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{en} Esther J. Hamori. God's Monsters: Vengeful spirits, deadly angels, hybrid creatures, and divine hitmen of the bible (Minneapolis: Broadleaf, 2023).

Abstract

"The Bible is full of monsters: giants, vengeful spirits, and more. If you read closely, you'll see these monsters aren't God's opponents-- they are God's entourage. When we examine these strange creatures for what they are, we see how they validate the human experience, living in a world that is unpredictable, unjust, and at times monstrous. The Bible is teeming with monsters. Giants tromp through the land of milk and honey; Leviathan swims through the wine-dark sea. A stunning array of peculiar creatures, mind-altering spirits, and supernatural hitmen fill the biblical heavens, jarring in both their strangeness and their propensity for violence--especially on God's behalf. Traditional interpretations of the creatures of the Bible have sanded down their sharp, unsavory edges, transforming them into celestial beings of glory and light--or chubby, happy cherubs. Those cherubs? They're actually hybrid guardian monsters, more closely associated with the Egyptian sphinx than with flying babies. And the seraphim? Winged serpents sent to mete out God's vengeance. Demons aren't at war with angels; they're a distinct supernatural species used by Satan and by God. The pattern is chilling. Most of these monsters aren't God's opponents--they're God's entourage. Killer angels, plague demons, manipulative spirits, creatures with an alarming number of wings (and eyes all over)--these shapeshifters and realm-crossers act with stunning brutality, each reflecting a facet of God's own monstrosity. Confronting God's monsters--and the God-monster--may be uncomfortable, but the Bible is richer for their presence. It's not only richer; the stories of the monsters of the Bible can be as fun, surprising, and interesting as any mythology. For anyone interested in monsters, myths, folklore, demons, and more, God's Monsters is an entertaining deep dive into the creaturely strangeness of the Bible."--

Contents

Monster heaven -- Part 1: God's entourage. Seraphim -- Cherubim -- The adversary -- The destroyer and other angels -- Demons in God's ranks -- Manipulative and mind-altering spirits -- Part 2: The monsters beneath. The sea monster -- Shades, ghosts, and other living dead -- Giants -- Part 3: The god-monster. The monster of monsters, the wonder of wonders.

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