CONTENTS

Alter, Judah; Aryeh Leib, Shai Gluskin, Arthur Green (tr.). The Language of Truth: The Torah Commentary of Sefat Emet. Jewish Publication Society. 1998. AISN/ISBN: 0827606508.

The Sefat Emet achieved wide popularity both within and without Hasidic circles. In a community openly hostile toward non-Orthodox Jewry, the Sefat Emet embraces the nontraditionalists. Author Green, one of the leading scholars of Hasidism and modern Jewish theology, has brought together a wide selection of the Sefat Emet's teachings. The Language of Truth is a remarkable work of Jewish scholarship.

Alter, Robert (ed.). Genesis: Translation and Commentary. W. W. Norton & Company. 1997. AISN/ISBN: 039331670X.

The biblical book of Genesis contains some of the most sublime poetry known to man as well as the powerful and bloody history of early Israel. Author Alter joins the ranks of contemporary authors who have tried to mimic, in English, the sonorous rhythms and parallel constructions of the original Hebrew. He also supplies an insightful, fascinating commentary that emphasizes the dramatic unity of the Genesis story. This is an essential contribution to biblical scholarship.

Alter, Robert (ed.). The Five Books of Moses: A Translation with Commentary. W. W. Norton & Company. 2004. AISN/ISBN: 0393019551.

This brilliant and rigorous book by Alter strikes the perfect balance between literary and biblical scholarship, yet it is accessible to the general reader. It argues forcefully and persuasively, but is never arrogant, even when Alter is detailing the inadequacies of other biblical translations. It points to the ways a single Hebrew word can make all the difference in our understanding of the text, but it never loses sight of the overall text. Alter's majestic translation recovers the mesmerizing effect of these ancient stories, the profound and haunting enigmas, the ambiguities of motive and image, and the distinctive cadences and lovely precision of the Hebrew text. In a stimulating and thorough introduction, Alter makes a case for the coherence of the Torah as a whole, while acknowledging that it is "manifestly a composite construction" that was written and edited by many people over several centuries. Alter's translation conveys the music and the meaning of the Hebrew text in a lyrical, lucid English. His accompanying commentary illuminates the text with learned insight and reflection on its literary and historical dimensions. This may well be the best one-volume introduction to the Torah ever published in English.

Armstrong, Karen. In the Beginning: A New Interpretation of Genesis. Alfred A. Knopf. 1996. AISN/ISBN: 0679450890.

The brilliance of the author's analysis of Genesis lies in her ability to draw together the story, the contemporaneous situations of the characters and the writers, and the relevance of themes amid multifarious contradictions and then hold them up for us to contemplate. Edifying and engaging, this short but impressive book includes the entire Genesis text.

Ben Isaiah, Abraham and Benjamin Sharfman (eds.). The Pentateuch: Genesis, A Linear Translation into English (The Pentateuch and Rashi's Commentary, V. S. S. and R. Publishing Co, Inc. 1976. AISN/ISBN: B000OZYSPE.

The Pentateuch in Hebrew is the first five books of the Bible. This is Book I, Genesis, in Hebrew with a linear translation into English, by Rashi, the commentator par excellence on the Hebrew Bible, whose interpretation derives largely from the Talmud and the Midrash, making it more accessible to all who desire to study it.

Berlin, Adele; Marc Zvi Brettler, and Michael Fishbane (ed.). The Jewish Study Bible: Tanakh Translation, Torah, Nevi'im, Kethuvim. Oxford University Press. 2003. AISN/ISBN: 0195297512.

Serious students of Judaism will want to have a copy of this outstanding and surprisingly affordable study Bible, which stands in the tradition of Oxford's great study Bibles. Using the Jewish Publication Society translation, the books of the Jewish canon are presented in their traditional order: Torah; Nevi'im; and Kethuvim. Leading Jewish scholars introduce each book and offer extensive sidebar commentary, discussing the views of ancient and modern rabbinic scholars. In addition, the volume provides two dozen scholarly essays on different aspects of interpretation: the Bible's use in various periods in Jewish history, in the liturgy, in the Dead Sea Scrolls. There are essays on biblical languages, canonization, textual criticism, philosophical and mystical traditions, and biblical poetry. This landmark volume is at once serious and accessible, and spans the spectrum of Jewish thought.

Bloom, Harold and David Rosenberg (tr.). The Book of J. Grove Press. 2005. AISN/ISBN: 0802141919.

This controversial, bestselling collaboration is a translation of and critical look at text within Genesis, Exodus, Numbers and Deuteronomy written by an ostensibly female author known only as "J." Modern biblical critics have called the author of the oldest texts in the Hebrew Bible "J," standing for Jahweh. Bloom and translator Rosenberg, authors of many works of literary criticism and of Jewish and biblical studies, have collaborated on a clear but controversial translation and analysis of parts of the Pentateuch ascribed to the "J" author. Bloom claims that "J"'s author was a woman, living in or at the time of the Solomonic court, ca. 950-900 B.C.E., who wrote these selections not as a religious or historical treatise but as a literary work that Bloom compares to Shakespeare. While Rosenberg's translation is both modern and moving, he has made significant changes in the meanings of the Hebrew text. The proofs offered for these theories are no substitute for hard evidence. Nevertheless, The Book of J deserves consideration as a literary work.

Brisman, Leslie. The Voice of Jacob: On the Composition of Genesis. Indiana Univ Press. 1990. AISN/ISBN: 0253312647.

This work explores Genesis as the scene of conflict between a pious and a revisionary spirit. Experimenting with the idea of a text as a conversation between authors of very different perspective, Leslie Brisman imagines Genesis to emerge from an inspired competition for divine blessing-or for readers' allegiance. His basic hypothesis is that great writing is made from wrestling with other writing, and that the biblical author "J" (here named Jacob) wrestled with the preceding material (of "E," Isaac) found in certain passages of Genesis as we have it. Rather than a collection of old fragments, assembled by a redactor whose piety was a thing apart from the old author's creativity, Genesis may offer us the playful work of an imagination that re-sees an old story in a new light. Brisman's work lets readers see that the stories of Genesis may have their origin not in pre-literate folktales but in one writer's inventive need to react to what was for him a normative tradition. In Brisman's work, "J" is a person, not a text, someone whose originality emerges as a function of his iconoclastic spirit,The Voice of Jacob takes seriously the idea of the Bible as literature??as work shaped in its greatest moments by literary as well as theological or political motives. Standing outside the mainstream of biblical interpretation and criticism, Leslie Brisman gives us a superb work of literary criticism informed by a profound knowledge of the original text.

Cairns, Ian. Word and Presence: A Commentary on the Book of Deuteronomy. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. 1992. AISN/ISBN: 0802801609.

In this commentary Ian Cairns presents Deuteronomy as a slowly evolving, complex composite: as legal code, as treaty text or covenant, as Moses' farewell speech, and as the final volume of the Pentateuch. Despite Deuteronomy's structural complexity, however, Cairns shows how the theme "Word and Presence" permeates the entire book: God is the living Presence who can be encountered and known through his Word addressed to each generation in turn. This commentary is unique in its emphasis on the theology of Deuteronomy (e.g., law as "humane instruction") as well as in its modern applications and illustrations from non-Western cultures.

Campbell, Antony F. and Mark A. O'Brien. Sources of the Pentateuch: Texts, Introductions, Annotations. Augsburg Fortress Publishers. 1993. AISN/ISBN: 0800627016.

This book presents the whole of the Pentateuch as what it first of all for the reader--and where every interpretation must begin--as literature, especially as a part of the history of ancient Israel's literature.

Carasik, Michael. The Commentator's Bible: The JPS Miqra'ot Gedolot: Exodus. Jewish Publication Society of America. 2005. AISN/ISBN: 0827608128.

First published 500 years ago as the "Rabbinic Bible," the biblical commentaries known as the Miqra'ot Gedolot have inspired and educated generations of Hebrew readers. With this edition, the voices of Rashi, Ibn Ezra, Nahmanides, Rashbam, and other medieval commentators come alive once more, speaking in a contemporary English translation annotated and explicated for lay readers. Each page of The Commentators' Bible contains several Hebrew verses from the book of Exodus, surrounded by both the 1917 and 1985 JPS translations and new English translations of the major commentators. This large-format volume is beautifully designed for ease of navigation among the many elements on each page, including explanatory notes and selected additional comments from the works of Bekhor Shor, Hizkuni, Abarbanel, Sforno, Gersonides, and others.

Carasik, Michael. Commentator's Bible: The JPS Miqra'ot Gedolot: Leviticus. Jewish Publication Society of America. 2009. AISN/ISBN: 0827608977.

First published 500 years ago as the "Rabbinic Bible," the biblical commentaries known as Miqra'ot Gedolot have inspired and educated generations of Hebrew readers. With this edition, the voices of Rashi, Ibn Ezra, Nahmanides, Rashbam, and other medieval Bible commentators come alive once more, speaking in a contemporary English translation annotated and explicated for lay readers. Each page of this second volume in "The Commentators' Bible" series contains several verses from the Book of Leviticus, surrounded by both the 1917 and 1985 JPS translations, and by new contemporary English translations of the major commentators. The book also includes an introduction, a glossary of terms, a list of names used in the text, notes on source texts, a special topics list, and resources for further study. This large-format volume is beautifully designed for easy navigation among the many elements on each page, including explanatory notes and selected additional comments from the works of Bekhor Shor, Hizkuni, Abarbanel, Sforno, Gersonides, and others.

Chavel, Charles B (tr.). Moses Maimonides: The 613 Commandments. Soncino Press Ltd. 1967. AISN/ISBN: 1871055202.

A translation of Maimonides' Sefer HaMitzvot, a list and explaination of the 613 commandments.

Chavel, Charles B (tr.). Ramban: Nachmanides Commentary on the Torah. Shilo Publishing House. 5 Vols. 1971. AISN/ISBN: 0686867432.

This is a translation of the second most used commentary, after Rashi. The translation is not literal nor complete.

Chill, Abraham. The Mitzvot: The Commandments and Their Rationale. Bloch. 1974. AISN/ISBN: 0819703761.

This work takes each mitzvah of the Torah and, using as sources the most recognized biblical commentators, presents reasons for its existence. Chill writes clearly, condensing the commentaries, and presenting contradictory opinions to allow the reader to decide on the most persuasive.

Cohen, A. and A. J. Rosenberg. The Soncino Chumash. Soncino Press. 1947. AISN/ISBN: 0900689242.

This popular Chumash presents the Hebrew text and English translation along with a commentary digest which presents midrashic, philosophical and literary interpretations by such commentators as Rashi, Ibn Ezra, Rambam, Sforno, Nachmanides and Gersonides

Culi, Yaacov. The Torah Anthology: The Tabernacle. Volume IX. Moznaim Publishing Corporation. 1981. AISN/ISBN: 0940118092.

Volumes cover the Torah, with separate works on megillot and Psalms, translated from the classic Ladino work Me'Am Lo'Ez. An amazing compendium of insights and commentary.

Culi, Yaakov. The Torah Anthology: Acceptance. Volume VIII. Moznaim Publishing Corporation. 1982. AISN/ISBN: 0940118084.

Volumes cover the Torah, with separate works on megillot and Psalms, translated from the classic Ladino work Me'Am Lo'Ez. An amazing compendium of insights and commentary.

Culi, Yaakov. The Torah Anthology: Admonition. Volume XV. Moznaim Publishing Corporation. 1984. AISN/ISBN: 0685422593.

Volumes cover the Torah, with separate works on megillot and Psalms, translated from the classic Ladino work Me'Am Lo'Ez. An amazing compendium of insights and commentary.

Culi, Yaakov. The Torah Anthology: Beginnings. Volume I. Moznaim Publishing Corporation. 1977. AISN/ISBN: 0940118017.

Volumes cover the Torah, with separate works on megillot and Psalms, translated from the classic Ladino work Me'Am Lo'Ez. An amazing compendium of insights and commentary.

Culi, Yaakov. The Torah Anthology: Divine Service. Volume XI. Moznaim Publishing Corporation. 1982. AISN/ISBN: 094011884X.

Volumes cover the Torah, with separate works on megillot and Psalms, translated from the classic Ladino work Me'Am Lo'Ez. An amazing compendium of insights and commentary.

Culi, Yaakov. The Torah Anthology: Faith and Optimism. Volume XVI. Moznaim Publishing Corporation. 1984. AISN/ISBN: 0940118459.

Volumes cover the Torah, with separate works on megillot and Psalms, translated from the classic Ladino work Me'Am Lo'Ez. An amazing compendium of insights and commentary.

Culi, Yaakov. The Torah Anthology: Final Wanderings. Volume XIV. Moznaim Publishing Corporation. 1983. AISN/ISBN: 0940118432.

Volumes cover the Torah, with separate works on megillot and Psalms, translated from the classic Ladino work Me'Am Lo'Ez. An amazing compendium of insights and commentary.

Culi, Yaakov. The Torah Anthology: First Journeys. Volume XIII. Moznaim Publishing Corporation. 1983. AISN/ISBN: 0940118033.

Volumes cover the Torah, with separate works on megillot and Psalms, translated from the classic Ladino work Me'Am Lo'Ez. An amazing compendium of insights and commentary.

Culi, Yaakov. The Torah Anthology: From Jacob Until Joseph. Volume III-B. Moznaim Publishing Corporation. 1978. AISN/ISBN: 0940118890.

Volumes cover the Torah, with separate works on megillot and Psalms, translated from the classic Ladino work Me'Am Lo'Ez. An amazing compendium of insights and commentary.

Culi, Yaakov. The Torah Anthology: Gratitude and Discipline. Volume XVII. Moznaim Publishing Corporation. 1985. AISN/ISBN: 0940118467.

Volumes cover the Torah, with separate works on megillot and Psalms, translated from the classic Ladino work Me'Am Lo'Ez. An amazing compendium of insights and commentary.

Culi, Yaakov. The Torah Anthology: Holiness. Volume XII. Moznaim Publishing Corporation. 1982. AISN/ISBN: 0940118378.

Volumes cover the Torah, with separate works on megillot and Psalms, translated from the classic Ladino work Me'Am Lo'Ez. An amazing compendium of insights and commentary.

Culi, Yaakov. The Torah Anthology: Israel in Egypt. Volume IV. Moznaim Publishing Corporation. 1978. AISN/ISBN: 0940118041.

Volumes cover the Torah, with separate works on megillot and Psalms, translated from the classic Ladino work Me'Am Lo'Ez. An amazing compendium of insights and commentary.

Culi, Yaakov. The Torah Anthology: Laws and Warning. Volume XVIII. Moznaim Publishing Corporation. 1987. AISN/ISBN: 0940118548.

Volumes cover the Torah, with separate works on megillot and Psalms, translated from the classic Ladino work Me'Am Lo'Ez. An amazing compendium of insights and commentary.

Culi, Yaakov. The Torah Anthology: Partriarchs. From Abraham Until Jacob. Volume II. Moznaim Publishing Corporation. 1977. AISN/ISBN: 0940118025.

Volumes cover the Torah, with separate works on megillot and Psalms, translated from the classic Ladino work Me'Am Lo'Ez. An amazing compendium of insights and commentary.

Culi, Yaakov. The Torah Anthology: Redemption. Volume V. Moznaim Publishing Corporation. 1979. AISN/ISBN: 094011805X.

Volumes cover the Torah, with separate works on megillot and Psalms, translated from the classic Ladino work Me'Am Lo'Ez. An amazing compendium of insights and commentary.

Culi, Yaakov. The Torah Anthology: Repentance and Blessings. Volume XIX. Moznaim Publishing Corporation. 1987. AISN/ISBN: 0940118556.

Volumes cover the Torah, with separate works on megillot and Psalms, translated from the classic Ladino work Me'Am Lo'Ez. An amazing compendium of insights and commentary.

Culi, Yaakov. The Torah Anthology: Sin and Reconciliation. Volume X. Moznaim Publishing Corporation. 1981. AISN/ISBN: 0940118009.

Volumes cover the Torah, with separate works on megillot and Psalms, translated from the classic Ladino work Me'Am Lo'Ez. An amazing compendium of insights and commentary.

Culi, Yaakov. The Torah Anthology: The Law. Volume VII. Moznaim Publishing Corporation. 1981. AISN/ISBN: 0940118076.

Volumes cover the Torah, with separate works on megillot and Psalms, translated from the classic Ladino work Me'Am Lo'Ez. An amazing compendium of insights and commentary.

Culi, Yaakov. The Torah Anthology: The Ten Commandments. Volume VI. Moznaim Publishing Corporation. 1980. AISN/ISBN: 0940118068.

Volumes cover the Torah, with separate works on megillot and Psalms, translated from the classic Ladino work Me'Am Lo'Ez. An amazing compendium of insights and commentary.

Culi, Yaakov. The Torah Anthology: The Twelve Tribes. Volume III-A. Moznaim Publishing Corporation. 1978. AISN/ISBN: 0940118882.

Volumes cover the Torah, with separate works on megillot and Psalms, translated from the classic Ladino work Me'Am Lo'Ez. An amazing compendium of insights and commentary.

Eskenazi, Tamara Cohn and Andrea L. Weiss (eds.). The Torah: A Women's Commentary. Union of Reform Judaism Press. 2007. AISN/ISBN: 0807410810.

For generations, the task of interpreting the texts of Torah has been almost exclusively the province of men. In our generation, this has changed and the voices of women and their understandings of the Torah have enriched our people. This commentary will be a valuable addition to every synagogue, Torah study group, and Jewish home. Almost 15 years in the creation, The Torah: A Women's Commentary is a scholarly commentary on the Five Books of Moses, including post-biblical interpretations and contemporary reflections. It is structured in a "user-friendly" way to enable the reader to access the richness of the Jewish text. It is a beautifully designed, scholarly work that will be a source for study and learning for many years to come.

Fields, Harvey J. and Giora Carmi (ill.). A Torah Commentary for Our Times. 3 vols. Union of American Hebrew Congregations. 1998. AISN/ISBN: 0807405302.

The beauty and the power of this series is that it gives you the context through which the parsha has been analyzed through the exegesis of famous scholars, and in doing so, it gives a framework on which to develop your own exegesis. The summaries of the commentaries are written in both an extremely short form and then in a more detailed form. The series is excellent for all levels of scholarship and for all levels of observance.

Finegan, Jack. Let My People Go: A Journey Through Exodus. Harper and Row. 1963. AISN/ISBN: B0007E1ZEO.

Here the reader takes a memorable and stimulating trip through Exodus. A realiable guide with infectious enthusiasm, he includes the most recent historical and archaeological discoveries in the field. Combining scholarly research with a concern for the contemporary relevance of Exodus, Finegan makes the book's power, message, and spirit come alive. He gives clear answers to such questions as: "What was the man Moses like?" "What really happened at the crossing of the Red Sea?" "How did the ancient Hebrews get to Egypt in the first place?" The result is a lively account of the early history of Israel and of the events on which the Israelite people's religious faith was grounded.

Fox, Everett. Genesis and Exodus: A New English Rendition wth Commentary & Notes. Schocken. 1991. AISN/ISBN: 0805209948.

This work presents a unique approach to the art of biblical translation. Based on principles developed by Buber and Rosenzweig, the author's translation seeks to restore the poetics of the Hebrew text. The Hebrew Bible uses a variety of stylistic devices--repetition, play on words, rhythym, alliteration--to rhetorically underscore its meaning. These features are lost in more conventional translations, along with the spoken quality of the Hebrew text. Readers unfamiliar with Hebrew will find here a whole new perspective of the Bible, and the oral character of the text is immediately apparent in ways that ate not seen in other translations.

Fox, Everett. Now These Are the Names. Schocken. 1986. AISN/ISBN: 0805240209.

Based on the same principles used in Fox's translation of the Book of Genesis, In the Beginning, this translation of the Book of Exodus attempts to echo the oral, rhetorical character of the original Hebrew. Special attention is paid to the use of repetition, allusion, word play, and alliteration. Each chapter includes explanatory notes and a brief introduction.

Fox, Everett. The Five Books of Moses: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. (The Schocken Bible,. W Publishing Group. 1996. AISN/ISBN: 084995228X.

Based on the Buber-Rosenzweig translation of the Hebrew Bible, completed in 1960, Fox's new rendering of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy is a breathtaking translation that captures the beautiful, majestic, and dynamic character of biblical Hebrew. In his translation, Fox lovingly caresses the language of the Bible so that readers may listen to it as it was heard and read by its earliest Jewish audience. Fox provides keen and insightful notes and commentary, and the introductions to each book are crisp and fresh. The Five Books of Moses demonstrates the living character of scripture in the modern world. An essential purchase for all libraries.

Fox, Everett (tr.). The Five Books of Moses: A New Translation with Introductions, Commentary and Notes. Schocken. 1997. AISN/ISBN: 080524140X.

Fox's translation has the rare virtue of making constantly visible in English the Hebraic quality of the original, challenging preconceptions of what the Bible is really like. A bracing protest against the bland modernity of all the recent English versions of the Bible

Friedman, Richard Elliot. Commentary on the Torah. HarperSanFrancisco. 2003. AISN/ISBN: 0060507179.

This work is a complete new translation of the Torah with commentary that invites comparison with the legendary commentary written by Rashi, which has served as the standard work of its kind for almost 1,000 years. This new commentary draws on recent archeological discoveries, medieval commentaries, and modern textual scholarship "to shed new light on the Torah, and, more important, to open windows through which it sheds its light on us." The book also continues Friedman's ongoing project of making serious religious scholarship accessible to the general reader, as did his previous works, including Who Wrote the Bible? and The Hidden Face of God. To that end, it is organized not only with chapter and verse markings, but also by traditional weekly synagogue readings. This textual organization, combined with Friedman's relentless focus on the text's meaning for faithful lay readers, makes his commentary an ideal resource for synagogue and church study groups, as well as a necessary reference work for individual students of religion.

Friedman, Richard Elliot. Hidden Book In the Bible. HarperCollins Publishers. 1998. AISN/ISBN: 0965685713.

The author, in this work, makes the claim, audacious to some, that he has discovered a secret structure of meaning in the Five Books of Moses. Extending more than a century of biblical textual criticism, Friedman writes that one author, probably a lay person, wrote many of the most familiar stories in the Hebrew Bible, including the stories of Adam and Eve, Abraham, Moses, and David, in one unified text. His introduction defends this thesis with close readings of the patterns of punctuation, word choice, sentence structure, and allusion used in these stories; the remainder of the book is a reconstruction of what Friedman says is the original, foundational text at the heart of the Bible, the text known as the "J" source. Friedman makes an important point for contemporary readers from the story he has found: In this age of relativism, Friedman writes, "Suddenly this work comes back from nearly three thousand years ago. And it says yes, humans have the power to make judgments of what is good and bad and right and wrong. In this story, the Creator of the earth does not always reveal what is good and bad, but rather the humans take the fruit that enables them to make these judgments." This is an essential work for those interested in biblical scholarship.

Friedman, Richard Elliot. The Bible with Sources Revealed. HarperSanFrancisco. 2003. AISN/ISBN: 0060530693.

For centuries, biblical scholars have labored on determining how the Bible came about. The consensus that emerged from experts of various traditions is termed the "Documentary Hypothesis": the idea that ancient writers produced documents of poetry, prose, and law over many hundreds of years, which editors and redactors then used as sources to fashion the books of the Bible as we now know it. In this work, the author offers a unique presentation of the Torah, unlocking its complex and fascinating tapestry of sources. Using different colors and type styles to represent each of the distinct source documents together with an illuminating commentary, Friedman provides a new way to explore the riches of scripture. This allows both scholars and laypersons to explore the rich resources of the Torah in a unique, rewarding way

Friedman, Richard Elliot. Who Wrote the Bible?. HarperCollins. 1989. AISN/ISBN: 0060972149.

"J," "P," "E," "D," and "R" are the names scholars have given to the unknown authors of the Bible, and over the last two centuries of biblical scholarship the so-called "documentary hypothesis" has survived fairly intact, overcoming debate about how the individual interwoven threads of dialog can be teased apart into coherent source works. Richard Elliott Friedman's survey of this debate in this work may be the best written popular book about this question. Without condescension or the use of technical language, Friedman carefully describes the history of textual criticism of the Bible--a subject in which his authority is unparalleled. But perhaps even more impressive than Friedman's erudition is his sensitivity to the power of textual criticism to influence faith. He carefully sifts through clues available in the text of the Hebrew Bible and those provided by biblical archaeology searching for lost the writer(s) of, primarily, the Pentateuch. He does so with clarity and engaging style, turning a potentially dry scholarly inquiry into a lively detective story. The reader is guided through the historical circumstances that occasioned the writing of the sources underlying the Torah and the combining of these diverse sources into the final literary product. According to Friedman, the most controversial part of his case is the identification of the writer and date of the Priestly source. This book is neither comprehensive nor unduly complex, making it a good introductory text for beginners and nonspecialists. It's recommended for the libraries of everyone with an interest in biblical scholarship and commentary.

Gerstenberger, Erhard S.. Leviticus: A Commentary. Westminster John Knox Press. 1996. AISN/ISBN: 0664220649.

Leviticus offers many challenges for interpretation, including the laws contained within the book, as well as questions of the book's origins and compilation. This commentary by Bible scholar Gerstenberger provides a sure guide through the text of Leviticus and these questions. Gerstenberger understands that Leviticus is the product of an Israel reconstituted as a community of faith during the Persian period. The commentary provides suggestions regarding daily life questions on how one worships the one universal God within the local communities of congregation and family. In this interpretation, the book of Leviticus offers clear words of instruction to those throughout the world who would live faithfully for Israel's God.

Goldstein, Elyse (ed.). The Women's Torah Commentary: New Insights from Women Rabbis on the 54 Weekly Torah Portions. Jewish Lights Publishing. 2000. AISN/ISBN: 1580230768.

It was only in the early 1970s that the first woman was ordained a rabbi by the Reform branch of Judaism. Now women are making their mark on Torah commentary, bringing their own unique interpretations to the religion's most important writings. In this book, women rabbis write their own commentaries on the 54 Torah portions. As editor Goldstein admits in the introduction, some feminists feel that the Bible is hopelessly sexist and encourage women to disregard its teachings. Other women become "skilled apologists," fixing the blame on the reader not on the Bible itself. These rabbis try to understand the writings in a new way. Employing midrash, the traditional rabbinic use of parable and metaphor to extend the text, they explore the lives and motives of biblical women, including Leah, Tamar, Dinah, Miriam, and others. With sometimes very little to work with, the rabbis "write ourselves in, reinterpret ourselves in, or critique our absence." Throughout, the ideas raised are worthy of discussion and the writing is uniformly high in quality. The women rabbis give new life to ancient sisters.

Grishaver, Joel Lurie (ed.). Learn Torah With... Annuals: A Collection of the Year's Best Torah. Torah Aura Productions. 1998. AISN/ISBN: 1881283283.

A collection of Torah commentaries are presented as part of an ongoing project bringing together people from everywhere and from all denominations to comment on the Torah portion of the week.

Grishaver, Joel Lurie (ed.). Learn Torah With..., 1994-1995 Torah Annual: A Collection of the Year's Best Torah. Torah Aura Productions. 1996. AISN/ISBN: 1881283135.

A collection of Torah commentaries are presented as part of an ongoing project bringing together people from everywhere and from all denominations to comment on the Torah portion of the week.

Halevi, Shira. The Life Story of Adam and Havah: A New Targum of Genesis 1:26-5:5. Jason Aronson. 1997. AISN/ISBN: 0765759624.

This book is constructed in a format in which each chapter consists of a feminist targum, a translation and commentary, on a pericope and a conversation critiquing the targum by the woman offering the targum: a rabbi and a stridently traditional/male chauvinist. The support for the targum comes from the traditional techniqiue of manipulating the original text, the offering of multiple alternative readings, and traditional support from targums, midrash, Philo, pseudepigrapha, kabbala. The strength of the book is in the innovative interpretation of the original text: the garden is portrayed as a temple, and the injunction not to eat of the fruit was to apply only to Adam, not to Eve. By using this innovative approach, the book is sufficient to drive its readers to original source material, a sign of excellence in books such as this.

Hertz, J.H. (ed.). The Pentateuch and Haftorahs: Hebrew Text, English Translation, and Commentary. Soncino Press Ltd. 1976. AISN/ISBN: 0900689218.

More popularly known as "The Hertz Chumash," this standard Chumash is used in most Conservative and Orthodox shuls. It presents the Hebrew text and English translation of the Torah and the Haftorahs with a lucid exposition of the text, explaining the ethical and spiritual teachings of the Torah from a wide range of classical and scholarly literature.

Hirsch, Samson Raphael and Isaac Levy (eds.). Hirsch Chumash. 7 vols. Judaica Press. 1963. AISN/ISBN: 0910818126.

The author's textual and conceptual commentary on the Chumash gives full expression to his philosophy of Torah in derekh eretz--the interconnectedness of Torah and world civilization. This classic English edition of his German translation of the Torah text, and of his complete commentary on the Torah and Haftarot, is presented in full in seven handsome volumes. The accompanying Hebrew text is fully vocalized. The Haftorot, the seventh volume of the set, is translated by the author's eldest son, Dr. Mendel Hirsch.

Jeansonne, Sharon Pace. The Women of Genesis: From Sarah to Potiphar's Wife. Augsburg Fortress Publishers. 1990. AISN/ISBN: 080062419X.

The women of Genesis 12-50 function as much more than ancillary characters to men. Through close attention to the literary features of the text, Jeansonne depicts Sarah, the daughters of Lot, Hagar, Rebekah, Rachel and Leah, Dinah, Tamar, and Potiphar's wife as integral persons who shaped Israel's destiny, revealed perspectives on God's involvement in the course of history, and portrayed human failure, freedom, and strength. Jeansonne's analysis of the narratives about women in Genesis 12-50 is literarily sensitive and theologically alert. Certainly readers of this well-written and easily read book will come to a greater appreciation of the role of women in Genesis. Further, Jeansonne offers interesting insights about the narrative art and theological nuances of the Book of Genesis. Laypersons, seminarians, and pastors will all find The Women of Genesis accessible and interesting.

Kaplan, Aryeh. The Living Torah: The Five Books of Moses and the Haftarot. Moznaim Pubublishing Corp. 1981. AISN/ISBN: 0940118726.

This is one of the clearest, most readable translations of the Torah. The author brings to his translation work a deep sensitivity that not only renders the literal meaning of the text, but also clarifies its implied meaning through careful choice of words and detailed footnotes, including maps, diagrams, and drawings of different species of plants and animals (based upon the flora and fauna of Israel), common utensils, clothing, etc. described in the text, as well as archaeology. The diagrams in Leviticus are especially helpful in visualizing the construction of the Mishkan (Tabernacle) and the species of permitted and forbidden foods. This work is recommended for the quality of its translation and lucid commentary.

Kelman, Stuart L. and Joel Lurie Grishaver (eds.). Learn Torah With.... Torah Aura Productions. 1999. AISN/ISBN: 1881283305.

A collection of Torah commentaries are presented as part of an ongoing project bringing together people from everywhere and from all denominations to comment on the Torah portion of the week. Readers' comments fill another section of this project which is now in its fifth consecutive year.

Kugel, James L.. How to Read the Bible: A Guide to Scripture, Then and Now. Free Press. 2007. AISN/ISBN: 074323586X.

Kugel's tour de force of biblical scholarship juxtaposes two different ways of reading the Bible: the ancient biblical interpretations, ranging from the Book of Jubilees to Augustine that he explored in The Bible as It Was, and the modern historical approach that challenges the historical veracity of scripture and seeks instead to find its writers' original sources and purposes. It can be a jarring journey for those schooled in traditional views, but what emerges is a fresh, even strange, and very rich view of everything from the Garden of Eden to Isaiah's dream vision of God. Refreshingly undogmatic and often witty, Kugel brings an intimate knowledge of the Hebrew Bible to illuminate small points as well as large. He discusses who the ancient Israelites were; the resemblances between YHWH and Canaanite gods; the unique role of the prophet in Ancient Near Eastern religions; the nature of ancient wisdom literature; and what the Bible means when it calls Solomon the wisest of men. The result is a stunning narrative of the evolution of ancient Israel, of its God and of the entire Hebrew Bible, contrasted with ancient interpretations that aimed to uncover hidden meanings and moral lessons. So, for example, for the ancients, the story of Cain and Abel is a tale of good versus evil. For the moderns, it was originally a story of origin, about the relation between ancient Israelites and the fierce Kenites to their south. While Kugel is a traditional Jew, he sees the modern approach as compelling, so the dilemma is whether a person of faith can read scripture in both the old way and the new. Drawing on Judaism's nonfundamentalist approach, Kugel's proposed answer is that the original purpose of the texts and their lack of historical accuracy matters less than their underlying message: to serve God.

Kugel, James L.. The Bible As It Was. Belknap Press. 1997. AISN/ISBN: 0674069404.

This work is an eye-opening study of early scriptural interpretation. Kugel focuses on readings of the Torah from 100-300 C.E., particularly on the Jewish tradition of midrash, a practice of filling in the narrative gaps where biblical stories are ambiguous or unclear. Kugel's interest in midrash is more than academic, however. He wants readers to consider the ways these early readings of the Bible affect today's popular understandings of scriptural texts (such as the sacrifice of Isaac or the creation in Genesis); and he provides a convincing description of the richness and complexity that informs what seem to many like simple, common-sense readings of scripture.

Kushner, Lawrence S. and Kerry M. Olitzky. Sparks Beneath the Surface: A Spiritual Commentary on the Torah. Jason Aronson. 1995. AISN/ISBN: 1568210167.

This work is an invaluable tool to bring the teachings of Torah to modern Jews. Organized around the weekly Torah portions, it is designed to designed to resemble the pages of the Talmud. In the center of each page the targum, the English translation of the phrase or verse being explored, is presented. Material is included from great Chasidic teachers, and the work offers insights from Jewish tradition to add depth to the point under discussion and provide sources for further study. This work represents the first time Chasidic insights have been brought to a liberal context without compromising either ideological framework.

Leibowitz, Nechama and Aryeh Newman (tr.). Studies in Bamidbar. Lambda Publishers. 1982. AISN/ISBN: B0007B07VE.

This work is based on Professor Leibowitz's weekly Parsha study sheets that were mailed all over the world in the 1950s. The work contains discussions of each parsha with basic concepts learned from the meforshim.

Leibowitz, Nechama and Aryeh Newman (tr.). Studies in Bereshit. Lambda Publishers. 1981. AISN/ISBN: 9995376849.

This work is based on Professor Leibowitz's weekly Parsha study sheets that were mailed all over the world in the 1950s. The work contains discussions of each parsha with basic concepts learned from the meforshim.

Leibowitz, Nechama and Aryeh Newman (tr.). Studies in Devarim. Lambda Publishers. 1982. AISN/ISBN: 0686762649.

This work is based on Professor Leibowitz's weekly Parsha study sheets that were mailed all over the world in the 1950s. The work contains discussions of each parsha with basic concepts learned from the meforshim.

Leibowitz, Nechama and Aryeh Newman (tr.). Studies in Shemot. Lambda Publishers. 1978. AISN/ISBN: B0007C1VDG.

This work is based on Professor Leibowitz's weekly Parsha study sheets that were mailed all over the world in the 1950s. The work contains discussions of each parsha with basic concepts learned from the meforshim.

Leibowitz, Nechama and Aryeh Newman (tr.). Studies in Vayikra. Lambda Publishers. 1982. AISN/ISBN: 0686762622.

This work is based on Professor Leibowitz's weekly Parsha study sheets that were mailed all over the world in the 1950s. The work contains discussions of each parsha with basic concepts learned from the meforshim.

Leibowitz, Yeshayahu and Shmuel Himelstein (tr.). Accepting the Yoke of Heaven: Commentary on the Weekly Torah Portion. Urim Publications. 2002. AISN/ISBN: 9657108330.

Accepting the Yoke of Heaven is a compelling collection of thoughts on the weekly Torah portion by the acclaimed Jewish philosopher, Yeshayahu Leibowitz. As he leads us from Creation to the death of Moses, Professor Leibowitz takes us on a dramatic journey of philosophical discovery. Revealing his rational views on the nature of God and his relationship with Man, Leibowitz challenges our conceptions of the purpose of prayer and the presence of holiness in the world. He demands compliance with Jewish law for its own sake, irrespective of expectations of reward or punishment. Written with unflinching honesty and conviction, Accepting the Yoke of Heaven is a work of startling erudition.

Levine, Baruch A.. Numbers 1-20: The Anchor Bible, Vol. 4. Doubleday. 1993. AISN/ISBN: 0385156510.

Baruch A. Levine has written a masterful study of the first half of the Book of Numbers for the Anchor Bible Commentaries. The Book of Numbers--from the numbering or census of the people in the opening chapters--is a much-neglected part of the Torah, the five books of Moses. The Book of Numbers is an account of the young would-be nation of Israel's wanderings in the Wilderness after the magnificent event at Sinai, where Moses speaks with God face-to-face and receives the Ten Commandments. Throughout this time of trial, the people complain, sensing the contrast between the relative security of slavery in Egypt, from which they have fled, and the precarious insecurity of freedom in the Wilderness. Numbers is a book filled with power struggles, raising questions about who speaks for God, along with personal and communal crises of faith and rumors of revolt. Yet despite the people's blindness and rebelliousness, God remains faithful to the promises made to Israel's ancestors--Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and now Moses--and remains at Israel's side, guiding her slowly but surely to the Promised Land. In all, Numbers describes a terrific journey of discipline and dependence upon the God who liberated the Hebrews from bondage in Egypt: a journey to strengthen Israel for the challenge of a new and wondrous land and the battles she wifl have to fight in order to claim and keep it. Despite the importance of The Book of Numbers, its rich collection of stories is not easily assimilated, even by the most conscientious of readers. As such, it requires the help of an expert guide to thread one's way through this mixture of interesting episodes and anecdotes on the one hand, and the many lists, prescriptive rules, ritual regulations, and repeated admonitions on the other. Professor Levine shows us the way into this difficult and sometimes forbidding book of the Bible, and we can be confident of our guide, and secure in the knowledge that the one who led us into the thicket will lead us out again into a broad and fair land.

Levine, Baruch A.. Numbers 21-36: The Anchor Bible, Vol. 4A. Doubleday. 2000. AISN/ISBN: 0385412568.

In Numbers 21-36, world-renowned Bible scholar Baruch A. Levine unravels the complexity and confusing details of this Old Testament book. His lucid translation, based on thorough textual and linguistic research, including the ancient Deir 'Alla texts, opens the door for modern readers to understand and appreciate the richness of this intriguing book. Further, Levine examines the route of the wilderness wanderings, the ancient Near Eastern context of the laws, the social organization of early Israel, and the meaning of this biblical book for the contemporary world.

Levine, Baruch A. (ed.). The JPS Torah Commentary: Leviticus. Jewish Publication Society. 1996. AISN/ISBN: 0827603282.

Each volume covers one book of the Torah, and contains the Hebrew text of the book, the new translation, an extensive commentary, and a series of additional essays and notes on significant subjects. This series makes use of traditional rabbinic commentaries, and the Mishna, Midrash and Talmud, as well as literary analysis and comparative Semitics; intertextual commentary relating each book to other biblical books, and evidence from modern archaeological, discoveries. This is now the official commentary of the Conservative movement.

Magriso, Yitzchok. The Torah Anthology: Avoth. Volume XX. Moznaim Publishing Corporation. 1990. AISN/ISBN: 094011822X.

Volumes cover the Torah, with separate works on megillot and Psalms, translated from the classic Ladino work Me'am Loez. An amazing compendium of insights and commentary.

Milgrom, Jacob. Leviticus 1-16: The Anchor Bible, Vol. 3. Doubleday. 1998. AISN/ISBN: 0385114346.

Drawing upon classical (and some obscure) Jewish interpreters, modern scholarship, and his own brilliant insights, Milgrom argues that Leviticus' seemingly dry recounting of rituals and practices expresses a profound theology of Israel, a theology based upon life and death, good and evil, with the God of Israel supreme. Milgrom argues that Leviticus banishes demons from its theology and posits man's choices as the cause of evil. Analogizing the sacrificial system to "The Portrait of Dorian Grey," Milgrom argues that sin creates impurity in the Tabernacle and the more serious the sin, the more severe the impurity, which, unchecked, can drive the divine presence from the people's midst. Sacrifice served to remove the impurity but only if the sinner was motivated by asham, guilt. In addition to explaining the different types of sacrifices, Milgrom also explains the dietary laws (kashrut) as a reflection of the priestly theology. Milgrom argues that the dietary laws reflected and fostered a profound respect for life, both animal and human. Milgrom also investigates in detail the purity laws regulating childbirth, menstruation, sex, certain diseases and similar physical causes of impurity. He argues that the laws governing physical impurity reflected the priestly life/death theology but that physical causes of impurity were understood differently than moral causes of impurity. Milgrom proceeds verse by verse and each chapter is followed by fascinating essays in which he sets out in a more orderly fashion his interpretation. His work is regularly cited by leading scholars but the work is accessible to non-experts.

Milgrom, Jacob. Leviticus 17-22: The Anchor Bible, Vol. 3A. Yale Anchor Bible. 2000. AISN/ISBN: 0300140568.

Jacob Milgrom, a rabbi and Bible scholar, has devoted the bulk of his career to examining the laws of the Torah. His incisive commentary on Leviticus, which began with Leviticus 1-16, continues in this second volume of three. It provides an authoritative and comprehensive explanation of ethical values concealed in Israel??s rituals. Although at first glance Leviticus seems far removed from the modern-day world, Milgrom??s thoughtful and provocative comments and notes reveal its enduring relevance to contemporary society. With English translations that convey the nuance and power of the original Hebrew, this trilogy will take its place alongside the best of the Anchor Bible Commentaries.

Milgrom, Jacob. Leviticus 23-27: The Anchor Bible, Vol. 3B. Yale Anchor Bible. 2001. AISN/ISBN: 0300139411.

Jacob Milgrom, a rabbi and Bible scholar, has devoted the bulk of his career to examining the laws of the Torah. His incisive commentary on Leviticus, which began with Leviticus 1-16, continues in this last volume of three. It provides an authoritative and comprehensive explanation of ethical values concealed in Israel??s rituals. Although at first glance Leviticus seems far removed from the modern-day world, Milgrom??s thoughtful and provocative comments and notes reveal its enduring relevance to contemporary society. Leviticus 23-27 brings us to the climactic end of the book and its revolutionary innovations, among which are the evolution of the festival calendar with its emphasis on folk traditions, and the jubilee, the priestly answer to the socio-economic problems of their time. With English translations that convey the nuance and power of the original Hebrew, this trilogy will take its place alongside the best of the Anchor Bible Commentaries.

Milgrom, Jacob. Leviticus: A Book of Ritual and Ethics. Augsburg Fortress Publishers. 2004. AISN/ISBN: 0800695143.

Building upon his life-long work on the Book of Leviticus, Milgrom makes this book accessible to all readers. He demonstrates the logic of Israel??s sacrificial system, the ethical dimensions of ancient worship, and the priestly forms of ritual. ??Values are what Leviticus is all about. They pervade every chapter and almost every verse. You may be surprised to read this, since the dominant view of Leviticus is that it consists only of rituals, such as sacrifices and impurities. This, too, is true: Leviticus does discuss rituals. However, underlying the rituals, the careful reader will find an intricate web of values that purports to model how we should relate to God and to each other.? ?? from the Introduction.

Milgrom, Jacob (ed.). The JPS Torah Commentary: Numbers. Jewish Publication Society. 1996. AISN/ISBN: 0827603290.

Milgrom's commentary reveals a healthy respect for classical Jewish commentators but doesn't hesitate to address and add modern Biblical research. Milgrom excels when explaining the more obscure portions of Numbers, such as the rituals, calendars, and sacrifices. In addition to his verse by verse commentary, Milgrom adds lengthy excurses, exploring in more depth the issues raised in the commentary. Each volume covers one book of the Torah, and contains the Hebrew text of the book, the new translation, an extensive commentary, and a series of additional essays and notes on significant subjects. This series makes use of traditional rabbinic commentaries, and the Mishna, Midrash and Talmud, as well as literary analysis and comparative Semitics; intertextual commentary relating each book to other biblical books, and evidence from modern archaeological, discoveries. This is now the official commentary of the Conservative movement.

Mitchell, Stephen (ed.). Genesis: A New Translation of the Classic Biblical Stories. Perennial, HarperCollins. 1997. AISN/ISBN: 0060928565.

In this new translation of the Bible's first book, the author's sensitivity to the original Hebrew language and the history of biblical scholarship is evident. But it is his overwhelming concern with contemporary relevance that marks this translation. The writing is fluid and graceful. Mitchell (a translator of poetry and spiritual writings) strives to convey the simplicity, dignity, and power of the original Hebrew. In his introductory essay, he puts the historical Genesis in context. Mitchell contends that his translation differs from others in that he has pieced together a text from the best version of each of the stories of Genesis from what modern scholarship has identified as at least four sources of the original Hebrew text. In doing so, he believes that he has contributed to the clarity and power of the narrative and created a document of significance and beauty. His writing is clear and direct. Those interested in new means of situating the spiritual message of Genesis will likely welcome Mitchell's phrasings and interpretations. He appends a lengthy scholarly commentary on the problems of making such a translation (which will appeal to specialists); detailed footnotes; and a discussion of the narrative of Genesis as a powerful literary expression (which will appeal to all readers). Readers who are familiar with the best-known English translation, the King James version of the early 17th century, will find that both Alter's and Mitchell's renditions are like breaths of fresh air rustling through that version's musty pages. Both are highly recommended for all libraries.

Orlinsky, Harry M. (ed.). The Torah: The Five Books of Moses. Jewish Publication Society. 1992. AISN/ISBN: 0827600151.

Translating the Hebrew writings commonly and collectively known as the Tanakh is a complex task. In the case of the JPS Torah, the result is better than average. This translation is highly recommended over all comprehensive editions of the Bible.

Plaut, W. Gunther and David E. S. Stein (eds.). The Torah: A Modern Commentary, Revised Edition. Union of American Hebrew Congregations. 2005. AISN/ISBN: 0807408832.

Nearly twenty-five years after the groundbreaking publication of the first-ever English language liberal Torah commentary, we present The Torah: A Modern Commentary, Revised Edition. This volume features updated commentary and translations, including a gender-sensitive version of the JPS translation, with largely gender-neutral God language and a completely fresh translation of Genesis and of the haftarot by the late Rabbi Chaim Stern. In addition, the volume is reorganized by parashah and includes a helpful index and aliyot markers, improving upon the 1981 original. As Rabbi David Ellenson, President of the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, states, "This book provide a dazzling compendium of sources both classical and modern, and a variety of voices that will enhance worship and study of everyone."

Propp, William H.. Exodus 1-18: A New Translation with Notes and Comments, The Anchor Bible, Vol. 2A. Doubleday. 1999. AISN/ISBN: 0385148046.

This work is a masterful translation, exploration, and analysis of first eighteen chapters of the Book of Exodus, which center around the dramatic conflict between the God of Israel and the pharaoh of Egypt over the fate of the Israelite slaves. With divine intervention and Moses on their side, the enslaved descendants of Abraham manage a harrowing escape across the parted Red Sea, leading to the birth of the nation of Israel. Threaded throughout this story of an oppressed people struggling for freedom are some of the most intriguing episodes in the Bible. From the discovery of Moses in a basket made of bulrushes to the story of the burning bush, from the plagues visited upon the Egyptians by God to water from rock and quail and manna from the skies, Exodus is filled with the miraculous and the dramatic. Exhaustive, meticulous, and brilliantly researched, this work will be regarded as the definitive analysis of this crucial biblical text.

Propp, William H.. Exodus 19-40: A New Translation with Notes and Comments, The Anchor Bible, Vol. 2B. Doubleday. 2006. AISN/ISBN: 0385246935.

The long-awaited conclusion of William H. C. Propp's masterful study of Exodus, this informative, clearly written commentary provides a new perspective on Israelite culture and on the role of ritual, law, and covenant in biblical religion. Exodus 19-40 sets a new standard in biblical scholarship. Thorough and up-to-date, it is the first commentary on Exodus to include critical textual evidence from the recently edited Dead Sea Scrolls. Informed by Propp's deep understanding of ancient cultural mores and religious traditions, it casts new light on the Israelites' arrival at Sinai, their entry into a covenant with God, their reception of the Law, their worship of the golden calf, and their reconciliation to God. The incisive commentary on the building of the Holy Tabernacle-God's wilderness abode-is supplemented by numerous illustrations that clarify the biblical text. Propp extends the scope and relevance of this major work in five appendices that discuss the literary formation of the Torah, the historicity of the Exodus tradition, the origins of Israelite monotheism, the Exodus theme in the Bible, and the future of Old Testament scholarship. By taking an anthropological rather than strictly theological approach, Propp places familiar stories within a fresh context. The result is a fully accessible guide to one of the most important and best known books of the Bible.

Rabinowitz, Abraham Hirsch. Taryag: A Study of the Tradition That the Written Torah Contains 613 Mitzvot. Jason Aronson. 1996. AISN/ISBN: 1568214499.

In the Talmud it is explained that 613 commandments were revealed to Moses at Mount Sinai: 365 prohibitive precepts, corresponding to the number of days of the solar year, and 248 positive precepts, corresponding to the number of parts in the human body. The body of 613 commandments is usually known by the Hebrew mnemonic TaRYaG, whose letters, when tallied according to their numerical equivalents, equal 613. The concept of TaRYaG is generally known and accepted. However, throughout history there has been much discussion about the commandments themselves and the question as to which are considered part of the TaRYaG because the Torah clearly contains more than 613 laws. In TaRYaG, noted scholar Rabbi Rabinowitz investigates the major debates and problematic issues connected with the tradition of TaRYaG study. Rabbi Rabinowitz begins by explaining the historical dilemmas pertaining to and the origins of the TaRYaG tradition, including its basis in halachah (Jewish law). The greatest scholars of Jewish thought have contributed studies on TaRYaG and this volume clearly shows why the subject merited their attention. Maimonides' Sefer HaMitzvot, in which the 613 commandments are explained and categorized, is fully analyzed, and its relationship to his Mishneh Torah is shown. The contributions of the Tosafists and later authors are also examined. A bibliography of TaRYaG works is included to encourage further study. The 613 commandments serve as the basis for learning all of the written and oral laws. For this reason, TaRYaG is an excellent starting point for anyone interested in delving into serious study of halachah and a helpful resource for anyone already engaged in such study.

Rosenberg, A. J.. Genesis: A New English Translation; Volume I: Mikraot Gedolot. Judaica Press. 1993. AISN/ISBN: 1880582082.

This first volume of Genesis includes the Torah portions of Bereshit, Noach, Lech Lecha, and Vayera. The Judaica Press "Books of the Bible" series continues the style and format of our best-selling landmark series--"Books of the Prophets & Holy Writings." Each volume contains the Hebrew Chumash text and all the classical Mikraoth Gedoloth commentaries. The facing page contains a modern English translation with extensive translation of the Mikraoth Gedoloth commentary--including a translation of every Rashi, and explanations of Rashi based on Gur Aryeh and Mizrachi. Also featured is commentary from the Ramban, Sforno, Rashbam, Ibn Ezra, Ohr Hachayim, Keli Yakar, selections from Talmudic and Midrashic sources and numerous other commentaries never before translated.

Rosenberg is responsible for translating and putting together the excellent commentary for the Judaica Press "Prophets" series. Here he brings his enormous knowledge to the Chumash. And he does an excellent, in-depth job. If you want to have a deeper understanding of Genesis--get Rosenberg's Volume I, II & III. You'll find this little-known series astonishingly good!

Sarna, Nahum M.. Exploring Exodus: The Origins of Biblical Israel. Schocken Books. 1996. AISN/ISBN: 0805210636.

Sarna examines the distinctiveness of the Exodus narrative in light of ancient Near Eastern history and contemporaneous cultures--Egyptian, Assyrian, Canaanite, and Babylonian. The author takes up the debate over whether the exodus from Egypt really happened, clarifying the arguments on both sides and drawing us back to the uniqueness and enduring significance of biblical text.

Sarna, Nahum M.. Understanding Genesis: The Heritage of Biblical Israel. Schocken Books. 1970. AISN/ISBN: 0805202536.

This work deals with interpretation of some of the stories in Genesis (creation, flood, tower of Babel, etc). Sarna explains that these accounts were written particularly to show the superiority of Yahweh to pagan religions and not as much to simply narrate how these events actually occurred. The author writes from a relatively conservative viewpoint but does not assume a literal interpretation of Bereshit; rather he sees Bereshit being written in ways that pagan polytheists of 2,800 years ago would understand and appreciate. Highly recommended for any reader interested in biblical interpretation.

Sarna, Nahum M. (ed.). The JPS Torah Commentary: Exodus. Jewish Publication Society. 1996. AISN/ISBN: 0827603274.

Each volume covers one book of the Torah, and contains the Hebrew text of the book, the new translation, an extensive commentary, and a series of additional essays and notes on significant subjects. This series makes use of traditional rabbinic commentaries, and the Mishna, Midrash and Talmud, as well as literary analysis and comparative Semitics; intertextual commentary relating each book to other biblical books, and evidence from modern archaeological, discoveries. This is now the official commentary of the Conservative movement.

Sarna, Nahum M. (ed.). The JPS Torah Commentary: Genesis. Jewish Publication Society. 1996. AISN/ISBN: 0827603266.

Each volume covers one book of the Torah, and contains the Hebrew text of the book, the new translation, an extensive commentary, and a series of additional essays and notes on significant subjects. This series makes use of traditional rabbinic commentaries, and the Mishna, Midrash and Talmud, as well as literary analysis and comparative Semitics; intertextual commentary relating each book to other biblical books, and evidence from modern archaeological, discoveries. This is now the official commentary of the Conservative movement.

Sarna, Nahum M. and Chaim Potok (eds.). The JPS Torah Commentary. 5 vols. Jewish Publication Society. 1996. AISN/ISBN: 0827603312.

Because of the degree of specialty of the writers (each is a specialist on the Law), some amount of Hebrew knowledge is key to allow the reader to evaluate decisions made by the authors. Each volume covers one book of the Torah, and contains the Hebrew text of the book, the new translation, an extensive commentary, and a series of additional essays and notes on significant subjects. This series makes use of traditional rabbinic commentaries, and the Mishna, Midrash and Talmud, as well as literary analysis and comparative Semitics; intertextual commentary relating each book to other biblical books, and evidence from modern archaeological, discoveries. This is now the official commentary of the Conservative movement. A great work, worth the shelf space of anyone interested in biblical commentary.

Scherman, Nosson. The Chumash: Stone Edition of the Artscroll Chumash. Mesorah Publications Ltd. 1993. AISN/ISBN: 0899060145.

This is a contemporary English translation of the Five Books of Moses. Classic commentaries are set in Hebrew/Aramaic (Rashi and Onkelos) and modern commentaries are included as well. This is an easy to read, concise, and excellent Chumash but it must be made clear that it is a "beginners guide," a starting point to the Torah. If you only want one Chumash in your library then make this the one.

Schneersohn, Menahem Mendel. The Chassidic Dimension: Interpretations of the Weekly Torah Readings Based on the Talks of the Luba. Kehot Publications Society. 1990. AISN/ISBN: 0826604846.

This book provides the non-Yiddish speaking reader the opportunity to study selections and adaptations from Likkutei-Sichos in English. As explained in the foreword, the Rebbe taught that true hiskashrus comes through studying Torah. "If this was vital at all times, how much more so after Gimmel Tammuz."

Schneersohn, Menahem Mendel and Jonathan Sacks. Torah Studies: Discourses. Kehot Publication Society. 1996. AISN/ISBN: 0826604935.

From the Chassidic point of view, this work consists of short essays on the weekly Torah reading based on talks of the late Lubavitch Rebbe.

Silberman, A. M. and M. Rosebaum. Chumash with Rashi's Commentary. Philipp Feldheim. 1985. AISN/ISBN: 0873060199.

First published in 1934, this work includes comments and explanatory notes accompanying the translation.

Speiser, Ephraim A.. Genesis, The Anchor Bible, Vol. 1. Doubleday. 1964. AISN/ISBN: 0385008546.

Using authoritative evidence from archaeology, linguistics, and comparative religion, the author presents some startling conclusions about the first book of the Bible. Speiser was one of the greatest experts on Semitic languages of the 20th century. This book is essential reading for anyone who wants to know how biblical Hebrew can be interpreted in terms of linguistic cognates found in the other languages of the period. There is much helpful background material (though after 40 years this text obviously does not reflect recent research) and thoughtful analysis. Speiser was no fundamentalist, and was often prepared to say that the text is not to be taken literally, but he was less "critical" than many other writers of his period. He believed firmly in the Documentary Hypothesis, and each passage is carefully dissected into its "J," "E," and "P" divisions. There is probably no single commentary that would suffice for a detailed study of Genesis, but this book should be one of the commentaries at hand for the serious student. In the book Speiser shows that the best-known stories of Genesis are grounded in pagan mythology. Speiser is an iconoclast in the tradition of Abraham; he exposes the false in order to help achieve truth. As he says in his introduction, he "is not motivated by mere pedantry but by the hope that each new insight may bring us that much closer to the secret of the Bible's universal and enduring appeal." Essential for the serious student of biblical criticism, this book remains a valuable source of information for layperson as well.

Strickman, H. Norman, Abraham Ben Meir Ibn Ezra, Arthur M. Silver. Ibn Ezra's Commentary on the Pentateuch: Genesis (Bereshit). Menorah. 1988. AISN/ISBN: 0932232078.

This book provides a valuable service to readers of the Hebrew Bible in that it makes Ibn Ezra's commentary comprehensible even to the non-scholar. The authors have based their work on scholarly interpretations of Ibn Ezra's sometimes telegraphic comments, which are often obscure in their original form. Ibn Ezra would have been very proud to know how his commentary has been translated. As a traveler, Ibn Ezra always had a fondness for England. At any rate, not only is the commentary clear and easy to read, the authors provide lucid footnotes which neatly explain how Ibn Ezra's ideas compare with the other great scholars of his time.

Tigay, Jeffrey (ed.). The JPS Torah Commentary: Deuteronomy. Jewish Publication Society. 1996. AISN/ISBN: 0827603304.

Each volume covers one book of the Torah, and contains the Hebrew text of the book, the new translation, an extensive commentary, and a series of additional essays and notes on significant subjects. This series makes use of traditional rabbinic commentaries, and the Mishna, Midrash and Talmud, as well as literary analysis and comparative Semitics; intertextual commentary relating each book to other biblical books, and evidence from modern archaeological, discoveries. This is now the official commentary of the Conservative movement.

Von Rad, Gerhard. Deuteronomy: A Commentary. Westminster, John Knox Press. 1966. AISN/ISBN: 0664207340.

The author's research into Deuteronomic origins has made its impact on all critical study of that book in the past decade. The proposal here is that Deuteronomy in its final form belongs to the form of covenants of the office-bearers. The contents of Deuteronomy come to us out of a long practice of Levitical preaching which drew upon legal and traditionary elements of the most varied sorts and origins. The martial spirit which dominates the whole work bespeaks an origin in circles where the old traditions of holy war were preserved; this militant piety, together with literary and other considerations, points to the era of the late eighth to late seventh centuries for the formation of the book, and its connection finally with Josiah. The theological importance of the book centers in the fact that never before had there been such an all-inclusive treatment of the traditions of Israel in terms of loyalty to one God and his worship at one place; and it was forthcoming at a time of unparalleled threat to the existence of the nation and its distinctive worship. Now, for the first time, this recent and valued commentary in the series Das Alte Testament Deutsch is made available to the English-speaking student. It begins with a discussion of the literary form of Deuteronomy, the material peculiar to the book, and its origin and purpose. This is followed by a verse-by-verse commentary on the entire book. Interpreting Deuteronomy in the light of the most recent Biblical scholarship, this commentary will be of immense value to clergy, Bible students, and teachers.

Weinfield, Moshe. Deuteronomy 1-11: The Anchor Bible, Vol. 5. Doubleday. 1991. AISN/ISBN: 0385175930.

Deuteronomy 1-11 is here presented in a groundbreaking new translation, with a comprehensive introduction and thorough commentary by world-renowned Israeli biblical scholar Moshe Weinfeld. The "second law," Deuteronomy portrays Moses as the founder and great lawgiver of Israel. In a series of addresses, Moses reviews his life and the life of God's people. He reminds them of the guiding hand of God, which has brought them thus far along the way, and will bring their Exodus and Wanderings to a triumphal conclusion in the Holy Land. Through a beautiful translation and insightful comments in this first of two volumes on Deuteronomy, Weinfeld reinvigorates the basic laws of society with their life-giving power: the Shema ("Hear 0 Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One"), the Great Commandment ("You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might"). These laws govern Israelite religious and communal life under God's guidance. Moshe Weinfeld is the foremost commentator on the Deuteronomist and the Deuteronomic School. He is professor of Biblical and Ancient Near Eastern Studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Wolf, Herbert M.. An Introduction to the Old Testament Pentateuch. Moody Publishers. 1991. AISN/ISBN: 0802441297.

The five books of the Pentateuch are filled with color and adventure, noise and upheaval. They are books of promise, hope, love, and redemption. The Pentateuch is unique in ancient literature for its portrayal of the God who is personal and eternal. He stands in sharp contrast to the false gods worshiped at that time. Herbert Wolf supplies the foundation for a solid understanding of the Pentateuch and its place in the whole of Scripture. He addresses the problems raised over the centuries by higher critics of various schools. He answers technical questions in a way that enlightens scholar and layman alike. This book will contribute substantially to the layman's understanding of and the scholar's progress in Old Testament studies.

Zornberg, Avivah Gottlieb. Genesis: The Beginning of Desire. Jewish Publication Society. 1995. AISN/ISBN: 0385483376.

An unusual view is explored by the author in the multi-layered meanings of Genesis in all its emotional and psychological splendor. The meditations weave biblical, midrashic and literary sources into a seamless story.

Abegg, Martin G. and Peter Flint. The Dead Sea Scrolls Bible: The Oldest Known Bible Translated for the First Time into English. HarperSanFrancisco. 2002. AISN/ISBN: 0060600640.

This book is the first full English translation of the Hebrew scriptures used by the Essene sect at Qumran. (The Essenes, along with the Pharisees and Saducees, were among the three most influential Jewish groups of their time, 150 BCE to 68 CE.). Between 1947 and 1956, in eleven caves overlooking the Dead Sea, more than 800 manuscripts of two types were found. The first are called "biblical," because they contain material that was later canonized in the Hebrew Bible; the second are called "non-biblical," because they contain poetry, rules for holy living, and imaginative, midrashic interpretations that are unique to the community that produced them. The translation of each book is preceded by an introduction that describes the text's importance to the Essenes, their distinctive interpretations of the text, and suggestions of how historical and political events may have shaped these interpretations. This volume is replete with scholarly notes and commentary, but their interpretations are formatted in a way that does not impede the general reader's enjoyment of the book. The Dead Sea Scrolls Bible breathes new life into scripture by delving into the earliest source material yet discovered. It is a crucial work of scholarship with for anyone interested in Jewish life during the Roman era.

Alter, Robert. The Book of Psalms: A Translation with Commentary. W. W. Norton. 2007. AISN/ISBN: 0393062260.

Like the Five Books of Moses, a cornerstone of the scriptural canon, the Book of Psalms has been a source of solace and joy for countless readers over millennia. The cleansing purity of its images invites reflection and supplication in times of sorrow. The musicality of its powerful rhythms moves readers to celebration of good tidings. So today as it has been throughout our past, this is a book to be cherished as the grounding for our daily lives. This timeless poetry is beautifully wrought by a scholar whose translation of the Five Books of Moses was hailed as a "godsend" by Seamus Heaney and a "masterpiece" by Robert Fagles. Robert Alter's The Book of Psalms captures the simplicity, the physicality, and the coiled rhythmic power of the Hebrew, restoring the remarkable eloquence of these ancient poems. His learned and insightful commentary shines a light on the obscurities of the text.

Alter, Robert (ed.). The David Story: A Translation With Commentary of 1 and 2 Samuel. W. W. Norton & Company. 1999. AISN/ISBN: 0393048039.

In this compelling literary translation of the story of King David the author contends that the story of David is "probably the greatest single narrative representation in antiquity of a human life evolving by slow stages through time, shaped and altered by the pressures of political life, public institutions, family, the impulses of body and spirit, the eventual sad decay of the flesh. It also provides the most unflinching insight into the cruel processes of history and into human behavior warped by the pursuit of power." The work has copious footnotes which describe in vivid detail the occurrences of every-day life, sacrificial feasts, and other cultural phenomena that add depth and life to this familiar story. Alter's translation is extremely literal, making his rendering of Scripture newly immediate and jarring by accurately reproducing the rhythm, syntactical arrangement, and word plays of the Hebrew text. His faithful representation of the Hebrew vav, translated as "and," gives a sense of the story's forward movement and leaves some current translations, in which subordinate clauses often obscure the vav, seeming flat. This is a translation for readers; it's recommended for all collections.

Alter, Robert and Frank Kermode (eds.). The Literary Guide to the Bible. Harvard University Press. 1990. AISN/ISBN: 0674875311.

Even when the historical elements of the Bible are essentially stripped away, limiting discussion to its "literary" aspects is hardly a pruning. The work is a collection of essays in a variety of approaches that may perplex the reader experienced in biblical analysis. The newcomer, however, who perseveres with patience and a willingness to consult other resources, will find the full scope of the collection a worthwhile investment.

Asimov, Isaac. Asimov's Guide to the Bible: The Old and New Testaments. Gramercy. 1988. AISN/ISBN: 051734582X.

The author explores the historical, geographical, and biographical aspects of the events described in the Old and New Testaments. Asimov's attempts to illuminate the Bible's many obscure, mysterious passages prove absorbing reading for anyone interested in religion and history. In this work, the author pares down and untangles the many intertwined threads of biblical history and mythology. He attempts to illuminate the world of the Bible by incorporating the secular aspects of history, biography, and geography into a deeper understanding. This is not a book to be read in continuum but an indispensable companion to any journey through the Bible. In all, this work is an attempt to flush out some of the Bible's mysteries, give it context that the average Bible reader can understand, and thus make it more real.

Boadt, Lawrence (ed.). The Hebrew Prophets: Visionaries of the Ancient World. Palgrave MacMillan. 1999. AISN/ISBN: 0312220766.

The Prophets of the ancient world were mystics whose words have transcended the ages. In this collection for the general reader, biblical scholars look at passages from the writings of the period--from Isaiah's portrayal of the suffering Messiah to Daniel's dream of the Ancient of Days pronouncing judgment on the earth--to show their importance for us today. This splendid new series re-introduces the Bible through its pervasive cultural presence. While this approach may be too literary for some readers, the series, of which this book is one, ought to remind many of the joy and profit to be found in these ancient writings and of their immeasurable influence from their own day to ours. Highly recommended.

Boling, Robert G. and G. Ernest Wright. Joshua, The Anchor Bible, Vol. 6. Doubleday. 1982. AISN/ISBN: 0385000340.

Boling's extensive treatment includes not only an entirely new translation of Joshua and a complete commentary on the text, but also comprehensive notes, numerous bibliographies, four pages of illustrations, and eleven maps especially commissioned for this volume. In addition to these features, which bear the Anchor Bible series' hallmark of exhaustive research and excellent, thoughtful scholarship, it provides an excellent foreword and presentation of the text.

Bronstein, Herbert N. and Albert H. Friedlander (eds.). The Five Scrolls. Central Conference of American Rabbis. 1984. AISN/ISBN: 0916694801.

This is a handsome book, a presentation of the five scrolls, or megillot, read in synagogues during the Jewish festivals and holy days of Purim, Pesach, Shavuot, the Ninth of Av, and Sukkot. It contains the text of each scroll in Hebrew with English translations, the liturgy of the accompanying service, and commentary. There is a liberal selection of colorful art throughout the book, which would a useful addition to the library of any observant Jew.

Buber, Martin. Moses: The Revelation and the Covenant. Humanity Books. 1988. AISN/ISBN: 1573924490.

This work is probably the most readable of Martin Buber's longer biblical studies. It combines a sense of narrative movement with ingenious interpretations, often backed by formidable, if now obsolete, scholarship, almost always tucked away in endnotes, rhapsodies on freedom and the desert, reflections on the experiences described as miracles, and some hard political thought. For those familiar with traditional Jewish biblical interpretation, its influence on Buber's thought, and his willingness to work out implications by suggesting supplements to the biblical narrative, will be apparent. This combination makes Moses interesting to read, but difficult to classify. It presents early Israelite religion as including a revolutionary social movement, egalitarian and anti-state, yet demanding accountability and public order. Similar ideas, usually less attractively expressed, and often less carefully nuanced, began to appear in the late 1960s or early 1970s, and in some cases remain influential. Buber's priority is not always acknowledged. Of course it is easy to believe that the ferment of their time was as influential on these interpreters as the first part of the twentieth century was on Buber, and that they came to their conclusions independently. If you approach Moses as the work of a religious philosopher with a strong interest in social issues, and a willingness to take the ancient text very seriously, but not literally, you will find much of interest.

Clements, Ronald E.. Ezekiel. Westminster John Knox Press. 1996. AISN/ISBN: 0664252729.

The book of Ezekiel was written during a tumultuous time in Israel's history. It begins with Ezekiel's warning of Jerusalem's fall and his at the time unbelievable prediction of the destruction of the temple. Ezekiel also covers the period up through the Babylonian exile. Although much in the book of Ezekiel focuses on the consequences of Israel's rebellion against God that led to the destruction of Jerusalem, even more deals with the hope of Israel's rebirth with divine assistance. In this book, Old Testament scholar Ronald Clements explains the world and worldview of Ezekiel.

Cohen, Abraham (ed.). The Soncino Books of the Bible, 14 vols. Bloch Publishing Co. 1952. AISN/ISBN: 0900689234.

The standard text (in Hebrew and English) and traditional commentary for reading and studying the Bible.

Del Mastro, M. L.. All The Women Of The Bible. Castle Books. 2004. AISN/ISBN: 0785818960.

This work is a classical study of the treatment of women in the Bible, a serious attempt to treat the tales written about women in the Bible in a style of "historical fiction," with the author taking the viewpoint of a narrator of the action. The result is an enlightening vision of a society where, for the most part, women were property with a status of not more than slaves. In reading the Bible, one is struck by how its authors uniformly take for granted the typical lack of status possessed by women. This work retells the tales told in the Bible, of events that occurred in everyday life in the ancient cultures of the Near East, in terms with which a modern reader can identify, and in so doing, exposes the horrors of a woman's life during those times. It was the rejection of womens' subjugation and lack of any legal status that the Hebrews, and later, Israelites, sought; the result was a code of law (in Leviticus, primarily) that gave protections to women unheard of and unimagined in neighboring cultures.

Eissfeldt, Otto. The Old Testament: An Introduction. HarperSanFrancisco. 1965. AISN/ISBN: 0060621710.

This is the standard work of its kind in the Old Testament field and each new and revised edition of the work has only served to confirm its pre-eminent place among Introductions to the Old Testament. It is a comprehensive and balanced work, reflecting the latest developments in the scholarship of the Bible, written by one of the great men in this field. The discussion is characterized by the author's well-known mastery of the subject, and his special competence is visible throughout the work. Scholars will find it an unequaled compendium of data, amply documented and supported by an extensive and up-to-date bibliography. Eissfeldt is entirely familiar with all the principal schools and trends in modern Old Testament scholarship, and gives each due attention. He is also very much in the center of Biblical scholarship, which is where the writer of an Introduction ought to be.

Fox, Everett. Give Us a King!: Samuel, Saul, and David. Schocken. 1999. AISN/ISBN: 0805241604.

The author, whose translation of The Five Books of Moses is by far the best contemporary rendering of Hebrew scripture, has performed another literary miracle with this work. His style presumes that "the reader of the Bible should ideally recite the text aloud, allowing himself or herself to be led by its sound rather than presupposing what is to be found there," as Fox explains in this book's introduction. Consequently, Fox's translation, which appears on the page in the form of free verse, not as prose, preserves the strangeness of the Hebrew text rather than smoothing it over with English euphemisms and elegant transitions. The style of Fox's translation, one hopes, will bring new readers to consider the perennially urgent matters described by Samuel I and II. According to Fox, the central themes of these stories are personal responsibility and leadership--"a people's struggle with what it means to ask for leadership, how the leaders measure up to the task, and how the ideals of a culture fare in that process." This book is a real achievement and certainly does much to strip away many centuries of cultural accretion around the great narratives found here--even if his scrupulously literal rendering of Hebrew is at times surprisingly awkward ("Now David sang-dirge (with) this dirge."). This volume will be much in demand where the first book was popular; for most collections.

Frazer, James G.. Folklore in the Old Testament: Studies in Comparative Religion, Legend, and Law. Random House Value Publishing. 1988. AISN/ISBN: 0517672510.

The author compares episodes of the Old Testament with similar legends from other cultures in the ancient world. Contents include the early ages of the world; the Patriarchal age; the times of the judges and the kings; and the Law.

Ginsberg, H. L. (tr.). Five Megilloth and Jonah: A New Translation. Jewish Publication Society. 1994. AISN/ISBN: 0827600453.

This work is a presentation of the Hebrew text with an English translation of the texts read in synagogues during Jewish holidays. The texts in this work are read in synagogue on Passover, Song of Songs; Shavuot, Ruth; 9th of Av, Lamentations; Sukkot, Ecclesiastes; Purim, Esther; and Yom Kippur, Jonah. It's an important addition to the Jewish library.

Goldstein, Elyse (ed.). The Women's Haftarah Commentary. Jewish Lights Publishing. 2004. AISN/ISBN: 1580231330.

This commentary is brimming with insight and versatility. Read as a whole, it exudes the atmosphere of an intense retreat. Read piecemeal, it acts not only as a reference tool or study guide, but also as a weekly devotional. The contributors come from a diversity of religious affiliations: Reform, Conservative, and Reconstructionist. Continuing in the age-old tradition of Torah study, this volume draws from centuries of interpretation but adds a woman's touch. Male and female readers across a spectrum of religious affiliations can find not only explanation, but hope and renewal within these pages. Those building libraries of Judaica should consider this volume and its predecessor, The Women's Torah Commentary, as the contemporary companions to the Hertz Chomash and the recently published Etz Hayim.

Greenberg, Gary. 101 Myths of the Bible. Barnes & Noble Books. 2005. AISN/ISBN: 0760769656.

Long before the Bible told of Adam and Eve, Jacob and Esau, and Deborah and Samson, the Egyptians shared legends of Geb and Nut, Horus and Set, and Neith and Re-Herakhte. 101 Myths of the Bible breaks down tales from Genesis to Esther to reveal the earlier stories hidden within the Old Testament. Delving into mythology from neighboring cultures and examining misconceptions in stories we know so well, Gary Greenberg exposes the origins of biblical tales and uncovers the ways in which scriptural history took shape. We learn that: the Great Flood may have lasted more than three times longer than 40 days; Jacob's ladder mimics Egyptian ideas about the soul climbing to heaven; the story of Aaron fashioning a golden calf was created to discredit Aaronite priests. Through historical facts, ancient legends, and modern studies, 101 Myths of the Bible discloses the fascinating secrets embedded in the roots of monotheistic faith.

Halpern, Baruch. David's Secret Demons: Messiah, Murderer, Traitor, King. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. 2001. AISN/ISBN: 0802844782.

In a dazzling display of erudition, the author dissects the story of David with sparkling, witty prose, using historical, textual, psychological and archaeological analysis. The author comments critically on the biblical narrative found in 1 and 2 Samuel and the second chapter of 1 Kings, asserting that it is contradictory, exaggerated and riddled with omissions. Conventional perceptions of David fault him for his affair with Bathsheba and for arranging the death of her husband, but generally portray him as a handsome, brave shepherd who became king and established Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Halpern methodically demolishes this image of David, showing him to be a serial killer, thug, mercenary, adulterer, assassin, bandit, brigand, and predator, as well as a faithful, devout, caring, and generous ruler and commander. In short, David is portrayed as a politician par excellence. While Halpern's picture of David can be considered largely negative, he presents him as a complex biblical character who was "the first human being in world literature" but "not someone whom it would be wise to invite to dinner." While the book is stylistically excellent, some readers may be put off by the use of such words as topos, paronomastically, circumvallations, therapon, epanalepsis, merismus, adyton and imbrication, which may send them hunting for their dictionaries. This work is certain to receive much scholarly attention, and it can be profitably read by lay persons and scholars alike. It is an excellent study of these biblical books.

Hartman, Louis Francis and Alexander A. Di Lella. The Book of Daniel, The Anchor Bible, Vol. 23. Doubleday. 1978. AISN/ISBN: 0385013221.

The Book of Daniel was written as resistance literature, to strengthen and console loyal Jews of the second century B.C.E. who had to endure religious, economic, and social oppression at the hands of Antiochus I. The inspiring stories in which Daniel and his companions Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego survive the ordeals of the lions' den and the fiery furnace dramatize for believers of all time the ultimate test of faith--the willingness to risk one's life for one's beliefs. The Book of Daniel also includes the famous incident of "the handwriting on the wall" and recounts the four vivid dream-visions or apocalypses which, through symbols and signs, offered interpretations of history and predictions of future deliverance. Authors Hartman and Di Lella have revealed the profound religious and human dimensions of the Daniel stories. They present Daniel as a colorful and dramatic hero unique in biblical literature, an enduring symbol of hope and salvation for all men and women of faith who must suffer for their beliefs.

Heschel, Abraham Joshua. The Prophets. HarperCollins. Vol. 1. 1975. AISN/ISBN: 0061314218.

One of the 20th century's most influential works on the subject, this work covers the biblical prophets in depth. It covers their lives, the historical context of their messages and their work, and discusses their psychological state. It gives detailed treatment of the entire phenomenon of prophecy.

Higgs, Liz Curtis. Bad Girls of the Bible and What We Can Learn from Them. WaterBrook Press. 1999. AISN/ISBN: 1578561256.

The author takes a look at the vamps and tramps of the Bible, searching for the lessons these wicked women have to teach. She acknowledges that as much as she admires Sarah's faithfulness and Mary's innocence, she finds that her own life contains many of the shortcomings of women such as Rahab, Delilah and Lot's wife. When Higgs begins her study of Jezebel, she notes, "I understood her pushy personality, I empathized with her need for control, I tuned into her angry outbursts...but boy, did she teach me what not to do in my marriage." She places the ten women in her study into four categories. Eve, she says, was the "First Bad Girl," for badness has to begin somewhere. Potiphar's wife (who tried to seduce Joseph), Delilah and Jezebel, Higgs says, were "Bad to the Bone"; these women "sinned with gusto from bad beginning to bitter end." Women who were "Bad for a Moment," and who have forever been characterized by their "life-changing" mistakes, include Saphhira, Michal and Lot's wife (who was turned into a pillar of salt for looking back on her homeland against God's commands). Higgs says that Rahab, the prostitute who helped the Israelites conquer Jericho, the Woman at the Well and the Sinful Woman were "Bad for a Season, but Not Forever"; these women "had plenty of sin in their past, but they were also willing to change and be changed." Higgs opens each chapter with a fictional retelling of the biblical story and then proceeds to a verse-by-verse exegesis and commentary on the biblical text. Each chapter closes with four lessons to be learned from the life of the bad girl and eight "thoughts worth considering." Higgs retells these biblical stories with rollicking humor and deep insight as she teaches about the nature of sin and goodness.

Holmgren, Fredrick Carlson. Israel Alive Again: A Commentary on the Books of Ezra and Nehemiah. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. 1987. AISN/ISBN: 0802802591.

When the Jews returned to Israel from captivity in Babylon in the 6th and 5th centuries B.C.E. they faced many hardships. Despite these struggles, their leaders Ezra amd Nehemiah believed that God was working with them to accomplish his purpose, which was to restore a faithful community. Israel Alive Again interprets the books of Ezra and Nehemiah in the context of the Hebrew Bible, exploring the theological meanings of these often slighted books, and emphasizing their relevance for the church today. Like the other commentaries in the series, this work is intended for the layperson, student, and pastor. Its theological exposition makes it valuable to scholars as well.

Humphreys, Colin J.. The Miracles of Exodus: A Scientist's Discovery of the Extraordinary Natural Causes of the Biblical. HarperSanFrancisco. 2003. AISN/ISBN: 0060514043.

Reconstructions of biblical events by modern investigators are nothing new, but Humphreys' analysis of the Exodus reflects an unusual combination of homework, legwork and creativity. Humphreys, a materials scientist at Cambridge University, is a self-confessed amateur in the fields of archeology and biblical studies. But he emerges as the best sort of amateur, whose enthusiasm for his subject and joy in puzzle solving have a contagious appeal in spite of occasional quirkiness. As an outsider asking pesky but often astute questions, Humphreys will remind some readers of a certain physicist portrayed in Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!, and like Feynman, Humphreys shows an ability to sidestep scholarly assumptions by checking facts. Humphreys runs numbers, consults disused geological charts and old explorers' memoirs, and investigates sites on foot, unearthing fragmentary but wide-ranging evidence. The book's title is somewhat misleading since Humphreys's goal is to reconstruct the whole Exodus narrative and in particular, to retrace the likeliest route of travel and identify the correct location of Mount Sinai rather than to focus on the miracles themselves. Still, Humphreys rises to a self-imposed challenge to account for the Exodus miracles in terms of natural events (some more feasible than others) that become miraculous in light of their timing and significance for the escaping Hebrews. Although many of his hypotheses have been published before, Humphreys' refinements of detail and especially his comprehensive retracing of the Exodus route will invite curiosity, debate and perhaps some new ways of approaching the Exodus story in historical terms.

JPS, . Tanakh: A New Translation of the Holy Scriptures According to the Traditional Hebrew Text. Jewish Publication Society. 1985. AISN/ISBN: 0827603665.

A popular selection for the home, this modern English translation of the Hebrew Bible includes the Torah, Prophets and Writings. It was prepared through the collaborative efforts of the Orthodox, Conservative and Reform branches of Judaism and many Semitic language and Bible scholars. This translation has received accolades for its clear and faithful presentation.

Kirsch, Jonathan. Harlot by the Side of the Road. Ballantine Books. 1997. AISN/ISBN: 0345407490.

In this work, the author expands upon the original biblical text to make the stories highly readable and includes with each the original text in modern translation and a brief sketch of the scholarly research and the speculation surrounding it. A welcome addition to the growing genre of Bible scholarship, Hirsch's book demonstrates that the Bible is not a work for children. Then, as now, rape, incest, prostitution, murder, and strange religious cults were a part of life. As Kirsch says, "The Bible is a map of the human heart, and no secret chamber or hidden passage is left out." Kirsch contends that returning to the Bible can offer insight into modern issues. Mostly, however, he offers an irresistible popularization of some unfamiliar stories. Each narrative is followed by an expository chapter rich with scholarly insight into the cultural and sociological context in which the story unfolds. It is here that Kirsch's speculations and the seeming moral failings are made understandable. It is here that moral ambiguity is made clear. Some readers will enjoy it; others will be highly offended.

Kirsch, Jonathan. Moses: A Life. Ballantine Books. 1998. AISN/ISBN: 0345412699.

Although there is no archeological evidence whatever that the great lawgiver ever lived, but Kirsch combs through Scripture and its cultural remains with forensic zeal in his efforts to uncover the man he calls "the most haunted and haunting figure in the Bible." Kirsch's treatment is less a biography of Moses than a meticulous distillation of the considerable secondary literature that has grown up around the sparse biblical material. The author draws extensively on the various theories elaborated by biblical scholars over the past centuries to explain multiple accounts of Moses' life. He also draws extensively on myths, legends and midrashim that have been woven around the figure of Moses, who figures, in various interpretations, as warrior, magician, shepherd, God's favorite, sorcerer's apprentice and reluctant prophet. Kirsch offers interesting speculation on Moses's identity, including the depth of his connection to Egypt, and on the power struggles that he believes underlie the patchwork narrative of Hebrew scripture. He also notes the succession of strong women who intervene on Moses's behalf, and he pays careful attention to the struggle between Miriam, who was a priestess in her own right, and Moses. Ultimately, Kirsch's Moses emerges less as a presence than an absence, but an absence that determines the structure of the whole narrative around him. Although his thirst for empirical evidence remains, at the end, unsated, Kirsch's imagination is given new life by his quest. Moses emerges, in this fascinating, wide-ranging, and somewhat frustratingly logical book, as a person both necessary and nebulous. Kirsch concludes that although Moses' existence cannot be proven, his influence is as great as that of any man who ever lived.

Labowitz, Shoni. God, Sex and Women of the Bible: Discovering our Sensual, Spiritual Selves. Simon & Schuster. 1998. AISN/ISBN: 068483717X.

This is one of the most refreshing and grounded pieces of biblical literature for contemporary women available today. Here the Hebrew testament becomes a woman's book as well as a man's. Combining personal anecdotes with stories from women in her workshops, Labowitz, a rabbi, engages in a series of provocative reinterpretations of biblical stories about women. Labowitz selects eight women: Leah, Rachel, Eve, Jochebed and her daughter, Deborah, Miriam, and Naomi, whose lives represent the stages of a woman's life and sexuality. As Labowitz retells each of these women's stories, she weaves into her account passages from Jewish mystical texts, the Kabbalah and Zohar, and stories from goddess myths that parallel the lives of these biblical women. In addition, Labowitz relies on her deep understanding of Hebrew to raise questions about inconsistencies in traditional translations that, she says, have hidden the power of women's lives. For example, she argues that the word Marah, the Hebrew form of Miriam, can mean either "bitter" or "to fly or soar," and that the traditional translations present Miriam as an embittered woman. If you have ever been troubled by the patriarchal dominance of biblical teachings, this book will be a refreshing revelation, she is a courageous woman who speaks her spiritual truth with elegance and power. Highly recommended for readers who want a fresh look at the key women in the Bible.

Lieber, Laura Suzanne. Study Guide to the JPS Bible Commentary: Haftarot. Jewish Publication Society of America. 2002. AISN/ISBN: 0827607180.

A reader's guide to supplement understanding of the haftarot,/i>. For leaders of adult education groups, individuals.

Lockyer, Herbert. All the Parables of the Bible. Zondervan. 1988. AISN/ISBN: 0310281113.

This work is a tremendous resource on the parables and parabolic language of the scriptures. It is a thorough look at Biblical parables. Author Lockyer is also very knowledgeable presenting a rounded view from many different writers to show the variety of thought. He pulls from some of the masters such as Ada Habershon, Arthur Pink, R.C. Trench, G. Campbell Morgan, and many others. Most important, Lockyer reveals the idea behind the story.

Lundbom, Jack R.. Jeremiah 1-20: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary, The Anchor Bible, Vol. 21A. Doubleday. 1999. AISN/ISBN: 038541112X.

This magisterial work of scholarship is sure to be essential to any biblical studies curriculum. Jeremiah 21-36 draws on the best biblical scholarship to further our understanding of this preeminent prophet and his message to the world. Jeremiah has long been considered one of the most intriguing of the ancient Israelite prophets. From his boyhood call to prophecy in 627 B.C.E., which he tried to refuse, to his scathing judgments against the sins and hypocrisy of the people of Israel, Jeremiah's life was full of both incident and emotion. He saw his fellow Israelites abandon their one true God, and witnessed, as a result, their tragic fall to the Babylonians. The first book of a three-volume set, this eagerly awaited commentary investigates the opening twenty chapters of the Book of Jeremiah. With his considerable skill and erudition, Lundbom leads modern readers through this prophet's often mysterious oracles, judgments, and visions. Lundbom quickly dispelIs the notion that the life and words of a seventh century B.C.E. Israelite prophet have no relevance for the contemporary reader. He amply demonstrates that Jeremiah was every bit as concerned as we are with issues like environmental pollution, terrorism, hypocrisy, and social justice. This work greatly furthers our understanding of this prophet and the Bible as well.

Lundbom, Jack R.. Jeremiah 21-36: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary, The Anchor Bible, Vol. 21B. Doubleday. 2004. AISN/ISBN: 0385411138.

This second book of the three-volume Anchor Bible Commentary offers an astute translation and commentary on the middle sixteen chapters of Jeremiah. Important themes in the present volume include injustice within Judah's royal house, sexual immorality among the clergy, and true versus false prophecy. Yet the prophet who thundered Yahweh's judgment was also the one who gave the remnant people, in oracle and in symbolic action, a promise and a hope, expressed climactically in a new and eternal covenant for future days. Here too is the only report in the Bible of an accredited scribe writing up a scroll of oracles for public reading at the Temple.

Lundbom, Jack R.. Jeremiah 37-52: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary, The Anchor Bible, Vol. 21C. Doubleday. 2004. AISN/ISBN: 0385511604.

This final book of the three-volume Anchor Bible Commentary gives us translation and commentary on the concluding sixteen chapters of Jeremiah. Here, during Judah's darkest days, when nationhood came to an end, Jeremiah with his people confronted the consequences of the nation's sin, while at the same time reconstituting a remnant community with hopes to give Israel a future. Jeremiah preached that Israel's God, Yahweh, was calling to account every nation on the Earth, even the nation chosen as his own. For the latter Jeremiah was was cast into a pit and left to die, only to be rescued by an Ethiopian eunuch. But the large collection of foreign nation oracles in the book shows that other nations too were made to drink the cup of divine wrath, swollen as they were by wickedness, arrogant pride, and trust in their own gods. Yet the prophet who thundered Yahweh's judgment was also the one who gave Israel's remnant a hope for the future, expressed climactically in a new and eternal covenant for future days. Hereto is the only report in the Bible of an accredited scribe writing up a scroll of oracles for public reading at the Temple. This impressive work of scholarship is sure to be essential to any biblical studies curriculum. Jeremiah 3752 draws on the best biblical scholarship to further our understanding of this preeminent prophet and his message to the world.

McKenzie, John. Second Isaiah, The Anchor Bible, Vol. 19A. Doubleday. 1969. AISN/ISBN: 0385053908.

This is Volume 19A of The Anchor Bible, a new translation in fifty-six volumes, each with an introduction and notes. With its focus on the events surrounding the fall of Babylon to the forces of Cyrus of Persia, Second Isaiah is a prophetic book of immense and exultant belief in the renascence of Israel, as the prophet foresees a new age after the long exile. The author does justice to the literary sophistication of this book in his translation and he discusses the questions of authorship, dating, purpose, and the audience of Second Isiah in an extensive introduction. In addition, this translation applies new material from the Dead Sea Scrolls and reflects as closely as possible the mood, sense and style of the Hebrew poetry.

Meier, Levi. Moses—The Prince, the Prophet: His Life, Legend & Message for Our Lives. Jewish Lights Publishing. 1998. AISN/ISBN: 158023013X.

A book that brings to life the struggles, failures and triumphs that reveal the human side of Moses, a central figure in Jewish, Christian and Islamic traditions. Insightful and captivating, you will learn more than a biography, but you will also find a personal foundation for growth and liberation and discovering your true self. Rabbi Meier is a masterful writer who provides great insight into the real Moses. This is a more complete look at Moses than ever before seen.

Mitchell, Stephen. A Book of Psalms: Selected & Adapted from the Hebrew. Harpercollins. 1993. AISN/ISBN: 0060166401.

When you open to Psalm 1 and find that it begins: "Blessed are the man and the woman / who have grown beyond their greed," you know that this is not your fathers' Psalter. Fair enough. Stephen Mitchell gives fair warning in his title (it's "A," not "The" Book of Psalms) and his short introduction (in which he states his intent to "[s]ing to the Lord a new song" by following the spirit rather than the letter). And like all of Mitchell's works, these are lovely poetic renderings. But be aware that quite a few of them are (or at least include) improvisations that depart radically from the original text; also, there are only fifty "psalms" in this volume. Then, too, the local references to Jerusalem and/or the Temple have been erased and replaced with more universal allusions. (Other portions of the text are rendered even more politically correct.) But it's excellent poetry, and Mitchell at least has the good sense not to stray too far from the text when he renders perennial favorites like Psalm 23. As poetry, then, this book is one of Mitchell's better works. Just don't expect the biblical Psalms.

Mitchell, Stephen (tr.). The Book of Job. Kyle Cathie Ltd. 1990. AISN/ISBN: 1856260046.

The thoughtful reading of this astonishing translation has been can be a rare experience combining poetry and enlightment. If the author gives an eloquent account of the effects of Job's poetry in his introduction, in the translation itself he does even better: he makes those effects come alive. Writing with three insistent beats to the line, and hammering home a succession of boldly defined images, he achieves a rare degree of vehemence and concentration.

Myers, Jacob Martin. Ezra and Nehemiah, The Anchor Bible, Vol. 14. Doubleday. 1965. AISN/ISBN: 0385046952.

Ezra and Nememiah (Volume 14 in the acclaimed Anchor Bible series) continue the spiritual history of Jerusalem begun in II Chronicles; they relate the return of the Jewish people to their home from exile in Babylonia and the revitalization of the Jewish religion. Two remarkable personalities--with strikingly different approaches to the same objective--played dominant roles in this rebuilding of a nation. Ezra, the learned, pious, scribal priest, known among his contemporaries as "the second Moses," was the architect of spiritual reform. Nehemiah, the forceful, shrewd, resourceful administrator, was the master international politician. The importance of Ezra and Nememiah is, however, not only historical. With I and II Chronicles, believed to be written by the same author, Ezra and Nememiah comprise of an exceedingly complex jigsaw puzzle of parallels, direct quotes, and retellings, in some cases, of the same stories--all of which is, perhaps, more absorbing for the scholar than for the layman. But a study of Ezra and Nememiah--and the conclusions to which it leads--is crucial to an understanding of who wrote which portions of the Bible, how and when they came to be written, and what that understanding tells us ultimately about how the Bible, bit by bit over a period of almost a thousand years, came into being.

Myers, Jacob Martin (ed.). I Chronicles, The Anchor Bible, Vol. 12. Doubleday. 1965. AISN/ISBN: 0385012594.

I Chronicles (Volume 12 in the acclaimed Anchor Bible series) is a book closely related to three other books of the so-called Chronicler's History, II Chronicles, Ezra, and Nehemiah. I Chronicles begins with the famous genealogical lists (from Adam to David), continues with an account of David's reign, in which the chronicler emphasizes David's efforts to restore the religion of Israel, and concludes with the accession of Solomon to the throne of Judah. A crucial book for historians of the biblical period and for students of the Bible, I Chronicles is to be neither accepted as a faithful narrative of the Davidic period nor dismissed as a fanciful, imaginative re-creation of that history. It must be taken as an important clue to the biblical process. For here we find the Bible quoting itself--sometimes directly, sometimes in paraphrase. Professor Myers meticulously analyzes important aspects of the Chronicler and his work--his method of composition, his conviction that to rebuild the nation of Israel one had to restore and strengthen her traditional religion, his significantly post-Exilic perspective. The book also examines the vast literature on Chronicles to find what it yields toward a better understanding of the Chronicler and a fuller appreciation of his work. Finally, it compares, in exhaustive detail, I Chronicles with the other books in the Bible to which it is parallel. The volume Professor Myers has produced is no less than a definitive treatment of the subject.

Myers, Jacob Martin (ed.). II Chronicles, The Anchor Bible, Vol. 13. Doubleday. 1973. AISN/ISBN: 0385057784.

See comments on I Chronicles.

Ostriker, Alicia Suskin. The Nakedness of the Fathers: Biblical Visions and Revisions. Rutgers University Press. 1997. AISN/ISBN: 0813524474.

Here acclaimed poet Alicia Ostriker both rereads the Bible from the "controversial perspective of a twentieth-century Jewish woman" and creatively interacts with it form a fiercely autobiographical point of view. What results is not another academic explication of the Bible's symbolic and psychological meanings but an imaginative and spiritual dialogue with characters and narratives of the Old Testament. Throughout, Ostriker's goal is to explore her own emotional universe via this "conversation" while at the same time using her impressive literary skills to tell the story of the Bible's often nameless women (e.g., Job's wife who, according to the story, had her children slain as a test of her husband's devotion to God and then had them replaced by ten new children.) Indeed, exploring the Bible's female characters' responses to the challenges that confront them becomes, in Ostriker's hands, a way of further humanizing the Bible for both men and women.

Pelikan, Jaroslav. Whose Bible Is It? A History of the Scriptures Through the Ages. Viking Adult. 2005. AISN/ISBN: 0670033855.

As the sacred text of Jews and Christians alike, the Bible has never lacked for claimants. Beginning with the ancient oral traditions surrounding Abraham and Moses, Pelikan recounts how the early Israelites finally recorded their beliefs in a Hebrew text. Continuous addition of historical and prophetic texts, the growth of rabbinic commentaries, and the translation of the text into Greek made construing scripture a complex task even before adherents to a new scriptural faith reinterpreted the entire Hebrew Bible as an Old Testament important chiefly for prophecies fulfilled in a radical New Testament. The writing of this Christian New Testament itself sparked controversies among divergent branches of Christianity, but it is the endless battles between Jews and Christians that Pelikan takes as his primary focus. In the surprisingly parallel strategies of eighteenth- and nineteenth-century Jewish and Christian leaders defending scripture against rationalism, Pelikan sees a tragically missed opportunity to heal the religious breach. Hoping the twenty-first century brings something better, Pelikan concludes with an appeal for an interfaith understanding of the Bible that will sweep away centuries of antipathy.

Plaut, W. Gunther and Chaim Stern (eds.). The Haftarah Commentary. Union of American Hebrew Congregations Press. 1995. AISN/ISBN: 0807405515.

The Reform Movement's own Haftarah commentary, an analysis of the Haftarah and its relation to the Torah reading and the message it conveys.

Pope, M. H. (ed.). Job, The Anchor Bible, Vol. 15. Doubleday. 1965. AISN/ISBN: 0385008945.

Of special interest is the inclusion of readings from the earliest translation of the Book of Job, the recently published Targum (Aramaic translation) recovered from Cave XI of Khirbet Qumran in the Judean Wilderness near the Dead Sea, perhaps the version which was suppressed by Rabbi Gamaliel. The Book of Job is one of the indisputably great works of world literature. It is by now proverbial to refer to the patience of Job. Yet this traditional image derives only from the Prologue and the Epilogue of the book. But the Job who confronts us in the long middle section is anything but patient. His cries out against God, raising the question of theodicy, or divine justice, which occupies the greater portion of Job's dialogue with his comforters. But it is inevitably as literature that Job must be read and enjoyed. This translation is marked by a concerted effort to capture as much as possible the poetic and metrical characteristics of the original Hebrew: the result is a version notable for its accuracy and directness. The experience of reading the Book Of Job in this translation, then, is to rediscover an exceedingly eloquent masterpiece. In the terse, rhythmic quality of the translation, the incisive comprehensiveness of the introduction and notes, Job maintains the high standard of scholarship, literateness, and readability established in The Anchor Bible.

Rogerson, John W.. Chronicle of the Old Testament Kings: The Reign-By-Reign Record of the Rulers of Ancient Israel. Thames & Hudson. 1999. AISN/ISBN: 0500050953.

This work charts the rise and fall of the leaders of Israel from Abraham to Herod. The first founders of the nation (such as David, Solomon, and Moses) and the prophets who first judged their leadership (such as Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Elijah) are brought vividly to life, with lavish color maps, time lines, photographs of archaeological treasures, and reproductions of later artists' imaginative renderings of each figure. These features alone make Chronicle of the Old Testament Kings a whiz-bang coffee-table book. In addition, author John Rogerson also provides an accessible, absorbing set of profiles of Israel's leaders. He considers all of the crucial debates in biblical scholarship today: Did the earliest biblical leaders of Israel actually exist? How much can we know about them? And how should that historical knowledge influence our reading of the Bible? Rogerson's intrepid exploration of these questions, presented in such a stylish volume, makes Chronicle of the Old Testament Kings a valuable addition to any library of books about religion.

Rosenberg, David. The Book of David: A New Story of the Spiritual Warrior and Leader Who Shaped Our Inner Consciousnes. Harmony. 1997. AISN/ISBN: 0517708000.

In this imaginative and provocative work about the origins of the novel and lyric poetry as well as the Bible, the author's interest is in evoking the characters who inhabit the biblical narratives, and his translations and transformations of the text are powerful and moving. It tells David's story in a way that reveals the characters of David and "S," the putative ancient author, a colleague of Harold Bloom's "J," whose stories about the Israeli king form the basis of the books of I and II Samuel. This book explains why we should care about David and his era and why our memory of the original history is repressed. Rosenberg examines the vulnerable side of David for for the first time. This is an interesting, controversial, and thought-provoking work that should be read by anyone with an interest in the ancient history of the Jewish people.

Sabbah, Messod and Roger Sabbah; Art Banta (tr.) and Lois Banta (tr.). Secrets of the Exodus: The Egyptian Origins of the Hebrew People. Helios Press. 2004. AISN/ISBN: 1581153198.

This fascinating reference fuels the passionate debate about the biblical Exodus with a provocative thesis: Not only was Moses an Egyptian but so were the Hebrew people who followed him to Canaan. Through linguistic, philologic, and religious explorations, the authors prove that the "Chosen People" were not slaves from a foreign country but high-ranking Egyptian priests and the adherents of the monotheist pharaoh Akhenaton. During a counterrevolution against monotheism, his followers were forced to move to the Egyptian province of Canaan. Secrets of the Exodus is a controversial, thought-provoking guide guaranteed to shake many beliefs both in the Jewish and Christian communities.

Sarna, Nahum M.. On the Book of Psalms: Exploring the Prayers of Ancient Israel. Schocken Books. 1995. AISN/ISBN: 0805210237.

This work consists of a short introduction and commentary on a mere ten psalms. But as limited as this selection is, Sarna is able to introduce us to a good range of biblical themes and to equip us to continue our exploration of the Psalms on our own. He appreciates the psalms as ancient texts that share traits with other writings from the ancient Near East. If you have never read the Psalms all the way through, start with this book. It's only 200 pages long, excluding endnotes, but it tells you everything you need to know to get started. Perhaps one day Sarna will publish commentary on the other one hundred forty Psalms

Scheindlin, Raymond P.. Book of Job. W. W. Norton & Company. 1998. AISN/ISBN: 0393046265.

The book of Job addresses eternal questions about humanity's place in God's creation, the presence of evil in the world, God's responsibility for the existence of evil and humans' ability to understand God's ways. Scheindlin offers a new translation of Job. In providing a powerful, colloquial translation of the Book of Job, he writes in the introduction that he tried to let the text itself suggest its own translation and interfere as little as possible. Contrary to much contemporary scholarship, this helpful introduction attributes coherence and unity to Job in its final form. His aim was to produce a translation that would reflect the poetic values specific to biblical Hebrew. In Scheindlin's translation, more direct, contemporary, and forceful than others', Job is an angry yet hopeful character who knows that his suffering is undeserved and angrily calls God to account while courageously facing the disproportion between himself and God.

Schiffman, Lawrence H.. Reclaiming the Dead Sea Scrolls, Anchor Bible Reference Library. Doubleday. 1995. AISN/ISBN: 0385481217.

The most thorough and authoritative of the flood of new books occasioned by the full release of the Dead Sea Scrolls between 1991 and 1993. Schiffman (Near-Eastern Studies, New York Univ.), a Hebrew and Judaic studies expert who now serves on the editorial team that is publishing the scrolls, clearly presents what scholars know and, equally important, what they don't know about the documents that many would agree constitute the greatest archaeological find of the century. He describes in considerable detail the contents and the political and religious historical context of the scrolls, produced between 150 BCE and 70 CE during the Greek and Roman conquests of Palestine. But Schiffman also makes the case for a paradigm shift in the manner in which the scrolls should be viewed and interpreted. Schiffman views the scrolls as Jewish texts. He rejects earlier theories, such as that the scrolls were written by the ascetic sect of Essenes, and makes the case for many of the scrolls being of Sadducee origin (the Sadducees were an anti-Rabbinic group that had links to the priestly class). An updated tale of the discovery, acquisition, and deciphering of the Dead Sea Scrolls would make a great narrative. But this is not Schiffman's aim. For now, Edmund Wilson's 1954 The Dead Sea Scrolls, based on his New Yorker reportage, remains the classic page-turner about the scrolls. Schiffman's scholarly presentation is plodding, but his arguments and conclusions are well reasoned and reliable. Scholars in religious studies, seasoned scroll amateurs, and newcomers to this fascinating subject can all benefit from immersion in this welcome volume.

Schultz, Samuel J.. The Old Testament Speaks: A Complete Survey of Old Testament History and Literature. HarperSanFrancisco; 4th edition. 1990. AISN/ISBN: 0062507672.

A theologically accurate and clear picture of the archaeological, geographical, historical, and linguistic dimensions of God's covenant with his people--revised and updated. Its simplicity yet deep theology recommends it for anyone who wants to understand the context of the Bible.

Simon, Uriel. Commentary on Jonah. Jewish Publication Society. 1999. AISN/ISBN: 0827606729.

Following the completion of the acclaimed five-volume Torah Commentary series, The Jewish Publication Society has embarked on the next phase of its biblical commentary project: individual volumes on the Five Megilloth and Jonah. The first in the series is Uriel Simon's Commentary on Jonah. Based on the same format and design as the Torah volumes, Simon's work provides a critical line-by-line commentary of the biblical text, which is presented in its original Hebrew, complete with vocalization and cantillation marks, as well as the 1985 JPS English translation. Dr. Simon also provides a scholarly introduction, extensive bibliographic and critical notes, and other explanatory material.

Steinsaltz, Adin. Biblical Images. Jason Aronson. 1994. AISN/ISBN: 1568211783.

Translated from the Hebrew by Yehuda Hanegbi and Yehudit Keshet, a world-famous rabbi and teacher offers subtle, penetrating, psychological portraits of 25 significant men and women of the Old Testament.

Telushkin, Joseph. Biblical Literacy: The Most Important People, Events, and Ideas of the Hebrew Bible. William Morrow. 1997. AISN/ISBN: 0688142974.

As he did so brilliantly in his bestselling book, Jewish Literacy, Joseph Telushkin once again mines a subject of Jewish history and religion so richly that his book becomes an inspiring companion and a fundamental reference. In this work Telushkin turns his attention to the Hebrew Bible, the most influential book in human history. The Bible's influence has conveyed as much through its narratives as its laws. Its timeless and moving tales about the human condition and man's relationship to God have long shaped Jewish and Christian notions of morality and continue to stir the conscience and imagination of believers and skeptics alike. Encyclopedic in scope, but dynamic and original in its observations and organization, this work makes available in one volume the Bible's timeless stories of love, deceit, and the human condition; its most important laws and ideas; and an annotated listing of all 613 laws of the Torah; there is no other reference work or interpretation of the Bible quite like this stunning volume.

Touger, Eliyahu. The Torah Anthology: The Book of Esther. Volume XXI. Moznaim Publishing Corporation. 1978. AISN/ISBN: 0940118130.

Volumes cover the Torah, with separate works on megillot and Psalms, translated from the classic Ladino work Me'Am Lo'Ez. An amazing compendium of insights and commentary.

Van Wolde, Ellen. Stories of the Beginning: Genesis 1-11 and Other Creation Stories. Morehouse Group. 1996. AISN/ISBN: 081921714X.

This book is a bold compendium of ideas. Anyone seeking an alternative resource to accompany reflections on the biblical account of creation will not be disappointed. Analyzing and comparing the Bible with other literary sources, leading theologian Ellen van Wolde explores the parallels between Genesis and creation stories from Asia, Australia, Africa, Europe, and the United States. She believes that storytellers and poets may surpass scientists in explaining the meaning of the genesis myths of a variety of cultures. After a detailed examination of the creation stories found in Genesis, van Wolde discusses the theory of evolution as well as the "Big Bang" hypothesis. "Without a story about the beginning, human beings face chaos, and their origin seems to be an abyss," says van Wolde. "In order to provide a foundation for existence, the beginning was filled with meaning. Every culture attaches a meaning to the beginning, often in the form of stories. These are stories which give people roots."

Visotzky, Burton L.. Reading the Book: Making the Bible a Timeless Text. Schocken Books. 1996. AISN/ISBN: 0805210725.

This book is designed to provide an "introduction to the meaningful reading of Scripture," and is aimed at all readers, "regardless of religious background." To achieve this purpose, Visotzky provides numerous examples of rabbinic methods of interpreting biblical texts. He suggests that those methods can be used profitably by readers who wish to get more from their Bible reading. He also describes two conditions essential to the worthwhile reading of scriptures: reading with a "community" (one or more additional persons) and reading with an open mind. Approaching this book with an open mind is important, for some readers may feel that Visotzky takes liberties in interpreting the text at hand. Nonetheless, liberal-thinking readers will find this interesting and witty. For larger biblical studies collections.

Wiesel, Elie. Five Biblical Portraits. University of Notre Dame Press. 1983. AISN/ISBN: 0268009627.

Fascinating psychological examinations of Joshua, Elijah, Saul, Jeremiah and Jonah.

Wilson, Edmund. Israel and the Dead Sea Scrolls. Moyer Bell. 2000. AISN/ISBN: 1559212381.

Israel and the Dead Sea Scrolls is a masterful work by the late scholar, critic and author Edmund Wilson who, in 1954, became intrigued by the discovery of the scrolls of the Essenes and the possibility that the Jewish sect was a precursor to Christianity. His fascination took him to Israel where he studied the revelations of the scrolls; his account of their history and significance was first published in 1955. In his text, Wilson conveys his passion for the things represented by his quest for meaning: history, politics, ancient lore. Drawing upon his findings, he presents a compelling reconstruction of Biblical times, offering evidence that the Essenes practiced a religion very similar to Christianity, including celebration of a messiah and partaking of holy sacraments.

Yerushalmi, Shmuel. The Torah Anthology: The Book of Samuel I. Volume XXIII. Moznaim Publishing Corporation. 1991. AISN/ISBN: 094011853X.

Volumes cover the Torah, with separate works on megillot and Psalms, translated from the classic Ladino work Me'Am Lo'Ez. An amazing compendium of insights and commentary.

Yerushalmi, Shmuel. The Torah Anthology: The Book of Samuel II. Volume XXIV. Moznaim Publishing Corporation. 1993. AISN/ISBN: B0006D5786.

Volumes cover the Torah, with separate works on megillot and Psalms, translated from the classic Ladino work Me'Am Lo'Ez. An amazing compendium of insights and commentary.

Yerushalmi, Shmuel. The Torah Anthology: Book of Ruth. Volume XXII. Moznaim Publishing Corporation. 1985. AISN/ISBN: 0940118149.

Volumes cover the Torah, with separate works on megillot and Psalms, translated from the classic Ladino work Me'Am Lo'Ez. An amazing compendium of insights and commentary.

Zlotowitz, Scherman, Hillel Danziger (tr.) and Nosson Sherman (tr.). The Artscroll Tehillim. Artscroll. 1989. AISN/ISBN: 0899066704.

This is a very compact and comprehensive Tehillim (Psalms); it is a concise translation of the Tehillim in modern English. A variety of blessings are included. This is a very useful volume for travelers and busy people who always out of space in their briefcase. A must buy for scholars and observant people.

Alter, Robert. The Art of Biblical Narrative. Basic Books. 1983. AISN/ISBN: 046500427X.

Alter offers an expansive method of Biblical commentary based on a literary perspective. His thesis is that the literary quality of the Bible has been sadly overlooked and sets out to show how the narratives in the Bible, even if constituted from a redacted text, nevertheless exhibit exquisite literary qualities. He convincingly demonstrates that if we overlook the art of how the stories are told, then we miss much of their meaning. Perhaps the most enlightening part of Alter's book is his frequent recourse to the stories themselves in order to demonstrate his points. This is a wonderful work for biblical scholars, theologians, historians and a wide constituency of academicians of all faiths.

Alter, Robert. The Art of Biblical Poetry. Basic Books Inc. 1985. AISN/ISBN: 046500430X.

A companion volume to Alter's earlier The Art of Biblical Narrative, this excellent book investigates the structures, especially parallelism, intensification, choice of detail, and the effects of biblical Hebrew poetry. Not only the literary and the biblical scholar but also the relatively sophisticated general reader will profit from this clearly written book. Through many examples and through comparisons of the treatment of the same events in biblical prose and biblical poetry, Alter demonstrates how biblical authors used poetry to discover meaning: "poetry is quintessentially the mode of expression in which the surface is the depth" so that form and meaning are intimately united.

Bialik, Hayyim Nahman and Yehoshua Hana Ravnitzky (eds.). The Book of Legends: Sefer Ha-Aggadah: Legends from the Talmud and Midrash. Schocken Books. 1992. AISN/ISBN: 0805241132.

This work weaves a rich tapestry of tales, homilies and legends together. This is the classical edited collection gleaned from the large corpus of rabbinic literature.

Buber, Martin. Tales of the Hasidim. Schocken. 1991. AISN/ISBN: 0805209956.

This edition, bringing together Volumes One and Two of Buber's classic work, contains marvelous tales??terse, vigorous, often cryptic??of the Hasidic masters.

Charlesworth, James H. (ed.). The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha. Vol. 1: Apocalyptic Literature and Testaments. The Anchor Bible. Doubleday. 1983. AISN/ISBN: 0385096305.

Vital to understanding early Christianity and rabbinic Judaism, the pseudepigraphic writings are the most spectacular volume of literature from the period ca. 200 BCE to 200 CE. During the period between the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament writings there exists the so-called "four hundred years of silence." This volume and the second volume reveal that writings during this time were actually prolific. Charlesworth's Pseudepigrapha contain up-to-date translations, the work of twenty-four eminent biblical scholars from various parts of the world, of the books of the Pseudipigrapha. In an introductory chapter, Charlesworth reviews the definition and importance of the Pseudepigrapha along with significant theological conceptions of the main period in which these books seems to have been written. Each book is introduced by a discussion of the contents, the original language of the text, its probable date, where it was written, its historical importance, its theological importance, its cultural importance, earlier translations, relationship to other books, and a bibliography. The texts themselves contain cross references to other biblical texts as well as copious detailed notes on the text itself.

Volume 1 of this work contains two sections. The first is "Apocalyptic Literature and Related Works." An apocalypse, from the Greek meaning revelation or disclosure, is a certain type of literature which was a special feature of religions in late antiquity. In the past, the definition was derived from the study of only some of the extant apocalypses, especially the Apocalypse, the Book of Revelation. This has changed and the present edition of the pseudepigrapha includes nineteen documents that are apocalypses or related literature. It will now be easier to perceive the richness of apocalyptic literature and the extent of early Jewish and Christian apocalyptic ideas and apocalyptic religion.

Charlesworth, James H. (ed.). The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha. Vol. 2. Expansions of the "Old Testament" and Legends, W. Doubleday. 1985. AISN/ISBN: 0385188137.

The second volume of Charlesworth's Pseudepigrapha reveals the events of the Near East during this period of time. The contributors to these volumes trace the history of the works and what is known about the communities in which they were written. Also included are marginal notes and footnotes that show the connection, directly or indirectly, to the Bible, the New Testament, and the Apocrypha. This set is a necessary resource for anyone interested in and open to understanding exactly how Christianity and rabbinic Judaism emerged from the chaos of the period between ca,200 BCE and 200 CE.

Freedman, H. and Maurice Simon. Midrash Rabbah. Soncino Press. 1992. AISN/ISBN: 0900689382.

This edition is the definitive English rendering of the Midrash Rabbah, one of the monumental productions of rabbinic literature. The Midrash is the most striking testimony to the joy and reverence with which the Jews have cherished the Bible. It contains homiletic, ethical, and moral interpretations of the Scriptures, as expounded by the rabbis during talmudic and medieval times. Includes the complete Midrash on the Five Books of the Torah as well as on the Five Megillot.

Frymer-Kensky, Tikva. Reading the Women of the Bible: A New Interpretation of Their Stories. Schocken. 2004. AISN/ISBN: 0805211829.

A professor of Hebrew Bible at the Divinity School at the University of Chicago, Frymer-Kensky investigates biblical stories about women to ascertain why "a clearly androcentric text from a patriarchal society" has "so many stories that revolve around women." Deliberately omitting a few prominent women (e.g., Eve and Miriam), Frymer-Kensky focuses on four groups of women: the victors, the victims, the virgins, and those with voice (prophecy, necromancy). She finds that "[c]ontrary to all assumptions...the Hebrew Bible, unlike other ancient literature, does not present any ideas about women as the 'Other.' The role of woman is clearly subordinate, but the Hebrew Bible does not 'explain' or justify this subordination by portraying women as different or inferior." The author argues that the Hebrew Bible's notion of women as subordinate but not inferior became a paradigm for Israel's understanding of its own subjugation by other nations. Although the book occasionally employs sophisticated terminology, its main arguments about the biblical presentation of women are accessible to educated lay people as well as to religious specialists. Highly recommended for academic and public libraries.

Ginzberg, Louis. Legends of the Bible. Jewish Publication Society of America. 1992. AISN/ISBN: 0827604041.

This one-volume collection, condensed from a seven-volume series, of classical biblical stories and parables based on the most famous book in the world. The work includes stories from the oral tradition of the Jews and often reveal a different aspect of an old familiar story or more personality of a familiar character. A worthwhile addition to the library.

Ginzberg, Louis. Legends of the Jews. 2 vols. Jewish Publication Society. 2003. AISN/ISBN: 0827607091.

To this day Legends of the Jews remains a most remarkable and comprehensive compilation of stories connected to the Hebrew Bible. It is an indispensable reference on that body of literature known as Midrash, the imaginative retelling and elaboration on Bible stories in which mythological tales about demons and magic coexist with moralistic stories about the piety of the patriarchs. Legends is the first book to which one turns to learn about the postbiblical understanding of the biblical episode, or to discover the source for biblical legends that cannot be traced directly to the Bible. It is also the place to find answers to such questions as the date of Abraham's birth; Moses' physical appearance; and the name of Potiphar's wife.

Lang, Bernhard. The Hebrew God: Portrait of an Ancient Deity. Yale University Press. 2002. AISN/ISBN: 0300090250.

Originally worshipped by the people of a small and politically insignificant eastern Mediterranean community, the Hebrew God rose to become the monotheistic deity of the entire Western tradition. In this absorbing book, well-known biblical scholar Bernhard Lang provides for the first time a full portrait of the ancient Hebrew God. Drawing on all available evidence, including ancient Near Eastern and Egyptian texts and art, Lang offers a comprehensive view of the Hebrew God that is both fascinating and surprising. Lang's portrait shows the Hebrew God in five images. He appears as lord of wisdom, lord of war, lord of the animals, lord of the individual, and lord of the harvest--a God whose rule extends to all areas of life. Lang illuminates the completeness of this God's leadership with insights derived from modern religious, anthropological, and cultural studies, and he argues that Israel's monotheistic God, far from being simply opposed to other gods, actually echoes and incorporates much of the ancient polytheistic experience of the divine. The worldview of the ancient Semites did not differ from that of the Indo-European peoples as dramatically as others have assumed, Lang contends. Written in an accessible style, this appealing volume stores a wealth of information for general reader and religious historian alike.

Mikva, Rachel S. (ed.). Broken Tablets: Restoring the Ten Commandments and Ourselves. Jewish Lights Publishing. 1999. AISN/ISBN: 1580230660.

This work is a collection of writings that attempt to explain why the Ten Commandments exert such a powerful hold on so many people, even those who do not consider themselves Jews or Christians. This collection includes essays by ten prominent rabbis about each individual commandment, as well as two shorter pieces that, in rabbinical fashion, interrogate and locate the others' arguments in Jewish tradition. All of these essays have in common the effect of personalizing the commandments for today's readers, by demonstrating the power of this short scriptural passage to touch every aspect of a person's life. Each essay makes provocative and surprising observations that may help readers become more aware of God's claim on their lives, more honest with themselves, and more attuned to the ways that Scripture has shaped the way believers live together and in the wider world. The precepts of ethical behavior set forth in the Ten Commandments are wisely and lucidly explicated in this important volume.

Podhoretz, Norman. The Prophets: Who They Were, What They Are. Free Press. 2002. AISN/ISBN: 0743219279.

Podhoretz, in this work, has made a rare contribution in writing a book that is scholarly enough to be of use to those who want to understand the Hebrew Bible in a style that makes it accessible to the general public. Podhortez' main thesis is that the prophets were warriors of the word, struggling against paganism, and that the prophetic period came to an end because they won: paganism was no longer widely accepted among Israelites, so prophets were not needed. Podhoretz' secondary thesis is more academic. He again and again attempts to refute the idea that the prophets abandoned the ritual emphasis of the Mosaic law. This is sort of an anti-evolutionary argument; he argues that the prophets did not change the substance of their message so much as their emphasis. As circumstances changed and the Israelites became more infatuated with foreign gods, the prophets focused more on that threat, emphasizing that ritual observance was of no value to God without purity of heart.