God deserves obedience simply because he s God or does he? Inspired by a passion for biblical as well as constitutional scholarship, in this bold exploration Yale Law Professor Robert A. Burt conceptualizes the political theory of the Hebrew and Christian Bibles. God s authority as expressed in these accounts is not a given. It is no less inherently problematic and in need of justification than the legitimacy of secular government.

In recounting the rich narratives of key biblical figures from Adam and Eve to Noah, Cain, Abraham, Moses, Job, and Jesus "In the Whirlwind" paints a...