The Genesis of Justice

Ten Stories of Biblical Injustice That Led to the Ten Commandments and Modern Morality and Law

By: Alan M. Dershowitz

Narrated by: Alan M. Dershowitz

From the nation's most peripatetic civil liberties lawyer comes a "dazzling and stimulating" exploration of how the creation of the ten commandments provides the origins to today's law (Library Journal).
Alan Dershowitz is one of America's most famous litigation experts. In the Genesis of Justice he examines the Genesis narratives to bring to the reader an insight into the creation of the ten commandments and much of what is now law.©2001 by Alan M. Dershowitz, All Rights Reserved; (P)2001 by Time Warner AudioBooks, a Division of Time Warner Trade Publishing

A brilliant study.

As a student of the law I found this book truly fascinating. It sounds the intersection between "divine justice" as portrayed by the Book of Genesis and man's justice expressed both in Hallacha (Jewish Law) and the Commonlaw (Anglo-American legal tradition).

Dershowitz is a remarkably controversial figure. Much of this is his fault as he often fails to explain his highly nuanced positions almost inviting misunderstanding. He seems to almost defy both "soundbiting" and reviews which must distill his very complex and subtle arguments into (in this case) 2000 characters. That disclaimer said, he almost places G-d in the dock or at least subjects his rulings to "judicial review." As an appellate lawyer this is a role which Dershowitz is familiar.

This book should be read by three categories of people. 1) Lawyers/law-students will come away with new insights into their profession that will make them better at their trade and help explain many aspects of the law that many people assume are merely arbitrary. 2) Jews. Dershowitz explains aspects of the Jewish Law in a new and novel manner using his unique perspective and a number of the old commentaries. This book raises excellent Talmudic questions and explores different answers. 3) any Old Testimate scholar or person interested in "divine justice".

I recommend this book. Dershowitz's own narration takes some getting used to but is very interesting in its own right.

Excellent! Must read for any pastor or lawyer

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. It reviewed how God allowed man to assistance in the evolution of criminal statutes and laws as illustrated through the Bible.

Genesis of Justice: Injustice of Genesis

This was such a wonderful analysis of God and Justice. God, necessarily, being on a "Learning Curve" alongside His creation is far more merciful, graceful, and relatable truth. If God could not grow or change His mind or learn or evolve as a God/Creator, how then could He be an omnipotent God/Creator? How much more so could we, who are made in His image, hope to attain or accomplish those same things without this revealed truth? The one question that I have for this author, would be to unpack the Job story and answer how Job's fear of God did not turn into wisdom? For the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. The injustice of Job seems far greater than most as, it would seem, he straightened out his life and the lives of his family, he became wealthy without any associated vices, and his fear of God was great... yet, he appears so unwise in comparison to Abraham. This seems to be contrawise to latter scriptures and creates a much deeper need for a discussion on Job's wisdom and God's injustice.

I Liked It Anyway ...

In my line of work (similar to the author's) the last thing I thought I would want to read or listen to was a book about law, let alone Hebrew Law. But the title sucked me in and, then, before I knew it I was hooked; hooked on the subject matter, hooked on the voice, hooked on the engaging argument and all of this even though I didn't agree with a good part of it. I think this says something about the author/reader's celebrity. Not celebrity in the Paris Hilton sense, but in the literal sense. Whatever I might think of his political views, I have to say he puts a pretty good argument, in an engaging and persuasive way. On top of that, I think he makes his points without discrimination. You don't need to be a lawyer to get into this book. You don't need to be religious and you don't need to be Jewish. You just have to suspend your belief that there is nothing to be said and you'll like it anyway.

A lawyer looks at genesis

Dershowitz does a fine job at allowing us to see the book of genesis as a legal text. He draws from his own experience and the words of great thinkers both Jewish and Christian