Harold Bloom argues that the biblical author known as J, responsible for the earliest strand of Genesis, Exodus, and Numbers, was a literary genius comparable to Homer, Shakespeare, and Tolstoy. He proposes the revolutionary idea that J was likely a woman, possessing unmatched powers of irony and characterization in her creation of profoundly human portraits. These include figures like Abram and Sarai, Rebecca, Jacob and Rachel, Joseph, Tamar, and Moses, and crucially, God (Yahweh).
The Book of J reclaims this foundational biblical author, presenting the full grandeur of her literary achievement. Readers are introduced to J's profound understanding of human nature and her masterful portrayal of divine and mortal relationships, demonstrating her significance as the Bible's first and greatest author.
Key concepts
- J (Yahwist source) — The hypothesized author of the earliest strand of the Pentateuch, credited with masterful irony and characterization.
- J as a woman — Harold Bloom's revolutionary proposal regarding the gender of the biblical author J.
- Yahweh (God) — The divine figure characterized and humanized through J's literary skill.
- Human portraits — J's vivid and relatable depictions of biblical figures such as Abram, Sarai, Rebecca, Jacob, Rachel, Joseph, Tamar, and Moses.