A concise but thorough examination of a neglected aspect of ancient history.
A historical survey of the contributions Persian kings made to the rebuilding of the destroyed temple in Jerusalem.
A biblical prophecy by Isaiah foretold the destruction of the first temple in Jerusalem and its subsequent reconstruction by someone named Cyrus, nearly 200 years before Cyrus became ruler of the Babylonian Empire. Of course, the temple was in fact razed to the ground, and Nebuchadnezzar, the ruler at the time, exiled the Jews to Babylon. However, Cyrus’ rule served as a watershed for the Jewish people: “The influence of the enlightened rule of Cyrus the Persian—and later Persian kings—appears to have given Israel a new vision of the monarchy.” Over the next century, a series of Persian kings continued the commitment made by Cyrus despite facing considerable opposition. Miller chronicles this extraordinary development and contends that without the intervention of Persian kings, the second temple probably wouldn’t have been built. The author’s thesis unfolds in a teacherly fashion as a series of brief lectures delivered with discussion questions included. The book itself is brief—well under 100 pages—and abounds with lucid, well-researched historical interpretation and biblical commentary. Also, Miller draws a relevant contemporary lesson from this century of Persian and Jewish collaboration: “In the modern world of huge political and religious divides, it is difficult to lay aside the issues that separate us and concentrate on the similarities that unite us. A look back in history reminds us that we have cooperated in the past and that cooperation in the future is essential if the world is to survive.” This is a refreshingly optimistic read of a history also fraught with enmity, and at the very least, it teaches that such antagonism between religious traditions isn’t unavoidable.
A concise but thorough examination of a neglected aspect of ancient history.Pub Date: Sept. 22, 2021
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: 77
Publisher: Global Summit House
Review Posted Online: Feb. 1, 2022
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
Much-honored sf/fantasy writer Davidson (1923—93) was also a master of the mystery short story, argues his friend Richard Lupoff in his warmly appreciative introduction, and adduces in evidence 13 stories ranging in their settings from China to Olde New York, and running from a new twist on the old tale of the vanished bride to a grimly satisfying anecdote of slavery and the law.
Pub Date: Feb. 5, 1999
ISBN: 0-312-19931-7
Page Count: 256
Publisher: St. Martin's
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 1998
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A small gem of medical philosophy.
In his second book on medical ethics, philosopher Gorovitz (Syracuse Univ.) reports on his seven weeks in 1985 as "Authorized Snoop and Irritant-at-Large" at Boston's renowned Beth Israel Hospital.
As in Doctor's Dilemmas (1982), here Gorovitz tackles some tough topics: abortion, "do-not-resuscitate" orders, transplantations, and other issues circling around the question of "where to draw the line." His judicious investigations will not please hard-liners on either side. For instance, while supporting most fetal-tissue research, he opposes interspecies transplants; he restages the abortion debate on high moral ground, exploring prevailing community standards and such vexing questions as what happens when an aborted fetus survives the operation, in the process forging a middle path between abortion-on-demand and no-abortions-ever. Hospital advertisements, medical expenses, surrogate motherhood, and doctor-patient relations are among other issues explored with characteristic care. This all may sound dry, but in fact it's captivating, thanks to Gorovitz's decision to confront issues as they naturally arise in the course of day-to-day hospital operations. This grounds his difficult, sometimes abstruse themes in real-life, flesh-and-blood struggles, giving his conclusions added authority.
A small gem of medical philosophy.Pub Date: Jan. 1, 1990
ISBN: 19-504428-2
Page Count: -
Publisher: Oxford Univ.
Review Posted Online: June 24, 2010
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