This collection of the author's last essays are writings that he was working on from 2006 up to and during his final illness. They take as their starting point stories from the Old Testament. For the author, the Bible provided a great inspiration for analysis, reflection, and speculation. His own distinctive voice is evident in every essay. Chapters include: Jubal: A discursive meditation on music and its origins; Jacob's wrestling match; The judgment of Solomon; Abishag: The lure of incest; and The nakedness of Noah.