For the previous two chapters go here and here. We have had company for the past two weeks, making it hard to find time to read and process. However, things are currently returning to normal.

In this chapter Berlin essentially gives an explanation and examination of point of view within the Biblical corpus. She begins by arguing that biblical narrative does, in fact, have various points of view. To be sure, point of view in the biblical narrative is quite different from point of view in modern literature, but Berlin shows convincingly that it does exist. Using the snippets of the Joseph she points out how the narrator creates tension with a distant point of view by not allowing the reader to become privy to Joseph’s own thoughts on the events which transpire. Having reread the Joseph narrative I certainly see what Berlin is saying. Berlin also pulls various examples from other biblical books that serve to illustrate her point.

Which leads me to, perhaps, my largest complaint with this chapter. Berlin pulls from various biblical books which is certainly appropriate to show that point of view is not limited to one or two narratives. However, because she only pulls sections of each narrative, and sometimes very small sections, it is difficult to see how the narrator is changing point of view within a particular story. I suppose this is unavoidable, to some extent. I also have hope that chapter four will put this complaint to rest, as it is an application of chapters two and three to the Book of Ruth. Regardless, Berlin does give an excellent overview of point of view, showing that, as she puts it, the biblical “narrative is one with depth and sophistication; one in which conflicting viewpoints may vie for validity. It is this that gives biblical narrative interest and ambiguity.”