Ideas and the man

David Daube, a remarkable figure of the Renaissance, connected humanism and religion, demonstrating the relevance of ancient law to contemporary life. This memoir, penned by his former Oxford pupil and lifelong colleague, captures Daube's mischievous wit and enlightening spirit, leaving a lasting impression on all who met him. His scholarly career spanned the 20th century, with significant time spent in Germany, Great Britain, and the United States. Raised in an orthodox Jewish environment, Daube was well-versed in Aramaic and Hebrew, and in the 1920s, he embraced the classical German educational tradition. His exceptional talents were nurtured by prominent scholars in Germany and Cambridge during the 1930s and 40s. Although he moved away from orthodox Judaism, its influence persisted in his work. Daube's deep understanding of various legal traditions allowed him to uncover legal elements reflected in literature across Christian, Greek, Jewish, and Roman contexts. He notably transformed perceptions of the New Testament through his sophisticated insights into Talmudic law and literature. Regardless of the subject he explored, Daube possessed a unique ability to reveal unexpected insights into human behavior across different times and cultures.