark origins lie in Babylonian demonology, where amulets and incantations were used to counter the sinister powers of this winged spirit who preyed on pregnant women and infants...Read more ›
The Seductress of Qumran
This article is based on Joseph M. Baumgarten, “On the Nature of the Seductress in 4Q184,” Revue de QuÆmran 15 (1991–1992), pp. 133–143, and appears here with his approval. A seductive woman, whose heart is “a snare” and whose legs “work wickedness,” is portrayed in a well-preserved...Read more ›
Was Jesus’ Last Supper a Seder?
Many people assume that Jesus’ Last Supper was a Seder, a ritual meal held in celebration of the Jewish holiday of Passover. And indeed, according to the Gospel of Mark 14:12, Jesus prepared for the Last Supper on the “first day of Unleavened Bread,...Read more ›
What’s in a Name?
The Strange Case of Veronese’s Last Supper
When first gazing at Veronese’s painting of the Last Supper, it is difficult to recognize that it actually is a painting of the Last Supper. Indeed, the first reaction of most viewers to this Italian Renaissance masterpiece is simply awe at...Read more ›