By Helen Paynter. Published by BRF (The Bible Reading Fellowship), 2019. Reviewed by John Meredith
In lucid prose Helen Paynter argues that violence featured in the biblical canon should not be ignored or denied but acknowledged and faced honestly. She invites readers to reflect on the narrators’ purposes. For example, in Judges 19 we find the gang rape and murder of a concubine. This is deeply shocking but also draws attention to the appalling consequences for a defenceless woman in a society without law or leadership. Although part of the biblical text, such stories are not usually read in public worship. If they were read these stories may allow women who have experienced sexual violence to feel heard and present opportunities for pastoral care.
Modern sensitivities may cause us to shudder at the conquest of Canaan recorded in the book of Joshua where slaughter seems to be commanded by God. Rather than a literal record of history Paynter suggests the story may be understood as a type of biblical literature dealing with God bringing order out of chaos and affirming the identity of Israel as God’s covenant people. This does not mean, however, that it can be used to support modern Israel’s actions towards Palestine.
The Hebrew people thought of God as awesome in holiness and with the power to create and to destroy. The stories of creation are placed at the beginning of the Old Testament as affirmation of God’s perfect design and intention for universal shalom/wholeness. History is played out in a broken and often violent world, but the law and the prophets point to God’s creative intention for healing and wholeness and this is fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
It is not for us to edit these stories in the Bible that offend us. We must learn to read with understanding. Helen Paynter writes clearly and makes a major contribution to informed our reading so that we may hear and interpret God’s word for today.