There's a villain out to hang Mordechai and murder his countrymen; a king who enjoys drinking; and a beautiful and noble queen. There are assassins, palace intrigue and a climactic battle scene -- and a happy ending, to boot. What more could you ask for in a good child's story?The holiday associated with the book can seem child-like, too. Purim is celebrated with costumes, carnivals, and abundant merriment. Kids dress up as Esther, Mordechai, Haman and Achashveirosh, wearing plastic hats and cellophane scepters. Purim is the great holiday of make-believe.All this make believe, though, can have unintended consequences. Chief among them is the fact that many of us are likely to remain with childlike views of Purim and the Megillah long after we've turned adults. Our perspective upon Mordechai and Esther and their struggle can easily remain as one-dimensional as the face paint we use to impersonate these people in costume.In this book, Rabbi Fohrman invites the reader to look at the Book of Esther with fresh eyes; to join him, as it were, on a guided adventure -- a close reading of the ancient biblical text. In so doing, he reveals another Purim story; a richer, deeper narrative -- more suited perhaps, to the eyes ofan adult than to a child. As layers of meaning are gradually revealed, Esther's hidden story comes alive in a vibrant, unexpected way -- offering the reader a fascinating and stirring encounter with the queen whose costume they wore as children -- the queen they thought they knew.

    At the same time it is one of the more complex and challenging sections of the Bible for expositors. Pastors, teachers, and all serious students of the Bible will find this commentary invaluable for developing their understanding of the Psalms and for improving their ability to expound it with precision and depth.For each psalm, Dr. Allen Ross guides the reader through a detailed exegetical outline, proposes a homiletical outline, and offers a summary expository idea of the message of the whole psalm.The commentary includes discussion throughout of three primary challenges to understanding the Psalms: Textual issues: Every major textual difficulty is addressed in order to help the expositor understand the interpretive issues and make decisions when there are multiple available readings.Poetic language: The Psalms are full of poetic imagery, devices and structures. Ross discusses this "language" of Hebrew poetry in its context with each psalm, specifying the precise devices being used and how they work in the psalm.The Psalms' Hebrew grammar and syntax pose a challenge to many expositors, whether they are familiar with Hebrew or not. This commentary illuminates Hebrew constructions word meanings in a way that is helpful both to readers who are comfortable with Hebrew and those who are not.

    Many Christian preachers today largely neglect the Old Testament in their sermons, focusing instead on the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ teachings and activities. As Fleming Rutledge points out, however, when the New Testament is disconnected from the context of the Old Testament, it is like a house with no foundation, a plant with no roots, or a pump with no well. In this powerful collection of sixty sermons on the Old Testament, Rutledge expounds on a number of familiar Old Testament passages featuring Abraham, Samuel, David, Elijah, Job, Jonah, and many other larger-than-life figures. Applying these texts to contemporary life and Christian theology, she highlights the ways in which their multivocal messages can be heard in all their diversity while still proclaiming univocally, “Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One.”

    In this task, we are aided by the ever-growing corpus of literature that is being recovered and analyzed.After an introduction that presents some of the history of comparative studies and how it has been applied to the study of ancient texts in general and cosmology in particular, Walton focuses in the first half of this book on the ancient Near Eastern texts that inform our understanding about ancient ways of thinking about cosmology. Of primary interest are the texts that can help us discern the parameters of ancient perspectives on cosmic ontology—that is, how the writers perceived origins. Texts from across the ancient Near East are presented, including primarily Egyptian, Sumerian, and Akkadian texts, but occasionally also Ugaritic and Hittite, as appropriate. Walton’s intention, first of all, is to understand the texts but also to demonstrate that a functional ontology pervaded the cognitive environment of the ancient Near East. This functional ontology involves more than just the idea that ordering the cosmos was the focus of the cosmological texts. He posits that, in the ancient world, bringing about order and functionality was the very essence of creative activity. He also pays close attention to the ancient ideology of temples to show the close connection between temples and the functioning cosmos.The second half of the book is devoted to a fresh analysis of Genesis 1:1–2:4. Walton offers studies of significant Hebrew terms and seeks to show that the Israelite texts evidence a functional ontology and a cosmology that is constructed with temple ideology in mind, as in the rest of the ancient Near East. He contends that Genesis 1 never was an account of material origins but that, as in the rest of the ancient world, the focus of “creation texts” was to order the cosmos by initiating functions for the components of the cosmos. He further contends that the cosmology of Genesis 1 is founded on the premise that the cosmos should be understood in temple terms. All of this is intended to demonstrate that, when we read Genesis 1 as the ancient document it is, rather than trying to read it in light of our own world view, the text comes to life in ways that help recover the energy it had in its original context. At the same time, it provides a new perspective on Genesis 1 in relation to what have long been controversial issues. Far from being a borrowed text, Genesis 1 offers a unique theology, even while it speaks from the platform of its contemporaneous cognitive environment.

    This eBook features a Tabernacle cutaway illustration that provides an "inside look" at more than 15 important features of the Tabernacle, such as the Ark of the Covenant, the veil, the lampstand, the altars, the High Priest, the sacrifices, and more. This handy reference shows how they relate to our relationship with God today through Christ. The Tabernacle eBook can be read in just 30 minutes. It is packed with drawings and charts and is written in easy-to-understand language. Recommended for a personal or group Bible study. The Tabernacle includes: • Floor plan and birds-eye view of the Tabernacle. • Interior view of the Tabernacle, Holy Place, and Holy of Holies • Pattern of Worship: Sacrifice, cleansing, and entering the Tabernacle. • Illustrations and explanation of each furnishing in the Tabernacle, the Ark and Mercy Seat, lampstand, incense altar, brazen altar, bronze laver, and more • Diagram showing 12 Tribes of Israel camped around the Tabernacle • Old Testament Symbols of Jesus • Aaron as High Priest and Jesus as the better High Priest Illustrations for The Tabernacle were created exclusively for Rose Publishing by renowned Bible artist Stan Stein, and they provide an amazing inside look at the Tabernacle and its furnishings. Each illustration not only explains the Old Testament Tabernacle in detail, they also help you to understand the symbolic relationship between the Tabernacle and Jesus Christ. The content of The Tabernacle offers a wealth of information, including: 1. A Tabernacle illustration with references and descriptions for the following items: • The Gate of the Court • Court Fence • Brazen Altar • Offerings • Laver of Bronze • Tabernacle • Holy Place • Golden Lampstand • Altar of Incense • Most Holy Place (Holy of Holies) • Ark of the Covenant • Mercy Seat • The Cloud and Pillar of Fire • The High Priest and His Holy Garments 2. An In-Depth Description of the Ark of the Covenant: • A physical description of the Ark • Where it was placed in the Tabernacle • The role of the Levites, the Day of Atonement and the Mercy Seat • Where God dwelled and spoke to the Priest • The scriptural references to the Ark of the Covenant 3. Old Testament Symbols of Jesus, including Old Testament and New Testament Bible references. 4. A Description and full-color illustration of the High Priest:• Qualifications • Clothing and the purpose of the 11 specific items found in scriptures, such as the Turban (or Mitre), onyx stones on shoulders, and breastplate with 12 precious stones • Service of the High Priest • Aaron, the High Priest • Jesus, the better High Priest 5. The Types of Sacrifices in the Tabernacle, their purposes and scripture reference. 6. The Journey of the Ark of the Covenant: • From Mt. Sinai and covering 400 years beginning with the Exodus in 1450 BC • Ending in 500 BC when Jeremiah prophesied that the Ark would be replaced by the Lord's presence. 7.

    Thus Genesis 1-3, the Torah, and the Hebrew Bible as a whole have an eschatological trajectory. Postell highlights numerous intentional links between the story of Adam and the story of Israel and, in the process, explains numerous otherwise perplexing features of the Eden story. Endorsements: "Dr. Postell has written a brilliant treatise arguing that Genesis 1-3 serves as the literary introduction to the Pentateuch, and, indeed, the entire Tanakh. He is clearly conversant with all the relevant literature and he makes a persuasive case. This is a work that needs to be read carefully and taken seriously." --David M. Howard Jr. Professor of Old Testament Bethel University "In a stimulating study of the first three chapters of Genesis, Dr. Postell has argued convincingly that they were written as fitting prelude to and portent of the ensuing narrative. Instead of looking to presumed parallel or contrasting ancient creation accounts for its meaning, this study confirms that the opening narratives of the Pentateuch exhibit language and themes coherent with the entire narrative that follows. The persuasive argument expressed here points to the necessity of further studies of similar approach to the Hebrew Bible." --Robert Cole Associate Professor of Old Testament and Semitic Languages Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary "To anyone who suspects that there is a divine order behind the compilation of the Hebrew Scriptures, this excellent work by Seth Postell will confirm that suspicion. Not only has he carefully described the methodology used in evangelical canonical research of the text, he has built upon the existing evidence to further substantiate the approach. Fresh new insights are always pleasing to the theological senses! Research professors and students alike will be strengthened in their devotion to the sacred text and spurred on to answer the research questions that naturally arise from this work." --Gregory Hagg Professor of Bible Exposition/Director The Feinberg Center for Messianic Jewish Studies Talbot School of Theology Author Biography: Seth D. Postell, formerly Assistant Professor of Old Testament at the Charles L. Feinberg Center for Messianic Jewish Studies (in partnership with Talbot School of Theology), is currently Lecturer in Biblical Studies at Israel College of the Bible in Netanya, Israel.

    Written in a such a way that the seasoned expositor, student, or laymen will be challenged, encouraged, and instructed in skillful living as God has revealed it.

    For over three millennia, it was the vehicle of communication from (at its greatest extent) Iran to the Mediterranean, Anatolia to Egypt. The Oxford Handbook of Cuneiform Culture examines the Ancient Middle East through the lens of cuneiform writing. The contributors, a mix of scholars from across the disciplines, explore, define, and to some extent look beyond the boundaries of the written word, using Mesopotamia's clay tablets and stone inscriptions not just as 'texts' but also as material artefacts that offer much additional information about their creators, readers, users and owners.

    Sproul on a unique study tour as he explores the major themes, events, and people that are brought to life in the Bible. Dust to Glory provides a panorama of biblical truth and a starting point to help you understand the content of the Bible.

    Rashi elucidation based on ArtScroll's Sapirstein edition of Rashi, by Rabbi Yisrael Isser Zvi Herczeg.

    Moody’s Bible School in Chicago, and then to my own congregation. They have also appeared in “The Record of Christian Work” in the United States, and in “Out and Out” in England. They are now sent out in a more permanent form, after careful revision, with the prayer that they may be used of God in calling His own children into the place of power without which form is nothing. (Introduction by G. Campbell Morgan)

    Written in a clear and accessible style, this major, up-to-date, evangelical, exegetical commentary opens up the riches of the book of Exodus. Hamilton relates Exodus to the rest of Scripture and includes his own translation of the text. This commentary will be valued by professors and students of the Old Testament as well as pastors.

    Various aspects of this ideal concept are taken into consideration: philological, historical, sociological and theological. Moshe Weinfeld surveys social reforms in the ancient Near East from the third millennium BCE to the Hellenistic period. The first chapters discuss semantics and center in terms that denote social justice, such as social reforms embodied in the terms justice and righteousness and their equivalents in cognate languages. A separate chapter discusses the institutions of Shemitta and Jubilee in ancient Israel. A special discussion is dedicated to justice and righteousness on the individual level. Just as the ruler is commanded to do justice and righteousness - to free his subjects from oppression, so every individual is asked to help the poor and the needy in their distress, which is to do justice and righteousness with others.

    Solomon realistically appraises many human endeavors and finds them to be futile. The things of this world are temporary, and life is fleeting. Yet the Gospel endows our lives with eternal significance. Divine wisdom instills fear and faith in God. This knowledge enables us to serve meaningfully in our vocations and pass through the coming eschatological judgment into eternal life.This commentary is perfect for the pastor seeking to study, preach, and teach Ecclesiastes. It provides insightful wisdom and mature theological reflection on this enigmatic book of Holy Scripture. Dr. Bollhagen draws on his lifetime of faithful service as a seminary professor and parish pastor as he writes with practical wisdom for daily living.

    Its size and scope may seem intimidating, but Phil Ryken shows us in this biblical, doctrinal, practical, and Christological commentary how this imposing book can be divided into three key sections. First, the stories of Solomon focus on the themes of money, sex, and power, inviting us to learn from Solomon's example. Will we use these things wisely for kingdom purposes, or foolishly abuse them for selfish gain? Then the middle of the story, on the divided kingdom, shows the destructive consequences of sin among the people of God especially the sin of idolatry. The final section demonstrates the power of prayer to the true and living God, as exemplified in the life and ministry of God's prophet Elijah. Phil Ryken brings out the key themes of these three sections and illustrates how they come together in their focus on the gospel of Jesus Christ, especially his kingly and prophetic offices. This is an excellent resource for those who want a devotional aid and will help Bible expositors reliably teach a redemptive-historical view of this important Old Testament book.

    Brown's ministry receives every month.As a Messianic believer, Brown provides clear answers to questions like "Are there Jewish denominations?" and "Do the Jewish people expect a literal Messiah?" The book also addresses Christians' questions about their own relationship to the Old Testament law, such as "Should Christians observe the Sabbath on Saturday?" and "Are Gentile Christians spiritual Jews?

    That's a problem. It was a problem in ancient Egypt and it's still a problem today. In a world where people tend to worship what they can see and feel and taste and touch, an invisible God is all too easy to ignore. That's why we need Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy to show us God's glorious master plan to be seen through his People.God inspired the Bible for a reason. He wants you read it and let it change your life. If you are willing to take this challenge seriously, then you will love Phil Moore's devotional commentaries. Their bite-sized chapters are punchy and relevant, yet crammed with fascinating scholarship. Welcome to a new way of reading the Bible. Welcome to the Straight to the Heart series.

    The goal of this gathering was specifically to address the question of national identity in the period when many now believe this very issue was in significant foment and development, the era of the Persian/Achaemenid domination of the ancient Near East.This volume contains most of the papers delivered at the Heidelberg conference, considering the matter under two rubrics:(1) the biblical evidence (and the diversity of data from the Bible); and(2) the cultural, historical, social, and environmental factors affecting the formation of national identity.- Judean identity and ecumenicity : the political theology of the priestly document by Konrad Schmid- Torah and identity in the Persian period by Joachim Schaper- The absent presence: cultural responses to Persian presence in the Eastern Mediterranean by Anselm C. Hagedorn- Ethnicity and identity in Isaiah 56-66 by Christophe Nihan- Trito-Isaiah's intra- and internationalization: identity markers in the Second Temple period by Jill Middlemas- From Ezekiel to Ezra-Nehemiah: shifts of group identities within Babylonian exilic ideology by Dalit Rom-Shiloni- Israel's identity and the threat of the nations in the Persian period by Jakob Wöhrle- The rite of separation of the foreign wives in Ezra-Nehemiah by Yonina Dor- The holy seed: the significance of endogamous boundaries and their transgression in Ezra 9-10 by Katherine Southwood- What do priests and kings have in common?: priestly and royal succession narratives in the Achaemenid Era by Deirdre N. Fulton- Yahwistic names in light of late Babylonian onomastics by Paul-Alain Beaulieu- "Judean": a special status in neo-Babylonian and Achemenid Babylonia? by Laurie E. Pearce- Some observations on the traditions surrounding "Israel in Egypt" by Donald Redford- Judean identity in Elephantine: everyday life according to the Ostraca by André Lemaire- The interaction of Egyptian and Aramaic literature by Joachim Friedrich Quack- Yehudite identity in Elephantine by Bob Becking- Judean ambassadors and the making of Jewish identity: the case of Hananiah, Ezra, and Nehemiah by Reinhard G. Kratz- Negotiating identity in an international context under Achaemenid rule: the indigenous coinages of Persian-period Palestine as an allegory by Oren Tal- Judaeans, Jews, children of Abraham by Joseph Blenkinsopp- The controversy about Judean versus Israelite identity and the Persian government: a new interpretation of the Bagoses story (Jewish antiquities XI.297-301) by Rainer Albertz- Surviving in an imperial context: foreign military service and Judean identity by Jacob L. Wright- 'el-mĕdînâ ûmĕdînâ kiktābāh: scribes and scripts in Yehud and in Achaemenid transeuphratene by David S. Vanderhooft- Jewish identity in the Eastern diaspora in light of the book of Tobit by Manfred Oeming- The identity of the Idumeans based on the archaeological evidence from Maresha by Amos Kloner

    However, it is seldom acknowledged that Yoder makes essentially the same argument with regard to the Old Testament. Throughout his extensive writings, Yoder offers a provocative interpretation of the Old Testament that culminates in the way of Jesus and establishes the ethical, ecclesiological, and historiographical continuity of the entire biblical canon. In The Politics of Yahweh, presented as a prequel to The Politics of Jesus, John C. Nugent makes Yoder's complete Old Testament interpretation accessible in one place for the first time. Nugent does not view Yoder's interpretation as flawless. Rather, Nugent moves beyond summary to offer honest critique and substantial revision. His constructive proposal, which stands in fundamental continuity with the work of Yoder, is likely to provoke thought from theologians, biblical scholars, and ethicists. Even at points where readers disagree with some of his and Yoder's interpretations, they will be challenged to explore new perspectives and rethink common assumptions concerning the diverse and often confusing issues that arise from sustained reflection on the Old Testament. Endorsements: "Making up for the paucity of attention to the Old Testament in ecclesiology, Nugent shows that Yoder's unique 'Israel-like view of the Church' substantially draws on the Old Testament as an essential part of the narrative arc in understanding God's work in forming a 'royal priesthood'--a mission that culminates in Christ and his body, the ecclesia. This is an important corrective to some recent rereadings of Yoder, which have no room to account for history--and particularly the history of Israel--in Yoder's missional ecclesiology. This is an important contribution to current debates." -James K.A. Smith Calvin College "It is beyond doubt that John Howard Yoder is a pivotal, defining force in contemporary theology, particularly as pertains to faith in the public domain. But Yoder is often thinly understood from his best-known work. This welcome volume pays close and fresh attention to the depth and rich scope of Yoder's interpretation, especially with reference to his careful reading of the Old Testament. The outcome is an awareness of Yoder's imaginative competence as a biblical theologian facing the demanding work of a Christian reading of the Old Testament. A plus of the volume is an extensive Yoder bibliography." -Walter Brueggemann Columbia Theological Seminary "In his many books and articles, and in a vast number of unpublished essays and lectures, John Howard Yoder encompassed virtually the entire theological curriculum. John Nugent, whose breadth is similarly impressive, has here provided a comprehensive summary and critical evaluation of Yoder's interpretation of the Old Testament, especially as it bears on the issue of 'pacifism, ' or to be more precise, as Yoder and Nugent would have it, trust in God." -Ben C. Ollenburger Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary "This wonderful book is all I hoped for--and more. Nugent clearly knows Yoder's thought extremely well. With considerable intelligence and discernment, he has shown the vital importance of the Old Testament roots of The Politics of Jesus. But more than that, he has written a book that has great relevance for all Christians interested in the relationship between the Testaments, especially as related to the subject of peace." -Mark Thiessen Nation Eastern Mennonite Seminary Author Biography: John C. Nugent is Professor of Old Testament at Great Lakes Christian College. He is the editor of Radical Ecumenicity: Pursuing Unity and Continuity after John Howard Yoder (2010) and The End of Sacrifice: The Capital Punishment Writings of John Howard Yoder (2011).

    His landmark works in Old Testament theology have inspired and informed a generation of students, scholars, and preachers. These chapters gather his recent addresses and essays, never published before, drawn from all three parts of the Hebrew BibleTorah, prophets, and writingsand addressing the role of the Hebrew canon in the life of the church.Brueggemann turns his critical erudition to those practicesprophecy, lament, prayer, faithful imagination, and a holy economicsthat alone may usher in a humane and peaceful future for our cities and our world, in defiance of the most ruthless aspects of capitalism, the arrogance of militarism, and the disciplines of the national security state.

    

    Most of the verses are found in Daniel and Ezra. Basics of Biblical Aramaic follows the same easy-to-understand style found the widely-used Basics of Biblical Hebrew and includes everything you need to learn Biblical Aramaic. This book is designed for those who already have a working knowledge of Biblical Hebrew. Basics of Biblical Aramaic features: -Complete lexicon of Biblical Aramaic -Complete annotated text of all 269 Bible verses written in Aramaic -Chapter exercises -Answer key

    In this work, the author discusses the wide range of rape texts in biblical literature - some that long have but didn't, such as texts of marital rape, for example, or metaphorical speech about God as rapist.