Christians read the Jewish Scriptures in the light of what God did in Jesus the Christ. This ACCS volume on Exodus through Deuteronomy bears ample witness to this new way of reading these ancient texts. Varied in texture and nuance, the interpretations included in this volume display a treasure house of ancient wisdom, speaking with eloquence and intellectual acumen to the church today.
In this introduction to the first five books of the Old Testament, Victor Hamilton moves chapter by chapter--rather than verse by verse--through the Pentateuch, examining the content, structure, and theology. Each chapter deals with a major thematic unit of the Pentateuch, and Hamilton provides useful commentary on overarching themes and connections between Old Testament texts. This second edition has been substantially revised and updated. The first edition sold over sixty thousand copies.
The Bible is simply a love letter compiled into sixty-six books and written over a period ofsixteen hundred years by more than forty authors living on three continents. Although theauthors came from different backgrounds, there is one message, one theme, one thread that runs throughout the entire Bible from the first book, Genesis, to the last book, Revelation. That message is God's redeeming love for mankind--a message that is as relevant for us today as it was two thousand years ago.The Pentateuch was most likely written by one man, Moses. It consists of the books ofGenesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy and is also known as the Law,the Torah (Hebrew for "Law"), or the Law of Moses. These books are the first fivebooks of the seventeen Historical Books of the Old Testament and are foundationalfor the rest of the Bible. One book easily flows into another, developing biblical historyfrom Creation to about 1500 BC as well as the history of Israel from the call ofAbraham through the death of Moses. Here you will meet Adam, Noah, Abraham,Isaac, Jacob and his twelve sons, Moses, Aaron, and Joshua. You will travel from theGarden of Eden to Ur, Haran, Canaan, and Egypt, through the Red Sea, and on toMount Sinai.But the center of every book in The Pentateuch is God Almighty. Your adventure withHim will begin in the first sentence of the first book, and from there on it is a wild rideas He intervenes on behalf of men and women throughout history. You will witness Hisawesome power in Genesis, His desire to bring His children into liberty in Exodus, Hisperfect holiness in Leviticus, His justice in Numbers, and His faithfulness inDeuteronomy. You will be humbled by His mercy, awed by His compassion, frightenedby His wrath, and wooed by His loving-kindness. And in every book you will come tosee that Jesus Christ is concealed, ready to be revealed in the New Testament
"For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me." (John 5:46) Jesus's declaration frames this study of four books of the Pentateuch—Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy—as we discover the many ways that Moses wrote about Christ. Seasoned Bible teacher Nancy Guthrie shows that the Bible's story from beginning to end is the story of the Lamb—the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Over ten weeks of guided personal bible study, relevant teaching, and group discussion, you will see the person and work of Christ: in the person of Moses as a great deliverer, mediator, and prophet; in the manna, the water from the rock, and the bronze serpent on the pole; and in the priesthood, tabernacle, and sacrificial system. Gain a fresh perspective on the story of Israel's deliverance and journey, a broader understanding of Jesus as the fulfillment of Scripture, and much more, when you join with Nancy on this incredible journey to see Jesus in the Old Testament! * A leader's guide is available as a free download at SeeingJesusInTheOldTestament.com and a supplemental DVD of Nancy's teaching is also available for purchase.
In the ancient Jewish practice of the kavannah (a meditation designed to focus one’s heart on its spiritual goal), Lawrence Kushner and David Mamet offer their own reactions to key verses from each week’s Torah portion, opening the biblical text to new layers of understanding. Here is a fascinating glimpse into two great minds, as each author approaches the text from his unique perspective, each seeking an understanding of the Bible’s personalities and commandments, paradoxes and ambiguities. Kushner offers his words of Torah with a conversational enthusiasm that ranges from family dynamics to the Kabbalah; Mamet challenges the reader, often beginning his comment far afield—with Freud or the American judiciary—before returning to a text now wholly reinterpreted. In the tradition of Israel as a people who wrestle with God, Kushner and Mamet grapple with the biblical text, succumbing neither to apologetics nor parochialism, asking questions without fear of the answers they may find. Over the course of a year of weekly readings, they comment on all aspects of the Bible: its richness of theme and language, its contradictions, its commandments, and its often unfathomable demands. If you are already familiar with the Bible, this book will draw you back to the text for a deeper look. If you have not yet explored the Bible in depth, Kushner and Mamet are guides of unparalleled wisdom and discernment. Five Cities of Refuge is easily accessible yet powerfully illuminating. Each week’s comments can be read in a few minutes, but they will give you something to think about all week long. Lawrence Kushner teaches and writes as the Emanu-El Scholar at The Congregation Emanu-El of San Francisco. He has taught at Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion in New York City and served for twenty-eight years as rabbi of Congregation Beth El in Sudbury, Massachusetts. A frequent lecturer, he is also the author of more than a dozen books on Jewish spirituality and mysticism. He lives in San Francisco. David Mamet is a Pulitzer Prize–winning playwright. He is the author of Glengarry Glen Ross, The Cryptogram, and Boston Marriage, among other plays. He has also published three novels and many screenplays, children's books, and essay collections.
Encapsulating as it does research that has been undertaken on the sociological, anthropological and political aspects of the history of ancient Israel, this important book is designed to follow in the tradition of works in the series sponsored by The Society for Old Testament Study which began with the publication of The People and the Book in 1925. The World of Ancient Israel is especially concerned to explore in greater depth than comparable studies the areas and degrees of overlap between approaches to the subject of Old Testament research adopted by scholars and students of theology and the social sciences. Increasing numbers of scholars have recognised the valuable insights that can be gained from a cross-disciplinary approach, and it is becoming clear that the early biblical traditions about the formation of the Israelite state must be examined in the light of comparative anthropology if useful historical conclusions are to be drawn from them.
The third release in a major new series of guides to the books of the Old Testament written in an accessible and anecdotal style. The series is suitable for personal or group use and the format is also appropriate for daily study. This series offers a natural progression from the successful 'For Everyone' series of New Testament translations and commentaries.
In this introduction to the first five books of the Old Testament, Victor Hamilton moves chapter by chapter through the Pentateuch, examining the content, structure, and theology. Hamilton surveys each major thematic unit of the Pentateuch and offers useful commentary on overarching themes and connections between Old Testament texts.
