"Richard Elliott Friedman is that rare biblical scholar who is both able to address a broad audience and willing to raise large speculative issues about the Bible...a challenging, exhilarating theory that will force biblical scholars to rethink some basic assumptions...a bold thesis that should give everyone pause." -- Robert Alter, the "New York Times Book Review""A brilliant piece of scholarly detective work...Friedman''s book blows like a fresh breeze through the halls of biblical study."-- "Publishers Weekly""[Friedman''s] work is poised to produce one of those once-in-a-generation breakthroughs, after which the field of study can never look the same again."-- H. G. M. Williamson, Regius Professor of Hebrew, Oxford University