Taming the Beast: Human-Animal Encounters in the Bible - Paperback

by Yossi Feintuch (Author)

Discover the compelling exploration of humanity's role as the Bible's supreme predator: the only species God describes as "prone to evil from youth" and not as "the Crown of Creation." Yet humans continue today--as in biblical days--to attribute unrivaled human ferocity to the way of predatory animals.



Taming the Beast illustrates how the Bible seeks to tame and curb these human destructive tendencies, while highlighting the collateral damage biblical animals suffer due to human corruption. At the same time, Taming the Beast unveils the Bible's view of the essential equality between humans and animals, spotlighting how animal motherhood has a human quality and how animals often act as inspiring role models for humans. This book examines humanity's irrational fear of wild animals and delves into God's controversial permission for post-flood meat consumption, even as the Bible discourages making meat a staple food.



With innovative perspectives and fresh interpretations, Taming the Beast invites readers to reconsider iconic and familiar stories through its innovative approach and to gain a deeper understanding of the biblical animal kingdom. Isaiah's daring vision of restored and improved human-animal harmony, existing from creation through the flood, beckons the reader for a grand finale.

Author Biography

Yossi Feintuch was a congregational rabbi for more than three decades and is a longtime university lecturer of religion, the Bible, and US history. In addition to a rabbinic ordination and an honorary DD from the Hebrew Union College, he holds a PhD from Emory University, and other degrees from the Hebrew University (Jerusalem) and New York University. Feintuch is the author of US Policy on Jerusalem and of numerous published sermons, Torah commentaries, scholarly articles, and blogs.