... Raz’s book takes aim at precisely Krista’s friend’s dichotomy, in which the ancient, religious source, which is understood to be authoritative, muscularly assertive, and second only to God is opposed to modern, secular poetry, characterized as self-conscious instead of self-assured and constantly hedging the bombastic claims of the primitive, prophetic original. As an alternative, Raz explores what she calls “weak prophecy,” emphasizing the ways in which biblical prophecy is tentative and confused, marred by failure and anxiety—hardly authoritative in any straightforward way.This is the third AJR essay on Yosefa Raz's The Poetics of Prophecy. The earlier essays are noted here and here.
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