ABSTRACT
In marked contrast to its Greek counterpart, the rule of the biblical philosopher king is doomed to failure if he does not abide by law. Whereas the Greek philosopher king must transcend laws or customs to get a better view of the whole, the Bible maintains the necessity of abiding by law or custom if the rule is to be efficacious. If Athens, then, argues that wisdom must transcend particular laws for true justice to be established, Jerusalem argues that without law there can be no true wisdom. That Joseph, the son of Jacob the scamp, bearer of evil tales about his brothers, could prefigure Jesus, the Son of God, takes some doing, but it was and is said. Hebrew history in biblical times runs from Abraham through Ezra. The problem presented is to create a people worshiping their own God in their own land while obeying His commandments. But there is more to it.
