The Pentateuch: Fortress Commentary on the Bible Study Edition

Description

This concise commentary on the Pentateuch, excerpted from the Fortress Commentary on the Bible: The Old Testament and Apocrypha, engages readers in the work of biblical interpretation. Contributors from a rich diversity of perspectives connect historical-critical analysis with sensitivity to current theological, cultural, and interpretive issues. Introductory articles describe the challenges of reading the Old Testament in ancient and contemporary contexts, relating the biblical theme of "the people of God" to our complex, multicultural world, and reading the Old Testament as Christian Scripture, followed by a survey of "Themes and Perspectives in the Torah: Creation, Kinship, and Covenant." Each chapter (Genesis through Deuteronomy) includes an introduction and commentary on the text through the lenses of three critical questions: The Text in Its Ancient Context. What did the text probably mean in its original historical and cultural context? The Text in the Interpretive Tradition. How have centuries of reading and interpreting shaped our understanding of the text? The Text in Contemporary Discussion. What are the unique challenges and interpretive questions that arise for readers and hearers of the text today? The Pentateuch introduces fresh perspectives and draws students, as well as preachers and interested readers, into the challenging work of interpretation. About the Author Gale A. Yee is Nancy W. King Professor of Biblical Studies at Episcopal Divinity School, Cambridge, Massachusetts. Hugh R. Page Jr. is professor of Theology and Africana Studies as well as vice president, associate provost, and dean of the First Year of Studies at the University of Notre Dame. Matthew J. M. Coomber is assistant professor of biblical studies at St. Ambrose University, Davenport, Iowa. Publisher’s Note about Fortress Commentary on the Bible Study Editions vii Abbreviations ix Series Introduction 1 Reading the Old Testament in Ancient and Contemporary Contexts Matthew J. M. Coomber 5 Th e People of God and the Peoples of the Earth Hugh R. Page Jr. 31 Reading the Christian Old Testament in the Contemporary World Daniel L. Smith-Christopher 43 Th emes and Perspectives in Torah: Creation, Kinship, and Covenant Sarah Shectman 67 Genesis Rodney S. Sadler Jr. 89 Exodus Th omas B. Dozeman 137 Leviticus Robert Kugler 179 Numbers Karl N. Jacobson 211 Deuteronomy Harold V. Bennett 233