Old Testaments Books

Book SynopsisFrom the simple and beautiful language of the prose tale, to the verbal fireworks of the dialogue between Job and his friends, to the haunting beauty of the poem on wisdom and the sublime poetics of the divine speeches, this book provides an intense encounter with the aesthetic resources of Hebrew verbal art. In this brilliant new study, Carol Newsom illuminates the relation between the aesthetic forms of the book and the claims made by its various characters. Her innovative approach makes possible a new understanding of the unity of the book of Job; she rejects the dismantling of the book by historical criticism and the flattening of the text that characterizes certain final form readings.Trade ReviewThis book offers an insightful reading of Job and conceptually advances the understanding of modes of expression of Iraelite religious thought. * Old Testament Abstracts *This approach results in a extraordinary reading of Job, both methodologically and substantively. Newsom does not pretend to resolve all the interpretive cruxes, but to put the conversation on a firm footing, and she succeeds admirably.... readers who engage Job under her guidance will find themselves grappling indirectly with its moral and even its pastoral implications. This is the kind of interpretation that gets to the heart of the matter and makes a real difference--criticism in the best sense of the word. * Anglican Theological Review *Carol Newsom's magnificent analysis of the book of Job from the perspective of modern hermeneutics, and propelled by the theme of the moral imagination, is destined to become a classic. Her deft handling of the interpretive tradition, her choice of guides--e.g., Mikhail Bakhtin, Wayne Booth, Emmanuel Levinas, Paul Ricoeur, Martha Nussbaum, Alasdair MacIntyre--and her engagement with the biblical text in all its complexity are a joy to behold. * James L. Crenshaw, Robert L. Flowers Professor of the Old Testament, Duke University *Carol Newsom's study of Job is an insightful and provocative reading of that most difficult of biblical books. By combining literary-critical and postmodern methodologies, she significantly advances our interpretation of the book of Job, solving many problems that earlier treatments have not. This is a major and substantial contribution, lucid in both argument and style. Future work on Job will have to begin where Newsom leaves off. * Michael D. Coogan, Editor, The New Oxford Annotated Bible, The Oxford History of the Biblical World, and The Oxford Companion to the Bible *Carol Newsom's new book raises the level of discourse on the discourse of the Book of Job to a higher plane. Rarely has such literary sophistication been applied to a Biblical text with such clarity and moment. We are led to read the different parts of Job and the different voices given expression within them in dialogue with each other, without privileging one over the other. Drawing (ever critically) on the work of Bakhtin and several other theorists and critics, Newsom makes a powerful argument for an active reading of Job that is intensely engaged both textually and morally. No serious reader of Job will pass over Newsom's book, and no reader of the book will ever be the same. Readers may well find it, as I did, a milestone in their education. A tour de force and a major contribution to Biblical interpretation. * Edward L. Greenstein, Professor of Bible, Tel Aviv University *Table of ContentsCONTENTS; ABBREVIATIONS; CONCLUSION; NOTES; BIBLIOGRAPHY; INDEX

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Book SynopsisWinner of the Jewish Book Council Nahum M. Sarna Memorial Award in ScholarshipThis book explores the reception history of the most important Jewish Bible commentary ever composed, the Commentary on the Torah of Rashi (Shlomo Yitzhaki; 1040-1105). Though the Commentary has benefited from enormous scholarly attention, analysis of diverse reactions to it has been surprisingly scant. Viewing its path to preeminence through a diverse array of religious, intellectual, literary, and sociocultural lenses, Eric Lawee focuses on processes of the Commentary''s canonization and on a hitherto unexamined--and wholly unexpected--feature of its reception: critical, and at times astonishingly harsh, resistance to it. Lawee shows how and why, despite such resistance, Rashi''s interpretation of the Torah became an exegetical classic, a staple in the curriculum, a source of shared religious vocabulary for Jews across time and place, and a foundational text that shaped the Jewish nation''s collective identity.The book takes as its larger integrating perspective processes of canonicity as they shape how traditions flourish, disintegrate, or evolve. Rashi''s scriptural magnum opus, the foremost work of Franco-German (Ashkenazic) biblical scholarship, faced stiff competition for canonical supremacy in the form of rationalist reconfigurations of Judaism as they developed in Mediterranean seats of learning. It nevertheless emerged triumphant in an intense battle for Judaism''s future that unfolded in late medieval and early modern times. Investigation of the reception of the Commentary throws light on issues in Jewish scholarship and spirituality that continue to stir reflection, and even passionate debate, in the Jewish world today.Trade ReviewHis work is [written] from a palpably interdisciplinary angle. From this point of view, it uncovers an entire cultural world that until now had only been known in bit and pieces. Hence, this book is of great importance for the understanding of an interpretive and theological dynamic and tracing the coming into existence of cultural modalities of knowledge transmission in late medieval times. * Dov Schwartz, Shnaton: An Annual for Biblical and Ancient Near Eastern Studies *This lucid and comprehensive book should be found in every library of Judaica. It should be studied in courses in the history of Jewish exegesis of Scripture, and it should be on the desk of every teacher, scholar, and student who cherishes the third most important book in the Jewish sacred canon. * Mayer I. Gruber, The Review of Rabbinic Judaism *Lawee's masterful book is really two works in one. The second is the more academically novel, but the first is both stunningly impressive and of greater interest to RBL readers. * Aaron Koller, Society of Biblical Literature *... in every way remarkable, expressed in rich language, at times subtle in thought and informed by theories of hermeneutics beyond the basic requirements of the history of Jewish commentaries, yet always clearly expressed. * Jean-Pierre Rothschild, Revue des études juives *The study is ambitious in its scope, thoroughly researched and authoritative, judicious in its evaluations and extremely well written... The story of the Commentary's modern reception remains to be told, Lawee has certainly done an excellent job in tracing its vicissitudes during the centuries of the late Middle Ages. This is a remarkable story and Lawee has told it well. It is a demanding read, but an enlightening and rewarding one. * Barry Dov Walfish, Journal of Jewish Studies *It is very unusual for a scholar to identify a subject of manifestly great importance that has barely been addressed, but Eric Lawee has succeeded in doing so...We owe Lawee a debt of gratitude for his sweeping, learned, and original contribution to our understanding of how this classic text achieved its well-deserved renown. * David Berger, Yeshiva University, Tradition *An important work to be able to appreciate the impact of Rashi's biblical exegesis on posterity and to understand a good deal of medieval and modern Jewish exegesis. * Carlos del Valle Rodriguez, Iberia Judaica *Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Notes on Translations and Editions Introduction: Rashi's Commentary on the Torah: Canonical and Classic Part 1. Toward Canonicity Chapter 1. Conundrums of the Commentary: Contours of a Classic Chapter 2. Rashi's Commentary: Receptions, 1105-1527 Chapter 3. Interpreting the Interpreter: Supercommentarial Receptions in Ashkenaz and Sefarad Part 2. Resisting Readers Chapter 4. "Ridiculousness and Risibility": Rationalist Criticism in an Eastern Mediterranean Key Chapter 5. Rationalism Versus the Rashi/Rabbinic Axis: Pseudo-Rabad's Book of Strictures Chapter 6. Aaron Aboulrabi and "The Straight One": Between "Girls' Fantasies" and "Sweet Midrash" Part 3 Commentary Triumphant Chapter 7. Competing Canons: Rashi's Commentary in a Late Medieval Battle for Judaism's Soul Afterword: Rashi's Commentary on the Torah in Modern Times Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisBiblical prophecy involves more than words: it is always also embodied. After assessing the prevalence, implications, and origins of a logocentric model of biblical prophecy, Anathea E. Portier-Young proposes an alternative, embodied paradigm of analysis that draws insights from disciplines ranging from cognitive neuroscience to anthropology.Portier-Young provides a new, embodied paradigm of analysis for biblical prophecy, offering tools for academics and students to study a wide range of texts with new emphasis on the body. If offers a broadly-based account of prophetic embodiment. The author first assesses the prevalence, implications, and origins of a logocentric model of biblical prophecy, then proposes an alternative, embodied, and interdisciplinary paradigm. She argues that embodied religious experience and affect are not merely antecedent or coincidental to prophetic mediation but are both means (how mediation occurs) and objects (part of what is mediated).While Portier-Young''s

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Book SynopsisHebraism in Religion, History, and Politics is an investigation into Hebraism as a category of cultural analysis within the history of Christendom. Its aim is to determine what Hebraism means or should mean when it is used. The characteristics of Hebraism indicate a changing relation between the Old and New Testaments that arose in Medieval and early modern Europe, between on the one hand a doctrinally universal Christianity, and on the other various Christian nations that were understood as being a ''new Israel''. Thus, Hebraism refers to the development of a paradoxically intriguing ''Jewish Christianity'' or an ''Old Testament Christianity''. It represents a ''third culture'' in contrast to the culture of Roman or Hellenistic empire and Christian universalism. There were attempts, with varying success, during the twentieth century to clarify Hebraism as a category of cultural history and religious history. Steven Grosby expertly contributes to that clarification. In so doing, the possibility arises that Hebraism and Hebraic culture offer a different way to look at religion, its history, and the history of the West.Trade ReviewGrosby (emer., Clemson Univ.) fulfills his commitment to narrow the meaning of the term Hebraism to define a culture alongside classicism and Christianity, within Christendom, and to determine whether Hebraic culture emerges as useful heuristically to understanding post-Reformation history. Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty. * J. A. Young, Edinboro University of PA, CHOICE *Table of Contents1: Cultural History and Hebraism: An Overview of Some Problems 2: Hebraism: The Third Culture 3: Reading the Talmud in Prison 4: The Territorial Contamination of the Blood 5: Conclusion: The Axial Age, Pluralism, and Hebraism References

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Book SynopsisHow did the New Testament writers and the earliest Christians come to adopt the Jewish scriptures as their first Old Testament? And why are our modern Bibles related more to the Rabbinic Hebrew Bible than to the Greek Bible of the early Church?The Septuagint, the name given to the translation of the Hebrew scriptures between the third century BC and the second century AD, played a central role in the Bible''s history. Many of the Hebrew scriptures were still evolving when they were translated into Greek, and these Greek translations, along with several new Greek writings, became Holy Scripture in the early Church.Yet, gradually the Septuagint lost its place at the heart of Western Christianity. At the end of the fourth century, one of antiquity''s brightest minds rejected the Septuagint in favor of the Bible of the rabbis. After Jerome, the Septuagint never regained the position it once had. Timothy Michael Law recounts the story of the Septuagint''s origins, its relationship to the Hebrew Bible, and the adoption and abandonment of the first Christian Old Testament.Trade ReviewLaw should be commended for complicating conservative and fundamentalist theologies of scripture vis-à-vis his discussion of the Septuagint ... Law has opened an important conversation about the relevance of the Septuagint today (especially for American Christianity) and wisely points to the past and the east for interlocutors. * James Covington, Journal of Religion *It is a gripping tale, beautifully told, and should be of profound interest to any reader of the Jewish or Christian BibleTimothy Michael Law has written the first introduction to the LXX that can be read by people outside the guild. It is a remarkable book, full of fascinating detail that I cannot evoke in a short review, a book that tells a rich story that no reader of the Bible can afford to ignore. * Kevin Hart, Los Angeles Review of Books *a splendid work... I haven't found any book so interesting and enjoyable in years * Sir Fergus Millar, Camden Professor of Ancient History (Emeritus), Oxford, and Fellow of the British Academy *Table of ContentsTable of Contents ; 1 Why this Book? ; 2 When the World Became Greek ; 3 Was There a Bible before the Bible? ; 4 The First Bible Translators ; 5 Gog and his Not-so-Merry Grasshoppers ; 6 Bird Droppings, Stoned Elephants, and Exploding Dragons ; 7 E Pluribus Unum ; 8 The Septuagint behind the New Testament ; 9 The Septuagint in the New Testament ; 10 The New Old Testament ; 11 God's Word for the Church ; 12 The Man of Steel and the Man who Worshipped the Sun ; 13 The Man with the Burning Hand vs. the Man with the Honeyed Sword ; 14 A Postscript ; Notes ; Index

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Book SynopsisThe Death of Scripture and the Rise of Biblical Studies examines the creation of the academic Bible. Beginning with the fragmentation of biblical interpretation in the centuries after the Reformation, Michael Legaspi shows how the weakening of scriptural authority in the Western churches altered the role of biblical interpretation.Trade ReviewThis fascinating study, arising out of a PhD dissertation, focuses ostensibly on obscure German critic Johann David Michaelis (1717-1791), but tells the wider story of the changes in academic perspectives on the Bible over the last few centuries very well. * Dr Lee Gatiss, Churchman *Table of ContentsChapter One: From Scripture to Text ; Chapter Two: Bible and Theology at an Enlightenment University ; Chapter Three: The Study of Classical Antiquity at Gottingen ; Chapter Four: Michaelis and the Dead Hebrew Language ; Chapter Five: Lowth, Michaelis, and the Invention of Biblical Potry ; Chapter Six: Michaelis, Moses, and the Recovery of the Bible ; Conclusion ; Notes ; Bibliography ; Index ; Index of Biblical References

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Book SynopsisMost scholars believe that the numerous similarities between the Covenant Code (Exodus 20:23-23:19) and Mesopotamian law collections, especially the Laws of Hammurabi, which date to around 1750 BCE, are due to oral tradition that extended from the second to the first millennium. This book offers a fundamentally new understanding of the Covenant Code, arguing that it depends directly and primarily upon the Laws of Hammurabi and that the use of this source text occurred during the Neo-Assyrian period, sometime between 740-640 BCE, when Mesopotamia exerted strong and continuous political and cultural influence over the kingdoms of Israel and Judah and a time when the Laws of Hammurabi were actively copied in Mesopotamia as a literary-canonical text. The study offers significant new evidence demonstrating that a model of literary dependence is the only viable explanation for the work. It further examines the compositional logic used in transforming the source text to produce the Covenant CTrade ReviewAn excellent repository of research on the CC Covenant Code and the LH Laws of Hammurabi. In sum, this work is controversial in the best sense of the word: it will surely stimulate debate on the comparative method in studying not only the CC and LH but other texts as well. * The Catholic Biblical Quarterly *...intriguing... * Bruce Wells, Saint Joseph's University *...the value of Wright's contribution cannot be overestimated. He offers the scholar in the field a valuable tool for further work which includes all the relevant sources, thoroughly discussed and analyzed. He conveniently outlines the issues and problems involved in the study of the Covenant's Code, while highlighting the main discussions and solutions. Finally he also provides a thorough review of the vast literature in the field, again for the convenience of the reader. * Strata *Wright has made a major contribution to our understanding of the composition of CC even if one accepts only the barest bones version of his thesisEL.No account of the history of CC's composition will any longer be able to be written without reference to and deep engagement with Wright's work, whether one agrees with him or not. Such is the mark of the truly meaningful contributions to scholarship, and Wright's book undoubtedly belongs in such a class.'? * Review of Biblical Literature *Table of Contents1. Introduction: The Basic Thesis and Background ; Part I: Primary Evidence for Dependence: Sequential Correspondences and Date ; 2. The Casuistic Laws ; 3. The Apodictic Laws ; 4. Date and Opportunity for the Use of Hammurabi's and Other Cuneiform Laws ; Part II: Compositional Logic of the Covenant Code ; 5. Debt-Slavery and the Seduction of a Maiden (Exodus 21:2-11; 22:15-16) ; 6. Homicide, Injury, Miscarriage, Talion (Exodus 21:12, 18-27) ; 7. Child Rebellion, Kidnapping, Sorcery, Bestiality, Illicit Sacrifice (Exodus 21:12-17; 22:17-19) ; 8. The Goring Ox and Negligence (Exodus 21:28-36) ; 9. Animal Theft, Crop Destruction, Deposit, and Burglary (Exodus 21:37-22:8) ; 10. Animal Injury, Death, and Rental (Exodus 22:9-14) ; 11. The Themes and Ideology of the Apodictic Laws (Exodus 20:23-26; 21:1; 22:20-23:19) ; 12. Redactional Growth in the Apodictic Laws and the Covenant Code's Relationship to the Exodus Narrative ; 13. Conclusions

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Book SynopsisThrough countless retellings, from the Talmud to Archibald MacLeish and since, the story of Job has become a fixture in the cultural imagination of the West. In this study, Susan E. Schreiner analyzes interpretations of the Book of Job by Gregory the Great, Maimonides, Thomas Aquinas, and particularly John Calvin. Reading Calvin's interpretation of Job against the background of his most important medieval predecessors, Schreiner shows how central Job is to Calvin's struggles with issues of creation, the problem of evil, the meaning of history, and the doctrine of providence. For Calvin and his predecessors, Schreiner argues, the concept of intellectual perception is the key to an understanding of Job. The texts she examines constantly raise questions about the human capacity for knowledge: What can the sufferer who stands within history perceive about the self, God, and reality? Can humans truly perceive the workings of providence in their personal lives or in the tumult of history? Are evil and injustice a reality that we must confront before finding wisdom? In her final chapter, Schreiner turns to the wide array of twentieth-century interpretations of Job, including modern biblical commentaries, the work of Carl Jung, and literary transfigurations by Wells, MacLeish, Wiesel, and Kafka. The result is a compelling demonstration of how the history of exegesis can yield vital insights for contemporary culture.

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Book SynopsisThe place of the Law and its relationship to religious observance and faith is a contested topic in the study of both the Old and New Testament. In Law and Religion, members of the Erhardt Seminar group provide an insight into the debate, probing key topics and offering new contributions to the subject. Their essays are grouped into three sections, focussing in turn on the Law''s place in Israelite religion, in the Jesus tradition, and in Paul and the Apostolic tradition. Thus, the foundation of the connection between law and religion in ancient Israel is explored, along with the decisive influence of the Deuteronomic reform and the radical new understanding now emerging of the later development in Judaism of the New Testament Period. So, also, the contemporary challenge to the conventional picture of Jesus and the Law is addressed, the attitude of Paul is shown in new light, and post-Pauline developments are examined. Readers will find in this symposium a refreshing breadth of opinionTrade Review'This is a most important collection which will be significant for biblical ethics as well as for the narrower questions of law, and deserves to be widely known' - Expository Times 'These essays. touch on three areas which are in the centre of scholarly debate at present, and together make a useful contribution to all three' - Morna D. Hooker, in Epworth Review 'It can be said that none of these thirteen papers is second rate, many are lively and original, and all are highly informative.' - P.S. Cameron, in Scottish Journal of Theology 'New light is shed especially on the Jewish context of Jesus' ministry, but there is valuable work on the Old Testament, Qumran, John, Paul and Luke-Acts. A theme common to most of the book is the varied ways in which law might be understood, and the need to suspect simple interpretations. Of interest to graduate students and specialists, but also useful to ministers, undergraduates and intelligent college students.' - Walter Houston, in Theological Book ReviewTable of ContentsAbbreviations Introduction Part I. The law in Israelite religion 1. God as 'judge' in Ugaritic and Hebrew thought - Adrian Curtis, Lecturer in Old Testament Studies 2. Law in Old Israel: Laws Concerning Adultery - Arnold A. Anderson, Senior Lecturer in Old Testament Studies 3. 'A Perpetual Statute Throughout Your Generations' - Roger Tomes, Lecturer in Old Testament Studies at Northern College 4. The Temple Scroll: A Law Unto Itself? - George J. Brooke, Lecturer in Intertestamental Literature 5. Jewish Law in the Time of Jesus: Towards a Clarification of the Problem - Philip S. Alexander, Nathan Laski Senior Lecturer in Post- Biblical Jewish Studies Part II The law in the Jesus tradition 6. All Foods Clean: Thoughts on Jesus and the Law - Barnabas Lindars SSF, Rylands Professor of Biblical Criticism and Exegesis 7. Jesus' Demonstration in the Temple - Richard Bauckham, Reader in the History of Christian Thought 8. Q, the Law and Judaism - Christopher Tuckett, Lecturer in New Testament Studies 9. Christ and the Law in John 7-10 - George J. Brooke Part III The law in Paul and the apostolic tradition 10. Paul and the Law in Recent Research - F.F. Bruce, Emeritus Professor in the University of Manchester 11. Paul and the Law in Romans 5-8; an Actantial Analysis - Barnabas Lindars SSF 12. The Status of Law in the Letter to the Ephesians - Martin Kitchen, Chaplain to the Manchester Polytechnic 13. Law and Custom: Luke-Acts and Late Hellenism - F. Gerald Downing, Vice-Principal of the Northern Ordination Course Notes Index of References Index of Modern Authors

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Book SynopsisMultiple essays on the Psalms by the influential Psalms exegete, Erhard Gerstenberger.

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Book SynopsisTranslation, Jewish philosophy, and social and cultural historyTrade ReviewThe intertwined goals of this ambitious monograph by Hughes (Univ. of Buffalo--SUNY) are expressed in the work's full title: to discern patterns that connect three discrete subjects--Bible, philosophy, and translation--and to explore their contributions to the development of Jewish identity. The author's success results largely from his creativeapproach, first by making his centerpiece the analysis of Bible translation within the context of Jewish philosophy. Second, he selects seven individuals from six distinct periods and cultures, each of whom has been a worthy subject for at least one book-length study; among them are Saadya Gaon, Maimonides, and Franz Rosenzweig. He then allows these individuals to converse, as it were, with each other, jarringly out of chronological order but with surprisingly productive results. Thus, not only can one study Rosenzweig (late 19th-early 20th century) in terms of the influence of Saadya (tenth century).... But one can also see Saadya himself in a new light (or, many new lights) through the lens of Rosenzweig. This is not a book for the beginner or even for the expert who is faint of heart. But for those with the requisite background and fortitude, it offers rich intellectual rewards. Summing Up: Recommended. Graduate students and researchers/faculty. --ChoiceL. J. Greenspoon, Creighton University, December 2011"Shows how Bible translation strategies verify claims about the constant need for self-making that are usually associated with existentialism, claims about the constructedness of 'tradition' that are usually associated with postmodernism, and claims about the need to construct 'tradition' that are usually associated with cultural theorists." —Martin Kavka, Florida State University"Translation, as Hughes perceives it, becomes a major cultural monument rather than merely a philological exercise in transferring the semantics and syntax of one language into those of another." —Kalman Bland, Duke University"This is not a book for the beginner or even for the expert who is faint of heart. But for those with the requisite background and fortitude, it offers rich intellectual rewards." —ChoiceTable of ContentsPrefaceAcknowledgments 1. Introductory and Interpretive Contexts2. The Forgetting of History and the Memory of Translation3. The Translation of Silence and the Silence of Translation: The Fabric of Metaphor4. The Apologetics of Translation5. Translation and Its Discontents6. Translation and Issues of Identity and TemporalityConclusions: Between SpacesNotesBibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisThe topic of the election of Israel is one of the most controversial and difficult subjects in the entire Bible. Modern readers wonder why God would favor one specific people and why Israel in particular was chosen. One of the most important and theologically incisive voices on this topic has been that of Jon D. Levenson. His careful, wide-ranging scholarship on the Hebrew Bible and its theological reuse in later Judaic and Christian sources has influenced a generation of Jewish and Christian thinkers.This focused volume seeks to bring to a wide audience the ongoing rich theological dialogue on the election of Israel. Writing from a variety of disciplines and perspectives, the authorsJews, Catholics, and Protestantscontribute thought-provoking essays spanning fields including the Hebrew Bible, apocryphal and pseudepigraphic literature, New Testament, rabbinics, the history of Christian exegesis, and modern theology. The resulting book not only engages the lifelong work of JonTrade Review"The scholarship in The Call of Abraham is magnificent. The essays are uniformly of a very high quality. Depending on the essay, the fields that benefit from the scholarship of this volume include Hebrew Bible/Old Testament, intertestamental/Second Temple Judaism, Jewish theology, New Testament, and Christian theology. This work is of profound significance for scholars in all these areas." —Matthew Levering, Perry Family Foundation Chair of Theology, Mundelein Seminary“This volume is an excellent contribution to a crucial question of both ancient and contemporary importance. The essayists give a whole range of ways to consider Jewish election both in its historical and conceptual incarnations. The complexity and richness that emerge from this range is a major strength of the collection and one that is without parallel.” —C. Kavin Rowe, Duke Divinity School"The Call of Abraham is an extraordinary collection that will interest several groups: not only scholars of scripture, ancient Judaism and Christianity, and theology, but any Jews or Christians who wonder how their own tradition has viewed the idea of the chosen people, how those views developed, and how they relate to those of the other community that calls the Hebrew Bible its scripture. The book contains essays of real depth and learning, yet they are accessible to readers outside the academy. They are an appropriate tribute to Jon Levenson, whose depth, clarity, and theological honesty they imitate." —Benjamin D. Sommer, The Jewish Theological Seminary"D. Levenson is seen by many to be the premier biblical theologian today: a scholar who has illuminated the theology pervading the Hebrew Scriptures, and who has explicated its deeper meaning for both Jews and Christians. The excellent essays in this volume, dealing with the election of Israel, a persistent theme in biblical theology and a persistent concern of Levenson's, are a fitting tribute to the importance of Levenson's thought for the distinguished authors of this volume. The Call of Abraham deserves the serious attention too of all theologically interested Jews and Christians, especially those who like these authors are in sustained conversation with one another." —David Novak, J. Richard and Dorothy Shiff Professor of Jewish Studies, University of Toronto“. . . the studies in this collection all focus on one theme, namely, the theological meaning of Israel’s election and the implications of this for both the Jewish and the Christian communities. The collection is also unique in that it seeks to further Levenson’s own thinking on the topic rather than offer new insights into unrelated issues.” —Bible Today“A number of the essays are by former students of Levenson, and the eirenic manner in which the debate is conducted as well as the breadth of the topics grouped under the overarching rubric of election are a fine testimony to the significant impact that Levenson himself as well as his research has had.” —Journal of Jewish Studies“Presented to Jon D. Levenson on the occasion of his sixty-fifth birthday, the essays cover issues that interact with Levenson’s interest and scholarship on the theological meaning of Israel’s election and the implications of this for both the Jewish and the Christian communities . . . . A finely researched and argued thematic tome celebrating the Jewish faith and academic scholarship of the honoree.” —The Catholic Biblical Quarterly“This book is an impressive collection of 15 essays, each dealing with the theme of Israel’s election by God, written in honour of Jon Levenson, whose own research on this theme has been so influential within both Jewish and Christian scholarship.” —Journal of Theological Studies“The Call of Abraham is an ambitious volume that sets out to consider this shared affirmation of election theology in light of Levenson’s opus while building upon it across a wide range of fields. By mining the tradition both ancient and new, the authors of this volume have ably carried forward their honoree’s legacy and pointed the way for a new generation to walk in his footsteps.” —Cithara: Essays in the Judeo Christian Tradition“. . . This volume is an excellent and satisfying tribute to its honoree [Professor Jon D. Levenson] and his research. With scholarship, clarity and interreligious sensitivity that equal Levenson’s, co-editor Kaminsky asks, ‘Can Election Be Forfeited?’” —Biblical Interpretation

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Book SynopsisPhilo''s Portrayal of Moses in the Context of Ancient Judaism presents the most comprehensive study of Philo''s De Vita Mosis that exists in any language. Feldman, well known for his work on Josephus and ancient Judaism, here paves new ground using rabbinic material with philological precision to illuminate important parallels and differences between Philo''s writing on Moses and rabbinic literature. One way in which Hellenistic culture marginalized Judaism was by exposing the apparent defects in Moses'' life and character. Philo''s De Vita Mosis is a counterattack to these charges and is a vital piece of his attempt to reconcile Judaism and Hellenism. Feldman rigorously examines the text and shows how Philo presents a narrative of Moses''s life similar to that of a mythical divine and heroic figure, glorifying his birth, education, and virtues. Feldman demonstrates that Philo is careful to explain in a scientific way those portions of the Bible, particularly miTrade Review“This book is a study of Philo’s De Vita Mosis, Feldman, well known for his work on Josephus and ancient Judaism, here uses rabbinic material to illuminate important parallels and differences between Philo’s writing on Moses and rabbinic literature. . . . Feldman shows how Philo glorifies the birth, education, and virtues of Moses and demonstrates that Philo is careful to explain in a scientific way those portions of the Bible, particularly miracles, that appear incredible to his skeptical Hellenistic readers.” —Shofar * Shofar *“While focusing on Philo's De vita Mosis, Feldman . . . attempts to place Philo's portrait on Moses in the context of what other Jews and non-Jews in antiquity said about him . . . Feldman concludes that Philo intended De vita Mosis primarily for non-Jews in order to answer the misunderstandings, disparagement, and maligning of Moses; and that he presented Moses as a philosopher king but objected strongly to the view of Moses as divine.” —New Testament Abstracts“Feldman’s intention is to produce a comprehensive, systematic account of the depiction of Moses by Philo, chiefly by Philo’s De Vita Mosis (Mos.). In this, he succeeds. He organizes his work in imitation of Mos.: part one proceeds chronologically through the life of Moses; part two he organizes topically around ‘virtues’ of Moses, as does Philo.” —Bulletin for Biblical Research“Feldman shows how Philo presents an aretalogy similar to that of a mythical divine and heroic figure by glorifying the birth, education, and virtues of Moses. He demonstrates that Philo is careful to explain in a scientific way those portions of the Bible, particularly miracles, that appear incredible to his skeptical Hellenistic readers. Moses, as presented by Philo, emerges as unique among ancient law givers.” —International Review of Biblical Studies“This book is a gold mine of information. In two sections that follow the arrangement of Philo's two treatises on the life of Moses, Feldman expertly sets forth an impressive array of material from Philo, other Jewish sources, and non-Jewish sources. Each section on the life of Moses and on his virtues is clearly and helpfully organized into many subsections, and Feldman discusses each topic with characteristic erudition. This is the first book-length study to focus on these Philonic and other traditions about Moses, and readers from a variety of disciplines will find much here to appreciate.” —Ellen Birnbaum, author of The Place of Judaism in Philo's Thought: Israel, Jews, and Proselytes“Feldman provides a characteristically thorough, even exhaustive, discussion of Philo's Life of Moses, informed by his unsurpassed knowledge of both Jewish and classical literature. This is a very substantial and welcome contribution to the detailed analysis of the major Jewish philosopher of antiquity.” —John J. Collins, Yale Divinity School“This book represents the first full-length treatment of Philo’s portrait of Moses in the De vita Moysis. The work is erudite and careful. As is characteristic of Professor Feldman’s work as a whole, the strongest quality of this book is it comprehensive nature and encyclopedic learning. It will appeal to a significant number of scholars and students from a wide range of disciplines, including Second Temple Judaism, Rabbinic Judaism, New Testament, and the Early Church.” —Gregory E. Sterling, associate professor of theology, University of Notre Dame

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“It is astounding how well-versed Sebastian Selvén is in both Jewish and Christian liturgy. While I was reading about the former, I was being taught new facts and theology about Jewish ritual; while I was reading about the latter, I could have closed my eyes and believed it was being written by a Christian liturgical scholar.” —David W. Fagerberg, author of Liturgical Mysticism"Liturgy and Biblical Interpretation is a groundbreaking contribution to the under-developed field of the scholarly study of liturgical engagements with biblical texts." —Journal of the American Academy of Religion"The main strength of Selvén's work is that it shows how much the liturgy, which involves the worshippers in both speech and act, influences biblical interpretation. . . . [He] has written an important work upon which future scholars of the Bible and liturgy can further build." —Reading Religion

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Book SynopsisRachel M. Billings offers a holistic reading of Joshua, which joins theological sophistication with an emphasis on its meaning and purpose as a literary work.Trade Review"In exceptionally clear and accessible language, Rachel Billings uncovers a rich and sophisticated vein of theological thinking in the book of Joshua that has eluded other scholars. Her book is learned, instructive, and often moving as well. I recommend it highly." —Jon D. Levenson, Albert A. List Professor of Jewish Studies, Harvard University"Rachel M. Billings reads the book of Joshua in a theologically complex manner that acknowledges the various literary tensions within the book to illuminate the larger theology of Joshua. This book makes an engaging contribution to the field of biblical studies in the area of biblical theology and the literary study of the Hebrew Bible." —Joel Kaminsky, Smith College"Rachel M. Billings rejects both historicist and ironic readings of the text. In her hands Joshua becomes instead a powerful statement of a theological ideal, an ideal that is self-critical as well as aspirational. Her reading represents one of the best examples I have seen of what can be called 'canonical' interpretation: a literarily sensitive reading of the received form of the text in relation to its canonical context, its historical 'depth dimension,' and its theological subject matter." —Stephen B. Chapman, Duke Divinity School“Rachel M. Billings’s impressively composed and focused book . . . is a valuable addition to the University of Notre Dame Press’s Reading the Scriptures series, as it offers a learned study of a significant yet understudied text from the Hebraic canon. . . . Billings makes a viable contribution to recent scholarship directed at unearthing the theological, political, and hermeneutical imports available in the Hebrew scripture.” —Comitatus“This welcome, well-written, and well-argued book reconciles various literary tensions within the Book of Joshua. It is a positive contribution to furthering knowledge of Biblical studies, Biblical theology, and the literary study of the Hebrew Bible . . . Billings’s keen interpretation awakens the reader to the mercy that is divinely given in the book.” —Catholic Library World

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Book SynopsisKing'oo examines the critical importance of the Penitential Psalms in England between the end of the fourteenth and the beginning of the seventeenth century.Trade Review“King’oo provides a careful and multi-disciplinary history of this group of psalms during the years before and following the English Reformation. . . . Using tools from the scholarship of history, art, literature, and theology, King’oo has written a fascinating study. With its superb scholarship and carefully reasoned arguments, this book is recommended for academic libraries supporting graduate programs.” —Catholic Library World“The discovery of continuities amidst the upheaval of the Reformation has been a major area of scholarship in recent years and King’oo ably demonstrates that the Penitential psalms form yet another example of the way in which ‘the religious literature of the pre-Reformed past was not cast aside but rather gradually and complexly reshaped in Reformation England.’” —Journal of Ecclesiastical History“The interdisciplinary approach used by Costley King’oo is one of the book’s great strengths: we study manuscripts, early printed works and illustrations; Bible commentary, paraphrase and translation; lyric poetry, political parody and devotional song. . . . [This book] will have a broad appeal to scholars of the Bible (and the psalms in particular), scholars of art history and religious history, literary scholars and those interested in early modern sexuality.” —The History of Women Religious“King’oo lays out a concentrated argument for the centrality of the Penitential Psalms and what she calls a ‘penitential hermeneutic’ in both late medieval and early modern culture. . . . The monograph makes a solid case for the need for further study in this area.” —The Medieval Review“A fascinating and impressively composed monograph. . . . King’oo’s study is at its finest and most compelling in her analysis of individual adaptations of the Penitential Psalms, where close reading merges richly with attention to historical context and textual details.” —Comitatus“King’oo is especially perceptive in her attention to textual and literary detail, and she offers many valuable insights into the dynamic life of old traditions carried through time. Read as a whole or as selected essays, this book gives helpful case studies for those looking for a highly nuanced understanding of the continuities and discontinuities between the late medieval and early modern uses of biblical texts.” —Religious Studies Review“King’oo’s study distinguishes itself among other excellent scholarly works on the Psalter for its carefully considered focus on the unique textual tradition of the Seven Penitential Psalms. . . . Given King’oo’s training as a literary scholar, her attention to the Penitential Psalms’ form, genre, language, and even the material texts in which they were available yields exciting interpretations of their nuanced revisions and their implied audiences.” —Church History“Her writing is clear and engaging and stylistically sophisticated. This is a thoroughly enjoyable and well-researched book whose focus, although seemingly narrow, sheds much light on the some of the central controversies of the early modern period.” —Speculum“Miserere Mei convincingly and originally answers a number of the questions raised by the use and persistence of these Psalms, and offers new ones that we didn’t know enough to ask previously. . . . The greatest strengths of the book may be the ostensible narrowness and concreteness of its focus. By limiting her attention to the penitential Psalms, King’oo has written a monograph that is unusually coherent and organic, given the span of time and range of genres covered.” —Renaissance Quarterly“The book offers itself both as a valuable cultural history of the penitential psalms and as a model for rethinking outdated yet still dominant modes of historical periodization.” —Modern Language Review

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Book SynopsisThe first in a major new series of guides to the books of the Old Testament written in an accessible and anecdotal style. The series is suitable for personal or group use and the format is also appropriate for daily study.

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Book SynopsisThe second release in a major new series of guides to the books of the Old Testament written in an accessible and anecdotal style. The series is suitable for personal or group use and the format is also appropriate for daily study.

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Book SynopsisThe third release in a major new series of guides to the books of the Old Testament written in an accessible and anecdotal style. The series is suitable for personal or group use and the format is also appropriate for daily study.

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Book SynopsisThe latest release, covering Joshua, Judges and Ruth, in a major new series of guides to the books of the Old Testament, written in an accessible and anecdotal style. The series is suitable for personal or group use and the format is also appropriate for daily study.

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Book SynopsisA new release, covering the Books of Samuel, in this major series of guides to the books of the Old Testament, written in an accessible and anecdotal style. The series is suitable for personal or group use and the format is also appropriate for daily study.

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Book SynopsisGood kings and bad kings, good faith and bad faith - these are the themes of 1 and 2 Kings, from the wise King Solomon to the consequences of his successors' folly. Using personal anecdote, a lively style, and drawing on his considerable theological knowledge, John Goldingay takes us deep into the unfolding story of the Old Testament.

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Book SynopsisUsing personal anecdote, a witty and lively style, and drawing on his considerable theological knowledge, John Goldingay takes us deep into the unfolding story of the Old Testament.

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Book SynopsisUsing personal anecdote, a witty and lively style, and drawing on his considerable theological knowledge, John Goldingay takes us deep into the unfolding story of the Old Testament.

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Book SynopsisUsing personal anecdote, a witty and lively style, and drawing on his considerable theological knowledge, John Goldingay takes us deep into the unfolding story of the Old Testament. Companion to Psalms for Everyone,volume 1.

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Book SynopsisNew addition to series of readable guides to the Old Testament, covering Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and the Song of Songs. For the general reader and small groups.

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Book SynopsisAncient prophecy that speaks powerfully today.

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Book SynopsisUsing personal anecdote, a witty and lively style, and drawing on his considerable theological knowledge, John Goldingay takes us deep into the unfolding story of the Old Testament.

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Book SynopsisLatest addition to this comprehensive and approachable commentary series for general readers.Trade ReviewGoldingay’s magnum opus is nearly complete with the publication of Jeremiah for Everyone, while Lamentations and Ezekiel for Everyone will be available in April 2016, followed by Daniel and the Twelve for Everyone in June 2016. Goldingay offers an introduction which sets the Book of Jeremiah in its Old Testament context at the time of the Babylonian Exile (587 BC). Jeremiah’s ministry lasted over 40 years. His warnings fell on deaf ears as the disaster was so long coming that Jeremiah lost credibility as a prophet. The Book of Jeremiah contains many stories from the life of the prophet and the kings of that time, along with a record of his prophecies, prayers, sermons and laments. Chapters 1-25 are mostly prophecies, chapters 26-45 are narratives, and chapters 46-51 contain prophecies about the surrounding nations. Chapter 52 is a resume of the story, repeating 2 Kings 25. As in each of these volumes, Goldingay gives his own translation followed by a contemporary story then a comment on the text. Passages are elucidated by Goldingay’s thorough knowledge of the text and historical settings. A glossary at the back covers terms such as Assyrians, Ephraimites, Persians, Torah, remnant, Second Temple, exile, Zion. Jeremiah’s 52 chapters are presented in 58 portions, which could be read daily over a two month period or spread out over a year. This volume is a very accessible introduction to this complex but compelling prophet. -- Jill Firth * Blog: patheos *Thought-provoking and edifying points. * Churchman Journal’s Spring 2017 *

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Book SynopsisHow to read, interpret and preach the timeless wisdom of the Hebrew prophets.Trade ReviewIn the crowded field of textbooks that introduce students to the Old Testament prophets, Aaron Chalmers has written one of the most useful yet, especially for those whose studies have a ministerial dimension. Eschewing systematic coverage of content, he offers a remarkable breadth and depth of material at quite some speed, with many supporting pictures and illustrations. The key focus is on the task of facilitating interpretation. The first chapter is a lucid review of ‘what is a prophet and what is a prophetic book?’ The latter section emphasizes, rightly, that it is the text that is the primary focus of interpretation, which allows us to sit light to the limits of our historical knowledge regarding how such books were formed. The next three chapters round up three angles of approach: the historical, the theological and the rhetorical. This works extremely well. The first is a masterly overview of Israel’s history in dialogue with both the canon and external historical reference points. The second majors on Sinai and Zion traditions as a theological matrix within which to read the prophetic texts. The third is a mini-introduction to prophecy-related hermeneutics, working with the rhetorical grain of the text(s), and covering aspects of form-critical classification as well as literary characteristics. In all three chapters Chalmers offers clear examples, and pointers for further reflection by way of text boxes on specific themes. Chapter 5 explores apocalyptic, with a little more confidence that this is a separable genre than might be warranted, though Chalmers finds helpful ways to characterize apocalyptic texts. Chapter 6 then turns to ‘preaching the prophets’, with homiletical wisdom alongside caution about ‘prophecy and fulfilment’ schemas. Both these final chapters engage with refuting popular and/or conservative approaches that locate prophetic fulfilment today. In the UK I think a more common problem is simply a biblical illiteracy (even in churches) that simply does not know what to do with these texts. For revised editions I would encourage a more spacious page layout, and less text set against dark text-box backgrounds, especially when that text is often small. Pictures could be more clearly printed. Chalmers could also cite fewer specifics from other introductory books, and handle more of the issues in his own, generally elegant, prose. But I am confident that there will be revised editions, since overall this is an unusually successful textbook. The whole is a student-friendly guide that I will gladly adopt forthwith as recommended reading to accompany a course on the prophets. It is the combination of compressed introduction and the emphasis on developing tools for further interpretation that makes it work. Whereas many guides seem to imagine leisurely classes that wend their canonical way through text after text, the reality of theological education today is that Chalmers’s six chapters will probably match up to the full extent of most such courses. The book would also be an admirable refresher for those whose studies were longer ago. -- Richard S. Briggs * Theology journal *This book can be recommended as a short and easily readable introduction to the prophetic books, it does not try and go through the prophets one by one or in chronological order: rather it is divided up into easily comprehensible themes that extend across all the prophetical books of the Bible. It starts by considering what is a prophet and what makes a prophetic book; reflecting on modern ‘prophets’ and prophecy elsewhere. The author then loos at their historical, theological and rhetorical backgrounds. For example, he considers who a phrase ‘cows of Bashan’ is meaningless without its historical context. The use of language by the prophets to proclaim their message and influence the hearers is well covered. The chapter on apocalyptic writings looks at the dangers of trying to apply such sayings to modern times. However, he also brings out the peril of pinning them down such that they no longer speak to us today. The last chapter – a very useful set of guidelines for preaching on the prophets – should be beneficial to all Readers. -- Tim Whittle * The Reader *

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Book SynopsisComprehensive, up-to-date and student-friendly introduction to the book of Psalms: its structure, content, theological concerns, key interpretative debates and historical reception

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Book SynopsisThe first volume in a major new series, Old Testament Origins and the Question of God, The Old Testament and God offers a fresh examination of the Old Testament against its historical background.Trade Review‘Within the sometimes bewildering world of Old Testament scholarship, with its modern and postmodern presuppositions, Craig Bartholomew charts a new way forward, one that takes fully seriously the historical, literary and theological dimensions of the Old Testament, and above all takes the God of the Old Testament fully seriously as one who acts and reveals. For anyone who finds the Old Testament irrepressibly fascinating, this will be an exciting as well as a learned and coherently argued book.’ * Richard Bauckham, Emeritus Professor of New Testament Studies, University of St Andrews, Scotland *‘In this far-reaching and ambitious work, Bartholomew compellingly contends for an audacious notion: the Old Testament needs God and, above all else, enacts deific truth. This claim stands in sharp contrast with modernity reinforced by its tacit atheism and sardonic rejection of the supernatural. Consequently, the most central aspect of the Scriptures is absent in most post-Enlightenment biblical criticism. The Old Testament and God models an alternative, post-critical approach that is both overtly theistic and particularly Christian.’ * H. H. Hardy II, Associate Professor of Old Testament and Semitic Languages, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary *‘In this introductory volume, Bartholomew makes an impressive start to a project that seeks to do for the Old Testament what N. T. Wright has done for the New Testament. A great strength of his approach is an in-depth philosophical and methodological awareness. This enables him to provide a sharp critical evaluation of a number of traditional scholarly views. His careful attention to the historical, literary and theological dimensions of the Old Testament sheds new light on many disputed issues, as well as illuminating the rich Old Testament portrayal of the living God.’ * Philip Jenson, Teaching Associate in Old Testament, Ridley Hall, Cambridge *‘Only Craig Bartholomew could have written this book! The range of interlocutors is vast; Old Testament scholars mingle with philosophers, literary theorists and historians of the Ancient Near East, and Bartholomew’s immensely creative and constructive mind orchestrates a powerful symphony by means of a running commentary upon the scholarship. At the heart of the matter is the possibility – indeed the firm conviction – that the living God has revealed himself to Israel. A joy to read, this book should fund a new and multifaceted conversation grounded in the question of God.’ * Matthew Levering, James N. Perry Jr and Mary D. Perry Chair of Theology, Mundelein Seminary *‘Craig Bartholomew brings his wide knowledge and insight to the question of God in the Old Testament. His training and sensibilities as both an Old Testament scholar and a philosopher are on full display here. This book, the first of four, is a big book in the best sense of the term. He considers the most important questions and utilizes the best approaches to study of the Old Testament. In my opinion, Bartholomew sets the study of God in the Old Testament on its proper foundation, which makes this essential reading for all scholars and serious students alike.’ * Tremper Longman III, Distinguished Scholar and Professor Emeritus of Biblical Studies, Westmont College *‘Who but Craig Bartholomew could have imagined this book, much less actually written it? In The Old Testament and God, he takes the reader on an exhilarating quest to answer the biggest question not only in biblical studies, but in our lives: the question of God. Along the way, Craig introduces us to a vast array of voices, from philosophers and historians to narrative critics and specialists in the Ancient Near East. The end result is part manifesto, part invitation. The Old Testament and God is sure to guide and inspire students and scholars alike.’ * Michael J. Rhodes, Lecturer in Old Testament, Carey Baptist College, Auckland, New Zealand *‘This opus breathes intelligence, learning and creativity as it frames what it means – and could mean – to study the Old Testament. True to form, Bartholomew assesses the academy critically, with breadth of vision and philosophical rigour. He methodically advances a theological vision of the Old Testament that takes as fundamental its kerygmatic force. Faith and theology inform Bartholomew’s work as resources rather than obstacles, while he rightly pleads for genuine pluralism in the academy. Although it will be possible to interrogate Bartholomew’s argument, it will be impossible to ignore it. This volume exhibits the characteristics of a classic.’ * Heath A. Thomas, President and Professor of Old Testament, Oklahoma Baptist University *‘Many of us were apprenticed into the guild of Old Testament scholarship under the paradigm of alleged academic "objectivity" in which "God" could not be the subject of a sentence that presumed his living reality and power, other than as a fictive character in the narrative. Craig Bartholomew challenges that paradigm in a way that enables an encounter with the living scriptures to be an authentic encounter with the voice of the living God.’ * Chris Wright, Global Ambassador and Ministry Director, Langham Partnership *

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Book SynopsisJohn L. Bell's gloriously honest book on the Psalms offers what people need to help them cope with life as it really isTrade ReviewJohn Bell of the Iona Community has been for many years one of the most recognized voices on BBC Radio 4’s Thought for the Day, where his cogent and penetrating topical contributions reach an audience well beyond the churches. -- Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury. . . a work of solid theological common sense – uncommon enough these days. From a lifetime of pastoral care and attention to God, Bell has provided us with a depth of understanding which we would do well to appropriate for ourselves. * Church Times on 'Living with the Psalms' *The Last Journey: Few recordings have struck a chord as deep and profound as this heart-rending yet ultimately uplifting CD and accompanying book. * GIA Publications *This small, 96-page book and CD is a gem. * Methodist Recorder *Highly recommended as a valuable resource for Readers involved in pastoral work for the dying and especially in funeral ministry, as [the volume] shows great sensitivity and insight. * The Reader *

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Book SynopsisA new translation and commentary on the biblical book of Ezra by the renowned author of two award-winning biblical commentariesTrade Review“The culmination of a lifetime of research on the book of Ezra by a most distinguished scholar.”—Hugh Williamson, University of Oxford

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Book SynopsisA new translation and commentary on I Maccabees that offers a fresh interpretation of the author's values and purposeTrade Review“An outstanding work of excellent quality, with fresh and coherent interpretations and exemplary engagement with scholarly literature.”—Jan Willem van Henten, University of Amsterdam

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Book SynopsisA new translation and commentary on the biblical book of Micah that proposes a convincing new theory of its composition historyTrade Review“A great scholarly achievement. With expert knowledge of biblical prophetic literature and its historical contexts, Becking offers an illuminating new perspective on the book of Micah.”—Göran Eidevall, Uppsala University

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“Deuteronomy is arguably the most important book in the Pentateuch, if not in the entire Hebrew Bible. With his trademark clarity and rigor, Stackert compellingly explains what Deuteronomy is, what it does, and how it works, both on its own and in its broader literary context. Deuteronomy and the Pentateuch is unquestionably the best book out there on this central biblical text, and should be standard reading for scholars and students alike.”—Joel Baden, Yale Divinity School“Jeffrey Stackert is known for his thoughtful and theoretically informed contributions to Pentateuchal scholarship. In this new work, he tackles the range of complex issues surrounding the compositional history of Deuteronomy with characteristic acumen and clarity.”—Molly Zahn, author of Genres of Rewriting in Second Temple Judaism“Stackert’s new volume on the book of Deuteronomy is a priceless contribution to the field. His analysis is incisive and accessible in equal measure. This book should be required reading for anyone interested in Deuteronomy, from its inception to its early reception.”—Shimon Gesundheit, Hebrew University of Jerusalem“A compelling and original exploration of Deuteronomy, its composition, its use of earlier sources, its use in later sources, its ancient Near Eastern influences, and its date.”—Marc Zvi Brettler, Duke University“In this exciting addition to the Anchor Yale Bible Reference Library, Stackert offers something genuinely new: he brilliantly weaves together biblical scholarship, cuneiform literature, and contemporary literary theory. This clearly written and engaging volume examines how the concept of scripture shaped ancient readers’ understanding of Deuteronomy.”—Bernard M. Levinson, University of Minnesota

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Book SynopsisInformed by the literature and language of the ancient Near East, this commentary to Chapters 1 to 12 of the biblical Book of Judges provides a literary and theological analysis of some of Scripture's most stirring narratives and verses. It also includes a comprehensive introduction that surveys issues and approaches in the study of Judges.Trade Review“The first instalment of Sasson’s new commentary on Judges presents detailed and insightful exegesis on this fascinating work… a readily accessible and sure guide to the text. This will undoubtedly become a major critical work on the text and message of Judges. The next volume will be eagerly awaited.”—Paul Foster, Expository Times -- Paul Foster * Expository Times *

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Book SynopsisAn ambitious introduction to the Apocrypha that encourages readers to reimagine what “canon” really meansTrade Review2022 PROSE Award Finalist, Theology and Religious Studies category“A work of first-rate scholarship that makes ancient Jewish apocrypha, ranging beyond the traditional Greek and Latin collections, accessible to the non-specialist audience. I cannot see teaching my Bible courses without it.”—Benjamin G. Wright, Lehigh University“In this comprehensive introduction, Wills shows that neither ‘canon’ nor ‘apocrypha’ is a simple, consistent idea. This should now be the standard introduction to the Apocrypha.”—John J. Collins, Yale University“Introductions to the Apocrypha used to be dull, dutiful little books. Not any more! In this engaging study Wills demonstrates the sophistication and significance of these compositions. In addition, he dismantles the prevailing Eurocentric construction of ‘apocrypha’ and embraces a long overdue global perspective.”—Carol A. Newsom, Emory University“A thorough, comprehensive, and insightful examination of texts, regarded as non-canonical for the Hebrew Bible, that were quite influential in later Jewish and Christian sources. Organizing these texts according to genre is a special feature of this study.”—Gale A. Yee

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Book SynopsisKnowledge that TransformsWithout truth, we will be subject to every wind of distraction. Without grace, our lives will ring hollow. The Grace and Truth Study Bible is designed to help you understand and be formed by Scripture. Rich passage-by-passage study notes are theologically sound, guiding you to a deep understanding of each text, while always keeping in view the transformative affirmation and goodness of God’s nature and redemptive plan.Dr. R. Albert Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and one of the foremost voices for evangelicals worldwide, heads up the editorial team for the NASB Grace and Truth Study Bible. This group of scholars and pastors is committed to delivering a trustworthy and approachable guide to Scripture to Bible readers. The warmhearted and faithful notes will provide first-time Bible readers reliable guidance while simultaneously nourishing veteran students of the Word with fresh insights. Unwaveri

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Book SynopsisThe NASB Grace and Truth Study Bible, with general editor Dr. Al Mohler, invites every-day Christians to delve into Scripture to encounter God’s grace in a fresh way.

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Book SynopsisThe gospel story begins in Torah. What culminates at Golgotha starts with the rebellion in the garden. The Torah''s story can be framed as a question: How will the word of God overcome the human revolution?Torah Story offers a student-friendly introduction to the redemptive narrative housed in the first five books of the Bible. Every main chapter introduces a section of Torah with attention to its basic structure.This is followed by another look at how this portion of Torah connects to the rest of the Christian Bible.The dynamic design includes opportunities in every chapter to make the most of Torah study including: Helps for getting started (focus questions, key terms, outline) An interactive workshop with challenge questions and advanced questions Suggestions for research projects Next steps for further study A refreshingly new approach to the Torah--neither an introduction nor a commentary--Torah StTrade Review'Gary Schnittjer has distinguished himself as an especially perceptive reader of biblical narrative, which makes him an ideal guide for students of the Torah. In this textbook and companion Workbook, he draws from his deep well of insights on the biblical text and his years of classroom experience. My students genuinely thanked me for assigning the first edition. I'm delighted that Schnittjer has taken the time to refresh and shorten the book to communicate even more effectively to future students. I make it a practice not to assign any book that I wouldn't want to reread myself. Torah Story remains an excellent choice!' * Carmen Joy Imes, associate professor of Old Testament Biola University *'Gary Schnittjer skillfully expounds the Pentateuch from a Christian perspective, illuminating its argument, structure, unity, and trajectory. He excels at explaining intertextual connections and literary techniques. This second edition will enrich the next generation for years to come.' * Mark A. Hassler, professor of Old Testament Virginia Beach Theological Seminary *'Gary Schnittjer's careful and close read of the Torah effectively captures the big picture supplemented with attention to the priorities of each narrative segment. Gary's exceptional scholarship is complemented by an aesthetically pleasing format that is user-friendly. Content, formatting, and teaching aids combine to make the second edition of the Torah Story an easy choice for classroom and personal study.' * John F. Klem, dean, Center for Biblical Studies Seminary Antipolo City, Philippines *'Gary Schnittjer's Torah Story is a rich resource for studying the Pentateuch, not only in surveying its content and major themes or in providing helpful charts and illustrations, but by teaching readers how to read and enjoy the Torah for themselves. Torah Story is a superb guide to the abiding message, composition, and literary beauty of the Pentateuch, which I highly recommend for both classroom and personal study.' * L. Michael Morales, professor of biblical studies Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary *'I have assigned Torah Story in my Pentateuch course for many years because of Gary Schnittjer's engaging approach to Pentateuch studies. What I love most are his insightful Readings, attending to theological interpretation and narrative artistry, and his Another Look brimming with fresh observations about interconnections within and between biblical books. Augmenting these strengths, the second edition of Torah Story is enhanced throughout with updated research, tables, images, and interactive workshops that make an effective textbook even better for anyone seeking an apprenticeship on the Torah.' * Kenneth C. Way, professor of Old Testament and Semitics Talbot School of Theology, Biola University *'If only this book had been available twenty years ago when I was first asked to teach a survey of the Torah course in a discipleship program for young Israeli believers. Schnittjer's apprenticeship approach to the Torah will be a blessing for teacher and student alike. Every page is filled with gems of learning opportunities--not only in terms of its insights about the Torah but also in its insights about how to teach the Torah. It is my sincerest hope that Schnittjer's approach will be applied to every other book in the Bible in future publications as well!' * Seth D. Postell, academic dean Israel College of the Bible, Netanya Israel *'It is difficult to improve on an already superb work, but Gary Schnittjer has done just this in the second edition of Torah Story. The introductory chapter, which has been substantially revised and is now even more helpful to the student, explains how to read the Torah in light of how biblical narrative works. Then in the remaining chapters Schnittjer masterfully models his approach to narrative by offering an astute theological reading of the Torah. Throughout the reader finds many invaluable insights into the Torah's literary features and intertextual allusions, which is exactly what we would expect given Schnittjer's expertise in these areas. I cannot recommend Torah Story highly enough!' * Benjamin J. Noonan, associate professor of Old Testament and Hebrew Columbia International University *'Kudos to Gary Schnittjer on the Second Edition of Torah Story! Schnittjer has taken one of the best textbooks on the Pentateuch and made it even better. I love the new, beautiful look and layout of the book, as well as the continued student friendly interaction. Likewise, in Chapter 1, I find his guidelines on how to read biblical narrative to be extremely helpful. Indeed, here and throughout the book Schnittjer has incorporated the latest in Old Testamament scholarship into his discussions. As a professor I appreciate the additional resources available through Zondervan's TextbookPlus program, as well as the helpful Workbook that is available. All in all, this is a great textbook and I highly recommend it!' * J. Daniel Hays, professor emeritus at Ouachita Baptist University and senior professor of Old Testament at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary *'Schnittjer's Torah Story is a refreshingly unique textbook on the Pentateuch that moves beyond summarizing the content of these books to tracing their literary strategies, intertextual connections, and enduring significance as Christian Scripture. This volume--especially the second edition--offers a new generation of readers a sophisticated, accessible, and indispensable introduction to Scripture's foundational narratives.' * Michelle Knight, assistant professor of Old Testament and Semitic languages Trinity Evangelical Divinity School *'The first edition of Torah Story has always been my go-to recommendation for textbooks on the Pentateuch. I did not agree with every detail, but it combined clarity and organization with deep research, careful exegesis, and useful application. Over the years I had the privilege of closely observing hundreds of students using this textbook and coming to a deeper understanding of God's Word. Now Gary Schnittjer has made a good textbook even better with updated research, expanded illustrations, and extensive resources for teachers. I look forward to seeing how this new edition will build on the substantial legacy of the first, cultivating sincere love for Christ in those who give themselves wholeheartedly to the study of the Torah.' * Jonathan L. Master, president Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary *'The key word to take away from this book is the word apprentice. The reader is treated to the work of someone who truly believes that all Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for Christians. Yes, even the Pentateuch. The first edition guided readers faithfully through the Torah, both to understand its message and its relevance for life and godliness. This new edition brings nearly two decades of additional experience and insight from Schnittjer's own apprenticeship in the Bible. It is improved in every way, offering additional insights and reflections while maintaining the character that made the first edition such a valuable guide. One encounters not merely a fresh coat of paint but a thoroughly restored model. The introductory chapters prepare the apprentices for their tour of the Pentateuch, and in the rest of the book, Schnittjer guides readers through each book of the Torah. Like the best kind of tour guide, he has clearly retained his love and wonder of the Pentateuch, and his intent is for the apprentice to be shaped by it.' * Ryan C. Hanley, department chair and assistant professor of biblical studies University of the Cumberlands *'The second edition of Torah Story offers an invitation to the reader to become an apprentice of the Pentateuch. As a skilled guide with decades of experience in the classroom, Schnittjer knows how to lead students down the path of discovery through the inductive study of Scripture and shows us how he does it. This volume is ideally suited for professors who want to turn their course into an interactive workshop. Students will enjoy its thought-provoking questions and suggestions for research projects. Highly recommended!' * Gordon Johnston, professor of Old Testament Dallas Theological Seminary *'This book is brilliant. As someone who loves the Torah and who cares about effective pedagogy, I am so impressed with Torah Story. Gary Schnittjer is clearly a master of the subject and treats it faithfully, thoughtfully, and thoroughly, as a Christian who reveres the Hebrew Bible. But he is also clearly a great teacher, who understands how people learn, and he has tailored the book to maximally help students do just that. Beyond that, he has made it superbly flexible for professors to use in whatever way suits them. If you are going to teach or learn about the Torah, this book is absolutely a must-have.' * Elizabeth W. D. Groves, lecturer in Biblical Hebrew Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia *'This second edition of Torah Story retains all the best features of the first edition and makes them better. I value this textbook for how it trains students to read biblical narrative in all of its rich design and intertextuality. The second edition enhances this key characteristic through updated and clarified discussion and bibliographic entries. The additional and higher quality pictures enrich the reading experience, and students will appreciate the slightly shorter text, editing that made the writing clearer without losing any necessary content. Students will find Torah Story to be a beneficial resource for study long after their course is over.' * Dr. Megan C. Roberts, assistant professor of Old Testament Prairie College *'This substantially reworked second edition of Torah Story brings students to the cutting edge of Schnittjer's research on how biblical writers converse with each other and draws readers effortlessly into the strange but compelling story that stretches from creation to the edge of the land. Students will experience that story in all its varied plot twists and turns and learn how to read the Old Testament with literary, historical, and theological sensitivity. Having engaged this Torah territory, they won't want to leave.' * Matthew Lynch, associate professor of Old Testament Regent College, Vancouver *'Torah is foundational for God's revelation and understanding it accurately provides a crucial basis for understanding and living out the implications of the rest of Christian Scripture. Gary Schnittjer has given the church and the academy a tool that encourages students of all ages and backgrounds to gain greater access and facility in God's Word. With a high view of Scripture, his work provides believers of all times help in grasping Torah. It is readable and relatable to the newer generation of students that need to be challenged and enticed to see the relevance and excitement of building a firm foundation for a life of study of God's Word and the relevance of the Torah for the whole of God's revelation. With that goal, Torah Story provides helpful tools to not only understand the broad strokes but also to dig in deeper with some helpful guidance and direction. It introduces the reader to issues, topics, controversies, and how to read the text for what it intends to teach--all concerns that students new to Torah studies and Scripture in general need to recognize and begin to understand. I look forward to using this even more helpful edition in the classroom as I continue to introduce my students to Torah.' * John Soden, professor, Bible and theology Lancaster Bible College, Capital Seminary and Graduate School *'With superb literary sensitivity and elegant prose, Gary Schnittjer guides readers through the Pentateuch. His keen insights into the Torah's macrostructure and intertextual connections offer a refreshing alternative to standard introductions and surveys. Torah Story is a masterful textbook--clear and engaging for both students and scholars. Its abundant sidebars, illustrations, and questions elevate the book's usefulness and application for learners at all stages.' * Jillian L. Ross, associate professor of biblical studies Liberty University *

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Book SynopsisThis workbook accompanies Gary Edward Schnittjer''s Torah Story. Following the textbook''s structure, it offers chapter-by-chapter guided exercises designed to support the students learning experience and enhance their comprehension of the Pentateuch.Working knowledge of the Bible''s first five books is essential for every serious student of the Scriptures. Torah Story by Gary Edward Schnittjer emphasizes the content of the text itself, moving beyond debating dates and theories of authorship into understanding how these key books of the Bible help us understand the story of salvation.

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Book SynopsisThe NIV Application Commentary helps readers with the vital task of bringing the ancient message of the Bible into a contemporary context. It gives preachers and teachers the tools, ideas, and insights they need to communicate God's Word with the same powerful impact it had when it was first written.Trade Review'It takes more than interpretation of God's Word to change lives, it takes application. Application is the bottom line in preaching and teaching. Without it, we've missed the point of the Bible. The NIV Application Commentary is an outstanding resource for pastors and anyone else who is serious about developing 'doers of the Word.'' * Rick Warren, Pastor, Saddleback Valley Community Church *'The NIV Application Commentary series doesn't fool around: It gets right down to business, bringing this ancient and powerful Word of God into the present so that it can be heard and delivered with all the freshness of a new day, with all the immediacy of a friend's embrace.' * Eugene Peterson *'The NIV Application Commentary series promises to be of great service to all who preach and teach the Word of God.' * J. I. Packer, Regent College *'This series promises to become an indispensable tool for every pastor and teacher who seeks to make the Bible's timeless message speak to this generation.' * Billy Graham *

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