VORBEMERKUNG ZUR ERSTEN AUFLAGE.
Die Anregung zu der vorliegenden Arbeit, die zum Teil als Dissertation, Jena 1926, erschienen ist, verdanke ich Herrn Prof.
W. ST A KHK, der auch die ganze Arbeit freundlichst durchgesehen hat Ihm und Herrn Prof. H . HILGENFELD möchte ich auch hier danken für die gütige Hilfe bei der Korrekturlesung des Dissertationsteils.
B e r l i n , Juli 1927. NKLSON GLÜBCK.
INTRODUCTION TO SECOND EDITION.
It is a source of considerable gratification to learn that the Verlag Alfred Topelmann is issuing a second edition of my book „Das Wort hcsed . . . " , which first appeared under the same imprimatur over a long generation ago. I have had occasion during the intervening years to re- examine it and have found no reason to change its methodological ap- proach or its final conclusions.
The hesed idea was not born full blown. It evolved with logical and dynamic consequence in connection with the development and deepen- ing of the socially equitable and divinely based relationship of man to man and to God and especially in the refinement of the covenant relationship of the brotherhood of man under the fatherhood of God.
This initial study was supposed to be the beginning of a systematic Ideengeschidite of the Bible.
The whole gamut of Biblical concepts from to'ebab to qedushah, that is, from abomination to holiness and from mishpat to tsedaqah and rahimim, that is, from the canon of judgement to the rule of righteous- ness and the restraint of mercy, and others too, was supposed to have been included in such a book, extending from their first appearance to their fullest efflorescence in the records of Sacred Writ. Each idea was to have been followed from its initial beginning to its ultimate bloom, with meticulous attention to every nuance of its natural and in- evitable changes.
I never continued with that project, because I passed over soon from the exploration of Biblical ideas to a life long engagement in Biblical archaeology. For many years now, the latter has been the happy and