http://www.scriptoriumdaily.com/2009/01/12/a-biblical-theology-of-the-arab-peoples/

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Product Description

(Foreword by Eugene H. Merrill) A compelling call for Christians to rethink the role of Arabs—also descendents of Abraham and recipients of his blessing. (20050216)

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #274072 in Books
• Published on: 2003-11-10
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 368 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780825431845
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

Review
"Anyone interested in the Middle East and the Arab world will benefit from this excellent study." (Roy B. Zuck Bibliotheca Sacra 20050401)

"Arabs in the Shadow of Israel is an excellent piece of scholarship. . . . I would endorse and recommend it unreservedly. His work should certainly be essential reading for any Christian claiming a biblical perspective on the peoples of the Middle East." (Ant Greenham Faith & Mission 20050501)

"Heavy-going at times, this brilliant study by a Lebanese Arab Christian provides the Scripture scholar, and anyone else interested in contemporary Israeli-Arab conflicts in the Middle East, a history of the Arab people reaching back to their biblical roots. . . .Maalouf outdoes himself with another thorough study concerning the Magi at Christ's birth. Contrary to old myths and legends, Maalouf, with internal and external evidence, proves that the Magi were truly Arabs bearing gifts, items drawn from the store of Arab international trade, incense, spices, and gold. Christian missionaries to the Middle East will find this book a must-read." (Robert B. Fisher Missiology )

"If you are at all interested in the Middle East today, this book merits your attention." (Pastor Ken Hornok Voice )

"It is time to present Ishmael from a Christian perspective, and to reclaim him as part of biblical legacy. This will help build a bridge for dialogue with those who claim Ishmael as their ancestor. The biblical legacy of Arabs and Jews has the potential to reconcile both antagonistic parties under the Abrahamic umbrella and to offer the hope of the gospel of peace in an area tyrannized by war." (Theology Digest )

"Maalouf does an excellent job incorporating cultural considerations into his arguments...This work furnishes a needed corrective to the common view of the current Middle East situation and will prove to be critical in getting the Church back to a more complete understanding of how God is working in the region. Carefully considered, the book will give the reader a more comprehensive and less one-dimensional understanding of how we should relate to Arabs today. Consideration of Dr. Maalouf's points will hopefully enhance Christian outreach to the Arab people. With a clearer understanding of the Arabs' role in God's prophetic plan more Christians hopefully will develop a love for the children of Ishmael. And as always, that love will lead to positive action." (R. Todd Bradley The Criswell College 20040901)

"Maalouf does an excellent job incorporating cultural considerations into his arguments...This work furnishes a needed corrective to the common view of the current Middle East situation and will prove to be critical in getting the Church back to a more complete understanding of how God is working in the region. Carefully considered, the book will give the reader a more comprehensive and less one-dimensional understanding of how we should relate to Arabs today. Consideration of Dr. Maalouf's points will hopefully enhance Christian outreach to the Arab people. With a clearer understanding of the Arabs' role in God's prophetic plan more Christians hopefully will develop a love for the children of Ishmael. And as always, that love will lead to positive action." (R. Todd Bradley The Criswell College 20050301)

"Maalouf makes clear the profoundly important role that the Arab has played in biblical times and since, and he displays his burden, like that of Paul, that his own Arab people might be saved." (WIN-Informer 20050201)

"Most Western Christian support Israel and have a predisposition against the Arab nations. With authoritative scholarship, the Lebanese Christian author and theology teacher investigates Scripture carefully. Tony Maalouf reveals rich insights about Ishmael...There are over 100 pages of endnotes, bibliography and general index. Nevertheless, this thought-provoking scholarly work is very readable." (A. Karen Davis Pulpit Helps 20041101)

"Most Western Christian support Israel and have a predisposition against the Arab nations. With authoritative scholarship, the Lebanese Christian author and theology teacher investigates Scripture carefully. Tony Maalouf reveals rich insights about Ishmael...There are over 100 pages of endnotes, bibliography and general index. Nevertheless, this thought-provoking scholarly work is very readable." (A. Karen Davis Pulpit Helps 20050701)

From the Back Cover

"A masterful piece of scholarship on a much neglected topic."

—Kenneth E. Bailey
Professor Emeritus of Middle Eastern New Testament Studies
Tantur Ecumenical Institute, Jerusalem

Western Christianity's longstanding support of Israel has certainly, but unintentionally, nurtured a bias against Arab people, traditionally tied to Abraham's first son, Ishmael. Lebanese Christian Tony Maalouf contends that this perspective differs dramatically from the biblical portrayal of Ishmael and the nations that have sprung from him.

By tracing the role of the Arab people throughout Scripture and prophetically into the final moments of history, Maalouf provides a much-needed understanding of a crucial contemporary issue and challenges Christians to think biblically about the complex issues of the Arab-Israeli conflict.

“A rare and extraordinarily helpful book. . . . One of the most thought-provoking, scholarly yet readable books I have seen.”

—Paige Patterson
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

“An excellent study for any believer interested in the Middle East and the Arab world.”

—Patrick Cate
President of Christar

“Maalouf tackles the often contentious subject of Arab-Jewish relations with insight, kindness, and clarity.”

—Charles H. Dyer
Senior Vice President and Provost, Moody Bible Institute

Tony Maalouf (Ph.D., Dallas Theological Seminary) has served as assistant academic dean and professor of biblical studies at Jordan Evangelical Theological Seminary in Amman, Jordan, and as an adjunct professor at the Arab Baptist Theological Seminary in Beirut, Lebanon. He teaches and speaks throughout the Middle East and works on developing theological literature for Christians in the Arab World.

(20041001)

About the Author
Tony Maalouf (Ph.D., Dallas Theological Seminary) has served as assistant academic dean and professor of biblical studies at Jordan Evangelical Theological Seminary in Amman, Jordan, and as an adjunct professor at the Arab Baptist Theological Seminary in Beirut, Lebanon. He teaches and speaks throughout the Middle East and works on developing theological literature for Christians in the Arab World.

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Customer Reviews

Reviewing an outstanding book
En route to commenting on the book I should fly my colors, so one may factor in my possible biases. I am a Jew; I belong to the Messiah of Israel, Jesus of Nazareth; I am in the camp of Reformed theologians.

A book such as this, dealing with volatile contemporary issues, is bound to attract negative responses, as one may see. No doubt it will be attacked and maligned by those with hidden agendas (and who do NOT fly their true colors), but this is par for the course as concerns the truth in such an age as this.

The first thing I want to say about Dr. Maalouf's "Arabs In The Shadow Of Israel" concerns its astonishing even-handedness, and that in a number of areas. Theologically (within the broad Christian camp) he does not promote his views but very minimally; politically he walks a balanced line and does not pursue an agenda; historically his scholarship is careful and conservative. And it is because of this unusual even-handedness that the primary thrust of his vision is allowed to manifest with clarity and force, and without drawing forth the usual defensive responses from those in differing camps, such as myself. This "vision" arises primarily from a careful and fresh exegesis of chapters 16 and 21 of the Book of Genesis, as well as the section of Galatians 4:21-31, where Paul uses Hagar and Ishmael in an allegory of the fleshly seed and the seed of promise, contrasting the unbelieving Jews and those Jews and Gentiles who trust Messiah Jesus.

I first read this material in the form of Dr. Maalouf's doctoral dissertation (titled, "Ishmael In Biblical History"), and while marveling at the wealth of attestation and historical references, when made aware it was going to be published in book form, I thought that very few publishers would care to include the copious and extremely valuable documentation that supported much of his scholarly labor. To my delight I find that Kregel did include it, and so the book is substantially the same, save around 30 pages of added historical survey at the beginning to bring the exegetical and historical material into focus for readers looking at this material in the context of the current world situation.

From my earlier years as an evangelical Christian in America, and involved with Messianic Jewish thought and theology, I had the usual Western biases regarding Arabs, and in particular, the standard Western exegesis of the Hagar-Ishmael narratives in Genesis. Maalouf's painstaking examination of the Biblical text, however, opened my eyes to a more careful reading. Nor is this some flaky interpretation, but sound, and worthy of serious consideration. (Even among Christians there is an anti-Arab bias, in large measure because we tend to superimpose the Biblical Israel of old, and its status as the people of God, upon the modern Jewish state, thus justifying its political and military agendas, and assuming at least a partial approval of God. Anyone who is against this Jewish state, we reason, must be against God. And thus we see the Arabs in a dim light.)

I should mention that I am serving as the minister (as an elder in a mission church in the Middle East) of an evangelical Arabic congregation, preaching and teaching the riches of Christ as contained in His Gospel. This assembly of God's people loved hearing the fruits of Dr. Maalouf's textual labors as shown in my teaching that the Scripture depicted Hagar and her son in dignity and honor, blessed by the LORD even though not of the covenant line of Messianic promise. Ishmael did partake of the blessing of God through Abraham as one of his circumcised sons, and thus a partaker of the covenant the Lord made with Abraham, even though, I repeat, not of the Messianic line.

It is balanced and insightful Biblical exposition such as "Arabs In The Shadow Of Israel" affords that will make the glorious gospel of God in Christ far more appealing to the Arab world, where there are many who are disgusted at the violence of militant Islam (which violence is at the heart of the Koran), and a God who showed marvelous love and saving deliverance to Hagar and Ishmael will arrest their attention. With the erroneous Western prejudices (of which I was a holder myself!) removed, so is a cause of warranted offence done away with. Ishmael had been hijacked by Islam (as Maalouf shows), but the Word of God rightly divided brings him back into the fold of those under the caring and almighty hand of the Father of Jesus the Messiah.

I have touched upon only a few of the wonderful insights to be found in this valuable work, where Maalouf demonstrates that the blessing of God upon Ishmael and his seed found fruition, not only in our Scriptures (such as in the Book of Job), but in history, in friendship and support of the seed of his brother Isaac, all too forgotten in this present age of warfare, of Zionist and Islamic violence both! It is worthy of note that in earlier centuries Diaspora Jews fared better under Islamic governments and civilizations than under so-called Christian ones! As emissaries of Christ we need unbiased views of history, and of various ethnic peoples, that we may not carry baggage laden with poisonous stuff on our pilgrimage / missionary journey. We must keep His name hallowed.

I recommend this book as the work of a scholarly and godly Biblical exegete; of a Christian peacemaker whose instruments are historical and theological truth (no matter the deprecations of those with hidden axes to grind!). For those of you who know the groundbreaking works, Elias Chacour's "Blood Brothers", and Colin Chapman's "Whose Promised Land?", this is a book easily of their caliber.

I love books that clear my mind of falsity and dis-illusion me. Thank you, Tony Maalouf, for being Christ's instrument in doing this. And His people thank you with me.

What the Bible Says about the Arabs
Where did the Arabs originate? What does the Bible say about the Arabs and their future? Do God's promises to Israel mean that there are no blessings for Arabs? Were the Magi from Persia or Arabia? These and related questions are answered in a scholarly and readable way by Tony Maalouf, an Arab Christian scholar from Lebanon. This book presents insightful information on the place of Ishmael and his descendants, which is often overlooked by Bible students. Anyone interested in the Midde East and the Arab world will benefit from this excellent study.

Overcoming Evangelical Prejudice Toward Arabs
How can American evangelicalism wholeheartedly discard its antipathy toward the Arab world? Simple-read Dr. Tony Maalouf's book. He starts his discussion by noting that before the modern era, Jews and Arabs lived side by side in harmony for centuries. In reality, conflict between the descendants of Isaac and Ishmael has been the exception rather than the rule. It has only been since the rise of Western imperialism effectuated through the Balfour Declaration and the League of Nations that tensions have risen to the point we observe today.
Yet he is quick to bring us to the biblical text to uncover some of the long-standing misconceptions that have clouded the thinking of Western Christians regarding Arab people. The central passage he tackles is Genesis 16:12, "He will be a wild donkey of a man, his hand will be against everyone, and everyone's hand will be against him; and he will live to the east of all his brothers." Contrary to popular opinion, this prophecy by the God of Abraham was actually a blessing rather than a curse. Although Hagar was enslaved, her son, Ishmael, will be free as a donkey to roam the desert in pursuit of his own destiny. Unlike his subjected and powerless mother, he will be independent and strong, able to hold his own in the fierce Bedouin culture of the day. And he will dwell "before the face of his brothers" the Jews (p. 73). As such, Ishmael and his descendants are granted the unrivaled position of inhabiting a region of the world where they could be observers and recipients of the unfolding revelation of God to the nation of Israel throughout redemptive history. Hence, this prophecy would have been nothing but beautiful music to Hagar's ears.
But did not Ishmael mock (Gen. 21:9) and even persecute Isaac (Gal. 4:29), causing him and his mother to be driven from the house of Abraham at Sarah's initiative? Yes, but look closer. As Dr. Maalouf insightfully explains, "[f]rom God's perspective, his plan for Isaac is incompatible with his purposes for Ishmael. No matter how severe Sarah's demand was, and no matter how serious Abraham's concern for his firstborn, God saw it better for Hagar and her son Ishmael to be dismissed to the wilderness and live under his care than to be kept in Abraham's house and live in rivalry with Sarah and her son Isaac. The patriarch had a limited inheritance, and it was ordained to go to the promised seed. . . . This is the primary reason for his summoning of Abraham to listen to Sarah's voice, and not because of any cursing of Ishmael" (p. 92).
The New Testament shows, however, that in an act of divine reversal the Magi (tribal chiefs of Arab descent as Dr. Maalouf convincingly argues) are accorded the privilege of returning to witness and worship the true seed of Abraham, namely, the Messiah (Mt. 2:1ff.). Moreover, Arabs were present in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost and no doubt were counted among the 3,000 baptized (At. 2:11, 41). Surprisingly, they were even given priority in the missionary program of the Apostle Paul (Gal. 1:15-17). And in the future, at the pilgrimage of the Gentile nations to Israel in the Messianic Age, Arabs are first in line to offer their homage (Isa. 60:5-7).
All this confirms Dr. Maalouf's belief that "the religious fate of biblical Israel as a nation and that of the Arabs" are divinely and inextricably linked (p. 223). Accordingly, "this should create among Christians [in the West] a desperate burden to refrain from political agendas and invest in the spiritual awakening predicted among both the Arabs and Jews" (p. 223). Indeed, by "[r]emoving unwarranted biases against Arabs, which neither the Bible nor history sustains, [we can] play a healing role in the Middle East conflict" (p. 223). May it be so!