Death and Judgment (Commissario Guido Brunetti Mysteries)

Book Description

With more than 500,000 copies of her books in print in the United States, Donna Leon continues to find new fans for her riveting Commissario Guido Brunetti mysteries. In Death and Judgment, a truck crashes and spills its dangerous cargo on a treacherous road in the Italian Dolomite mountains. Meanwhile, in Santa Lucia, a prominent international lawyer is found dead aboard an intercity train. Suspecting a connection between the two tragedies, Brunetti digs deep for an answer, stumbling upon a seedy Venetian bar that holds the key to a crime network that reaches far beyond the laguna. But it will take another violent death in Venice before Brunetti and his colleagues begin to understand what is really going on.

Customer Reviews:

Another Leon winner.......2007-09-14

Whether you are a Donna Leon fan or not, this Inspector Brunetti mystery is in the true Leon genre, insightful of the lovable but often corruptible Venetian, and in essence, Italian culture. She weaves a plot line full of intrigue and possible evildoers, along with the usual and colorful suspects....his wife, children, Vianello, Patta, Scarpa and the delightful Signorina Elettra. In this particular story, one of the many existing problems that goes hand in hand with illegal immigration, is the problem of 'kidnapping' foreign women from troubled and often impoverished countries and bringing them into Italy and forcing them into prostitution for survival. Inspector Brunetti is a master of solving these dilemnas and keeping the peace among the less than moral administrators to whom he must report. Leon tells a story that goes beyond the plotline and reveals some of the essence of contemporary Italian society.
As a lover of Italian life and culture, Donna Leon's novels do not diminish this passion, but do ring home some of the problems in current Italian life and underscore exisiting problems throughout Europe and the fast changing world we live in.

A Brutal Existential Look at Ethics.......2007-09-13

Please be aware that this book also appeared under the title of A Venetian Reckoning. If you are trying to read the whole series, read one or the other. This is the fourth novel in the Guido Brunetti series of mysteries.

As the book opens, it's late September and a Rumanian truck carrying lumber plunges off the road and into a rock face to open up a grisly scene of crushed and broken young women amid scattered pine boards. Paolo, Guido's wife, notes the story where it remains tucked in her memory until it can provide a critical clue.

The scene shifts to late November when prominent international lawyer Carlo Trevisan is found murdered on a late night train to Venice, where Trevisan lived. Vice-Questore Patta is annoyed that he had been called to the scene when Brunetti could not be reached. The mayor of Venice quickly calls the next morning to ask for a quick and quiet solution. Since there's no evidence of robbery, Brunetti must probe into motives. Who didn't like Trevisan?

Brunetti gets a quick leg up when Signorina Elletra's sister agrees to share information about the wife and daughter of the murdered man, who had been patients. When the crime comes up for discussion at home, Brunetti's daughter, Chiara, says she knows the daughter and agrees to ask around a bit.

When Chiara turns out to be good at snooping through gossiping with friends, there's a major confrontation in the Brunetti household concerning the ethics of such undercover methods employing a minor.

The case becomes more clouded when a successful accountant is found dead of an apparent suicide, but leaving behind the telephone number of the dead attorney in his address book. When the numbers are matched up with the records of the attorney's calling, they show a disturbing pattern . . . including many international calls and to a bar where the ladies rent by the hour in a rough part of town.

Trevisan's widow and her brother seem determined to shut off the police investigation. Frustrated that he's getting nowhere, Brunetti calls in a favor for a judge who tells him more about the background of the attorney and his family. Tracking through a tangled series of clues, the case takes one more twisted turn when the widow's brother is also killed.

The case breaks open quite suddenly when an unexpected clue is dropped into Brunetti's lap. From there, it's a question of how to accomplish justice. But is there any justice other than God's? You may be reminded of the myth of Sisyphus as you contemplate the ending of this existential look at the human condition.

For those who like action and mysteries evolving in ways that they can solve just ahead of the author's revelations, Death and Judgment will be a disappointment. But for those who enjoy tough ethical questions, this is a very fine book. In either case, the book's primary limitation is Ms. Leon's customary dark view of human nature. In this book, she goes about as far as you can go and still slightly separate humans from vicious, uncaring predators.

Not her best.......2007-05-19

I'm a big fan of mysteries and Donna Leon, but this particular book moved too slowly. I lost interest.

Bravo for Brunetti!.......2007-05-06

This is my first Donna Leon mystery and my first introduction to Brunetti. It won't be my last. Brunetti provides us with a disarming if somewhat ambling policeman working against the backdrop of beautiful Venice, brought to rich atmospheric life skillfully through Leon's writing.

I'm not certain why it's published under 2 different names and I didn't feel that Death and Judgment exactly captured the essence of this caper. Nevertheless, it was a good solid read with a charming protagonist, complex plot and multi-dimensional characters. Nicely cadenced, graceful and accomplished, with a plot that juxtaposes the ugliness of crime against the corruption of some of Italy's elite. I'll be back for more of Leon's Brunetti novels.

Death and Judgement Review.......2007-03-08

Being a Donna Leon fan, I was a little disappointed in the ending as it seemed abrupt. It left me with a feeling
of the characters and story not being resolved or elaborated on which this author doesn't usually do.

Average customer rating:

Good
Roarke and Eve are at it again!
Page Turner!!
Wonderfully plotted and well thought out!
A little lackluster

Judgment in Death (In Death)
J.D. Robb , and Nora Roberts
Manufacturer: Berkley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0425176304
Release Date: 2004-04-06

Book Description

When a cop killer cuts loose in a club called Purgatory, Detective Eve Dallas descends into an underground criminal hell.

Download Description

Eve Dallas enters into an investigation that uncovers a private strip club that's more than an uptown hot spot.

Customer Reviews:

Good.......2007-07-19

Nora Roberts Rocks! Lt. Eve Dallas makes the best protagonist and it's like a ongoing series so there is always a new story!

Roarke and Eve are at it again!.......2007-07-11

An off-duty cop has been killed in Roarke's Club, Purgatory, and as Eve unravels the mystery, not only does she find bad cops, but one of Roarke's oldest and deadliest enemies, Max Ricker. Ricker wants to destroy Roarke and what better way then using Eve. And as the story unfolds, the body count rises as more cops turn up dead, but why? Is it a vendetta or something more sinister? You won't be necessarily surprised, but you will love the character and plot development.

On top of everything else, while trying to solve the murder, Eve begins to have memories about her childhood, and realizes that Max Ricker has ties to her disturbing past. She is extremely surprised to find that Roarke's oldest enemy probably knew what her father was doing to her in Dallas, and made no attempts to stop him. (In later installments, you find that Roarke and Eve's lives were intertwined long before they met, since childhood. Both of their fathers knew each other and were involved in criminal enterprises. So, it would seem that Roarke and Eve were destined to be together.)

In summary, I think this novel is one of my favorites in the series. Not only did we see Roarke "lose his cool", but we get to see how he feels about the appearance of Eve's past lover, Webster (an internal affairs detective who appears to know more than he is willing to say). I think it was nice to see Roarke "off stride" for a change. I will also say that one disadvantage for me is that I am not reading the series in order, so I am not sure if what I am about to say is relevant. What I would have like to read is a story about how Ricker's son (who was mentioned a lot) handles the fact that Eve and Roarke stopped his lunatic father? I think that would be a wonderful story and an interesting villian in a future story.

Page Turner!!.......2007-06-13

I've read all of Nora Roberts/J.D. Robb's books and this is one of my favorites for the In Death Series. If you haven't read any of them I would suggest you start at the beggining (Naked in Death) and make your way from there. I'm sure you won't be able to get enough. All the books are absolutely amazing and you just fall in love with Eve and Roarke and everything they go through together.

Wonderfully plotted and well thought out!.......2007-04-05

A stale plot is made masterfully refreshing in the hands of one of the greatest writers to ever put pen to paper (or finger to keyboard as the case may be).

Nora Roberts (writing as J.D. Robb) takes the tale of "cop killers" to new heights of suspense in the futuristic Eve Dallas series. Readers are taken on a journey into an imagination as vivid and lively as any Walt Disney movie. The difference, of course, being that Walt Disney only killed the parents of cartoon animals whereas Robb expertly tackles a more real world (if futuristic) human death. The imaginative effect is nonetheless incredible!

A little lackluster.......2006-08-28

I'm a huge fan of this series, but I didn't enjoy this book nearly as much as the others. I have to agree with another reviewer that said that the identification of the killer was so abrupt that it almost left me wondering if I missed some pages or something. I think that Roarke's behavior in this book became a little annoying. And I did not like the angry sex scene in this book. These two are always so loving with each other that it seems way too out of the ordinary. It's also starting to wear on me that Roarke has his nose in every little thing that Eve does. Give me a break! He should be more of a peripheral character than being thrust into the middle of every mystery.

J.D. Robb Collection 4: Witness in Death, Judgment in Death, and Betrayal in Death (In Death)

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J.D. Robb Collection 4: Witness in Death, Judgment in Death, and Betrayal in Death (In Death)
J.D. Robb
Manufacturer: Brilliance Audio
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette

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J.D. Robb Collection 3: Holiday in Death, Conspiracy in Death, and Loyalty in Death (In Death)
J.D. Robb Collection 5: Seduction in Death, Reunion in Death, and Purity in Death (In Death)
J.D. Robb Collection 2: Rapture in Death, Ceremony in Death, and Vengeance in Death (In Death)
J.D. Robb Collection 6: Portrait in Death, Imitation in Death, and Divided in Death (In Death)
J.D. Robb Collection 1: Naked in Death, Glory in Death, Immortal in Death (In Death)

ASIN: 1593554133
Release Date: 2004-11-25

Book Description

Witness in Death (Engineer: Mike Council)

Opening night at New York's New Globe Theater turns from stage scene to crime scene when the leading man is stabbed to death center stage. Now Eve Dallas has a high profile, celebrity homicide on her hands. Not only is she lead detective, she's also a witness - and when the press discovers that her husband owns the theater, there's more media spotlight than either can handle.

Judgment in Death (Engineer: Jill Sovis)

In an uptown strip joint, a cop is found bludgeoned to death. The weapon's a baseball bat. The motive's a mystery. It's a case of serious overkill that pushes Lt. Eve Dallas straight into overdrive.

Betrayal in Death (Engineer: Jill Sovis)

At the luxurious Roarke Palace Hotel, a maid walks into suite 4602 for the nightly turndown - and steps into her worst nightmare. A killer leaves her dead, strangled by a thin silver wire. He's Sly Yost, a virtuoso of music and murder. A hit man for the elite. And Lt. Eve Dallas knows him well.

Preparation for Death: Considerations on Death, Judgment, Heaven and Hell

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A Timeless Classic
Follow the BIBLE ESV. (English standard version).
Accept Christ Now, and You shall have Eternal Life with Him-Forever.
Just what the doctor ordered: medicine for souls
a catholic classic

Preparation for Death: Considerations on Death, Judgment, Heaven and Hell
St. Alfonsus Liguori
Manufacturer: T A N Books & Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0895551748

Customer Reviews:

A Timeless Classic.......2006-12-19

"Nothing is more precious than time; but there is nothing less esteemed and more despised by the men of the world" says St. Alphonsus in this "little book that has cost me a great deal" Published at in 1758 at the age of 62, this work brings home the fact that none of us knows when or where we will die, only that we shall. Will it be a good death, in the Grace of God or a bad one? It is up to you, to always be prepared. We are not promised tomorrow, nor even the next hour. The hours we have wasted will come back to taunt us when our time has come; what we wouldn't pay for an extra month or day or hour. "The days of salvation pass away, and no one reflects that day which has passed can never return" This may sound all very depressing and rather sad but it's really a book of hope and joy: We still have time to repent, to go to Confession, to amend our lives and to make reparation. We still have time to thank Him that we did not die in our past sins. A virtual must-read for every Catholic home.

Follow the BIBLE ESV. (English standard version). .......2006-08-27

(Salvation Message)

I recommend that all get the Bible esv. It is direct and clear about the Word of God (Jesus Christ). Salvation is easy. And here it is, just pray this prayer (the sinner's prayer):

Dear Lord Jesus,
I Confess and repent of the sin that i have done in my life,
,i ask you to forgive me and to save me from hell damnation. Come
into my life right now and Please take control.
I pray this to You Lord Christ, in Your Holy Name. Amen

Follow the Holy Bible, and if you want (get this book) but the Bible is all you need for salvation. Having the Bible is Having Jesus Next to you, in front of you. So read the word, love the word, and follow the word,....always have faith in Christ.
Love Jesus and always have faith in Him. We are saved by grace not works.

Accept Christ Now, and You shall have Eternal Life with Him-Forever. .......2006-04-30

One can have eternal salvation and the way one gets it is when you (the reader) confess with your mouth as well as believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is Son of God, accept Him as your personal savior and you shall be saved(have eternal life-forever). One also has to read the word of the Holy Bible, as well as pray to Christ daily (and ask Him to forgive you of the evil sins you have committed). You have to be truthful in what you say(in Prayer to Christ) because He knows everything, but as long as you mean it(then everything will be okay.)No one wants to go to Hell but then many will go because they never accepted Christ into their lives. Get this book(it is optional) but i suggest you get the Holy Bible ESV so you can be aware of All the Real Truth(That Christ has left on this Earth). The Holy Bible is the Word of God. So get it. If this planet has a government, and it has prisons, we then have not seen the spiritual but we can't take that chance, one has to believe in Christ in order for one and all not to go to hell/sheol for eternity.

Just what the doctor ordered: medicine for souls.......2005-10-25

You MUST read this book!

I have read this book about 5 times already. It is short but so thorough that you will not be disappointed if you believe in hell and want to avoid going there when you die.

St. Alphonsus breaks down this treatise into short sections on the pains of hell, the reality of hell, the ways to avoid going there, and most helpful are prayers following each section that are most helpful for turning to Mary and Jesus for spiritual weapons to protect us against the pains of hell, which are for ever.

A must read for all Catholics, and all Christians who believe in hell. Please buy this book and read it often. You will not regret it.

a catholic classic.......1998-02-13

This is the best catholic book ever written on preparing for death. The scholarship in this book is enormous. The book shows us that we are here to prepare our souls for heaven. The author uses the most logical and forceful arguments to show us this is the case. Point by point, he shows us why we are on earth, the vanity of life and the distractions people attend to instead of working to save themselves. The underlying theme of the book is that this world is a place of suffering and preparation for heaven and that is in heaven that we will be perfectly and eternally happy. People in this age may laugh at such ideas. That want everything here on earth. But how, writes the author, can anyone be really happy when there are so many problems and suffering in the world? He has an excellent point. He writes that God makes it easy for us to save our souls and that it would be foolish not to take advantage of prayers,mass and all the other helps God gives us. I couldn't agree more.

Eternal Life: What You Need to Know About Death, Judgment, and Life Everlasting

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Eternal Life: What You Need to Know About Death, Judgment, and Life Everlasting
Romano Guardini
Manufacturer: Sophia Institute Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Rosary of Our Lady

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Hanging in Judgment: Religion and the Death Penalty in England

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Hanging in Judgment: Religion and the Death Penalty in England
Harry Potter
Manufacturer: Continuum Intl Pub Group (Sd)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Life Everlasting and the Immensity of the Soul: A Theological Treatise on the Four Last Things: Death, Judgment, Heaven, Hell

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Excellent treatise on the afterlife
A most profound and arresting treatise on the "last things".

Life Everlasting and the Immensity of the Soul: A Theological Treatise on the Four Last Things: Death, Judgment, Heaven, Hell
Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange , and Translator Patrick Cummins
Manufacturer: Tan Books & Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0895552035

Customer Reviews:

Excellent treatise on the afterlife.......2003-03-15

This theological treatise by Fr. Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange is excellent! He deals with the immensity of the soul in the first section of the book. Then he devotes a section each to death and judgment, hell, purgatory, and heaven. He explains each aspect in great depth, though in a manner fairly easy to understand. He deals with questions that should be of interest to most Catholics; for example, the question of charity for the souls in purgatory, the nature of the joys of heaven, etc.
I highly recommend this book for helping to understand the theology regarding the afterlife, as well as for helping to focus one's thoughts on our goal, union with God in heaven.

A most profound and arresting treatise on the "last things"........1996-09-25

EVERLASTING LIFE is a most profound and arresting theological treatise on the "last things" according to Christian revelation: death, judgment, heaven, hell, and purgatory. Written by the theologian who was the dissertation director for Pope John Paul II's doctoral work in spiritual theology on the doctrine of St. John of the Cross, it continues the author's habit of synthesizing the tradition of the Church within the light of the teaching of St. Thomas Aquinas. It is perhaps the simplest yet most theologically lucid introduction to the Church's teaching on these matters.

The Christian's Hope: The Anchor of the Soul--What the Bible Really Says about Death, Judgment, Rewards, Heaven, and the Future Life on a Restored Earth

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"The Christians Hope", A book that will touch your heart.
How did I miss it before?

The Christian's Hope: The Anchor of the Soul--What the Bible Really Says about Death, Judgment, Rewards, Heaven, and the Future Life on a Restored Earth
John W. Schoenheit
Manufacturer: Christian Educational Services
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
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ASIN: 0962897167

Book Description

God originally planned for mankind to live on earth, and His plan, though postponed by sin, will not be thwarted - it will come to pass in the future when a new earth is created.

God describes this future earth in hundreds of verses, and Christ spoke of it in his first recorded sermon, so surely it is important that we understand it properly. Christianity needs to replace the vague ideas about heaven with the concrete and vivid images of the future life that are so abundantly portrayed in Scripture. Only then Christians will become grounded in biblical certainties about the world to come.

Very importantly, The Christian's Hope shows from Scripture that each Christian will be rewarded in the coming world in direct proportion to the quality of how he lives for God in this world. If the believer's vision of the future is clear and certain, he has a much greater possibility of standing like a rock and working faithfully in service to the Lord, despite the pressures and pleasures of this world. Our Hope of a better place is to be the anchors of our souls. The Christian's Hope will become a treasured part of any believer's library, and its contents an important source of comfort, peace, and strength.

Customer Reviews:

"The Christians Hope", A book that will touch your heart. .......2007-10-07

There are so many christians who start out on fire for the Lord, and then fizzle once the attacks and temptations of this world come. Many of them don't have a clear picture of just what our "Christian Hope" is all about. That what we do on this earth counts! Many believe that after salvation there is nothing else to accomplish. The truth is there is so much more after that. Reading this book will recharge your battery, and allow you to hold onto that "Hope" when the trials and temptations of this life come your way.
This book is beautifully written by a man who obviously loves God, and has a heart to share the truth with others. This book has really blessed me, and I believe it can do the same for you.

I can't say it better than the author himself. Here is a quote from pg. 11 in the introduction.

Pg. 11 "Truly the Lord opens our blind eyes so that we may see and opens our hearts so we can understand both the meaning and value of the timeless word of God. My prayer, for myself and for you as you read this book, is not original. It was in the heart of the apostle Paul and penned to the church in Ephesus almost 2000 years ago."

Ephesians 1:18
I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints.

"May we all understand the Hope the Lord has set before us"

How did I miss it before?.......2007-07-28

John Schoenheit makes such wonderful information so clear. He always ask those reading his studies to see if it is true or not and not to accept it just on blind faith. I've read a lot of John's works and he is one that loves God's Word and shows how it all fits from beginning to end. Sorry to say, there are many who claim to love God's Word and yet grab verses here and there to make their case and yet don't make sense how those verses fit along others that are contradictory.

John brings out God's truth on a Christian's future. You will praise God on what He has in store for us and want to be a part of it now. What we do now determines so much about our future.

I highly recommend this book.

The Last Things: Death, Judgment, Hell, Heaven

Average customer rating:

Very pleased
3.5 Stars: Very good review, but difficult to read...
Conservative Roman Catholic presentation of eschatology
A farrago of quotations, connected by a tissue of exposition
This book changed my life

The Last Things: Death, Judgment, Hell, Heaven
Regis Martin
Manufacturer: Ignatius Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0898706629

Customer Reviews:

Very pleased.......2002-06-06

I have read alot of catholic books in the past 3-4 yrs, and Mr. Martin's book is the most inspirational one I've read in a while. Besides much research (I personally enjoy the footnote information), I was very moved by the last 2 chapters; Hell, followed by heaven.

There is one point in the chapter on Judgement that went on a bit longer than I found needful, utilizing a story from another writer, O'Connor. I may've missed his point there, but got bored with that part and skipped over it!

I was glad the chapter on hell was placed before that of Heaven. I recommend this book to anyone who has lost the focus of their hearts on God, and our "home" with Him, (or without!)

3.5 Stars: Very good review, but difficult to read..........2002-04-06

Regis Martin covers an incredibly important subject very well. There are many quotes from famous and not-so-famous people intermixed with his own observations. Always orthodox Catholic viewpoints. However, his writing is somewhat convoluted and not very straightforward. This characteristic and the heavy use of footnotes makes the book difficult to read. Excellent choice for research but not necessarily for those looking for a quick review of the subject.

Conservative Roman Catholic presentation of eschatology.......2000-12-13

This work discusses the traditional "4 last things"of death, judgment, hell and heaven from a Roman Catholic perspective, for readers without a background in theology, but willing to wade through a heavy topic. The author draws on Catholic 20th c. poets and many other literary sources, but has no sympathy for any of the divergent theological positions even within his own tradition. This is a good readable presentation but it has an idealogical edge that will turn off liberal Catholics, many Protestants and almost all secular readers.

A farrago of quotations, connected by a tissue of exposition.......2000-08-27

I resubmit my review, to link with my current list.

In fact, I bought this book on recommendation, thinking that it actually was a book of quotations. The quotes are interesting, mostly, but the heavy use of them as padding ill-commends Dr. Martin's authority to write on these subjects. Pedantic and unsatisfying.

This book changed my life.......2000-04-10

Far from a morbid preoccupation with death, this book offers fascinating insight into life. Filled with wit, humor and most importantly scholarship, Dr Martin through his book, has provided me with a new understanding of The Four Last Things.

The Judgment of the Dead: The Idea of Life after Death in the Major Religions

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Scholarship on an ultimate question

The Judgment of the Dead: The Idea of Life after Death in the Major Religions
S. G. F. Brandon
Manufacturer: Scribner
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B0007G4CD8

Customer Reviews:

Scholarship on an ultimate question.......2004-11-16

This is from the book- jacket." The judgment of the dead- the idea that a life after death and the nature of that life will be determined by the individual's moral conduct while on earth-is one of the most remarkable and significant beliefs of mankind.
The belief first emerged in ancient Egypt about 2400 B.C. where it found its most elaborate expression.. ( This work) is the first comprehensive study in English of this important and fascinating subject."
Brandon studies this idea as it was held in Ancient Egypt, Ancient Mesopatamia, in what he calls 'The Hebrew Religion' Graeco- Roman Culture, Christianity, Islam, Iran, China and Japan.
This is how Brandon concludes the chapter which was of most interest to me on the ' Hebrew religion' "Whereas the Egyptian anticipation of a judgment after death stemmed from that complaints might be made hereafter against one's conduct in this life, for the Hebrew post- mortem judgment meant God's ultimate assertion of his sovereignty over his creatures. And so the Talmudic conception really continues in a post- mortem and a personal context, the belief enshrined in the fourth commandment" I Yahweh your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generation of those that hate me, but showing steadfast love to those who love me and keep my commandments."

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