Robert Alter's work on the Hebrew Bible is highly regarded. His book, "The Art of Biblical Narrative" (1981), is a seminal work that explores the narrative techniques used in the Hebrew Bible. Alter argues that the Hebrew Bible is a sophisticated work of literature that employs a range of narrative techniques, including characterization, plot development, and symbolism.
English stylists are taught to avoid repetition. Biblical authors relied on it. When a word appears three times in a paragraph, it is usually a thematic key. Traditional translators swap these words for synonyms (e.g., "king," "monarch," "ruler"). Alter keeps the repetition, unlocking narrative connections that were previously invisible to English readers.
His translation, which took decades to complete and was finally published in full in 2018, is a monumental effort to restore the "literary power" of the Bible.
Alter's translation is accompanied by a comprehensive commentary and essays that provide insights into the meaning, context, and interpretation of various books of the Hebrew Bible. His commentary covers topics such as:
Unlike traditional translations like the NIV or King James Version (KJV), Alter seeks to capture the "shaggy" and "muscular" feel of the original Hebrew. Robert Alter Hebrew Bible - sciphilconf.berkeley.edu
The Hebrew Bible - Description - W. W. Norton & Company Ltd.
