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Select this Book	Achtemeier, Paul J., ed. HarperCollins Bible Dictionary. HarperOne. 1996. ISBN: 0060600373. In the field of biblical studies, the past ten years have seen continuing archaeological discoveries, new trends in biblical criticism, and the release of the full corpus of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Thus, it is entirely fitting that a new edition of a standard Bible dictionary appear. The first edition of The HarperCollins Bible Dictionary (under the title Harper's Bible Dictionary) was well received by scholars, students, and lay readers. This edition has been expanded and revised, with approximately 25 percent of the material either new or updated. The number of contributors has also increased, from 179 to 193. The work has retained the two-column format, with 16 single-column articles interspersed throughout (including "Art in the Biblical Period," "Jesus Christ," and "The Temple"), and it is well illustrated. Many of the longer articles include a brief bibliography (most of which have been updated from the first edition). Though not a flawless work (e.g., the article "Manasseh" treats only the 14th king of Judah but neither the patriarch nor the tribe of Israel that also bear that name), it is outstanding in terms of scholarship and writing. All biblical studies collections should have this new work, even if they already own the previous edition. A good choice for libraries that need to round out a comprehensive collection.
Select this Book	Aharoni, Yohanan and Michael Avi-Yonah; Anson F. Rainey and Ze'ev Safrai (eds). The Macmillan Bible Atlas. MacMillan Publishing Company. 1993. ISBN: 0025006053. This atlas was last published in 1977. The original authors are now deceased, so Anson F. Rainey, professor of ancient Near Eastern cultures at Tel Aviv University, and Ze'ev Safrai, professor of land of Israel studies, Bar Illan University, were commissioned for this revision. They have made changes to reflect new information from recent archaeological excavations. The work covers the years 3000 B.C. through A.D. 200. The 269 two-color maps are arranged chronologically. Each map is accompanied by references to biblical sources. Some maps treat events that were not specifically mentioned in the Bible. For example, in the section on the Hellenistic period are maps of the campaigns of Alexander the Great and the travels of Zenon in Palestine. Succinct text explains the historical background of each map. The pages are further illustrated with black-and-white drawings of artifacts and a few photographs. Chronological tables, a key to the maps according to books of the Bible, and an index to all geographic names appearing on the maps complete the book.
Select this Book	Baron, Joseph, ed. A Treasury of Jewish Quotations. Jason Aronson. 1996. ISBN: 1568219482. Arranged topically and including the sayings of philosophers, writers and wits from 25 centuries of Jewish literary sources, this classic contains proverbs and comments by Jewish authors and/or on Jewish themes.
Select this Book	DeSilva, David Arthur. Introducing the Apocrypha: Message, Context, and Significance. Baker Academic. 2002. ISBN: 080102319X. The Apocrypha is an endless source of fascination for the scholar and lay reader of scriptural texts. This roundup of current scholarship by deSilva is thorough and effective, and his appreciation of the texts is palpable. This work is well informed but boasts the accessible prose we have come to expect from this publisher. After explaining the value of studying the Apocrypha and surveying the historical context from which these writings emerged, deSilva proceeds through each book of the Apocrypha (as found in the NRSV). Using all the tools of a skilled interpreter, he provides the necessary background details (date, circumstances of writing, etc.) before surveying the content and message of each book. Along the way, readers are introduced to connections between the Apocrypha and the Old and New Testaments and are encouraged to embark upon their own exploration of these fascinating books. The books of the Apocrypha are a witness to faith, specifically the faith of Jewish people living from 200 B.C.E. to 100 C.E. They provide essential historical background for understanding the Judaism of Jesus' day and the Jewish matrix of early Christianity. Readers should note that deSilva's approach is Christian, albeit respectful of the Jewish origins of most of the Apocrypha's works. A very useful book for most collections.
Select this Book	Douglas, J. D., ed. New Bible Dictionary. Tyndale House Publishers. 1982. ISBN: 0842346678. This highly recommended reference book is more like an encyclopaedia than simply a dictionary. The scholarship is first-rate and the book is an essential resource for those who are conducting more in-depth study of the Bible. It contains a number of articles from scholars on a wide range of topics found in the Bible. This book is an invaluable resource for both layperson and biblical scholars, and would be useful to anyone who is involved in Bible study.
Select this Book	Friesel, Evyatar. Atlas of Modern Jewish History. Oxford University Press. 1990. ISBN: 0195053931. Contains Jewish history, geographic distribution, demography, and intellectual developments from the 17th century to the 1980s.
Select this Book	Gilbert, Martin, ed. Illustrated Atlas of Jewish Civilization. Quantum Books. 2004. ISBN: 0681606630. Detailed maps provide insight into every aspect of the 4,000 years of Jewish history. The text discusses why Jewish identity, dispersed throughout many cultures, traditions and races, has survived.
Select this Book	Gribetz, Judah. Timetables of Jewish History. Touchstone. 1994. ISBN: 0671885774. A chronology of the most important people and events in Jewish history and the relationship of the Jewish people to the larger story of world civilization.
Select this Book	Holtz, Barry W., ed. Schocken Guide to Jewish Books: Where to Start Reading About Jewish History, Literature, Culture and Religion. Schocken Books. 1993. ISBN: 0805210059. Experts in the major categories of Jewish literature discuss Jewish life and experience with suggested books for followup. Topics include the Bible, Jewish life, Israel, Hebrew and Yiddish literature and more.
Select this Book	Olitsky, Kerry and Ronald Isaacs. A Glossary of Jewish Life. Jason Aronson. 1991. ISBN: 0876685475. This work contains brief biographical sketches of important thinkers, teachers and leaders who helped shape the American Jewish experience, and provides concise definitions of terms and value concepts.
Select this Book	Pritchard, James B. (ed.) Collins Atlas of the Bible. Borders Press. 2003. ISBN: 0681970634. This is a folio-sized book that shows the features of ancient Israel and the Near East using maps and illustrations derived from recent archaeological findings, ancient and modern texts, and contemporary research. It is organized chronologically and is divided into the periods mentioned in the Bible.
Select this Book	Roth, Cecil, ed. Encyclopedia Judaica. Keter. 1994. ISBN: 0685362531. This work is an indispensable resource for anyone wishing to study Jewish community and historical life. Its articles, often written by important scholars in the field, are drawn from their scholarly works. This is a major Jewish work that belongs in every serious Jewish library. A great work, and until superseded, the best encyclopedia on Jewish life, culture, and history.
Select this Book	Schreiber, Mordecai, Alvin I. Schiff, and Leon Klenicki, eds. Shengold Jewish Encyclopedia. Schreiber Publishing. 1998. ISBN: 1887563431. This is a concise, easy-to-use all-purpose volume for young adults and families.
Select this Book	Siegel, Richard and Carl Rheins. The Jewish Almanac. Bantam Books. 1980. ISBN: 0553340034. This book is amazing! Full of information and pictures; however, it needs to be updated as it is over 20 years old.
Select this Book	Unger, Merrill and William White. Nelson's Expository Dictionary of the Old Testament. Thomas Nelson. 1980. ISBN: 0840751796. This comprehensive study tool will help the student without Hebrew training trace the root and development of biblical words from the original tongue. This work describes over 500 of the most important Hebrew terms, arranged by their English equivalents. It gives the root of each word, its use in various contexts, and its impact upon biblical theology. This work includes scholarly introductory material about the basic mechanics of the Hebrew language and a panel of outstanding scholars have written the text. This essential reference work will open up a "treasure house of truth contained in the Bible."
Select this Book	Weiner, Miriam. Jewish Roots in Poland: Pages from the Past and Archival Inventories. Routes to Roots Foundation. 1997. ISBN: 0965650804. By a leading Jewish genealogist, the book presents a large-format book which is both a travel guide and a how-to genealogy guide with photos, maps and documents covering 1,250 towns in Poland with Jewish histories.
Select this Book	Werblowsky, Zvi and Geoffrey Wigodor. Oxford Dictionary of the Jewish Religion. Oxford University Press. 1997. ISBN: 0195086058. With 2,400 alphabetically arranged entries in this 764-page volume, the dictionary provides a comprehensive reference to Judiaism.
Select this Book	Wigoder, Geoffrey and Shimon Gibson, eds. The Illustrated Dictionary and Concordance of the Bible. Macmillan, 2005. ISBN: 1402728204. Definitions of 3,500 biblical terms, including their historical and scriptural significance. Covers biblical locations, individuals, customs, coins, and archaeological excavations, to name only a few. The individual entries are not identified by contributer (there are more than 70 of them) and there are no footnotes, bibliography, or index.

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