JPS Tanakh Commentary Collection (JPSTC) (9 vols.)

Balancing reverence for the text with rigorous scholarship, Sarna’s commentary is an illuminating and exhaustive treatment of Genesis. Included with the line-by-line analysis are thirty excursuses, and helpful maps. The commentary also features expository sections, including “Eden and the Expulsion: The Human Condition,” “The Depravity of Canaan,” “God’s Election of Abraham,” “Isaac, Father of Two Nations,” “Joseph’s Liberation and Rise to Power,” and many others.

From Library Journal: “…a masterful commentary by eminent scholar Sarna. Drawing upon classical and modern sources, Sarna's exegesis and historical and philological interpretations are scholarly yet quite accessible to nonspecialist readers. Included are an introduction, six excurses on problematic subjects, a glossary, and notes. Sarna eschews any attempt to discuss the provenance of the Exodus text, although he does state that he considers Exodus a work of historiosophy (a document of faith) rather than a work of historiography… this beautifully formatted book will greatly help elucidate the text of a seminal book of the Hebrew Bible.”

Levine’s scholarly commentary on Leviticus offers a lucid and detailed treatment of the sacred text. The commentary contains a great many amplifications on the text beyond the line-by-line analysis, including discussion of the laws of Kashrut, the pursuit of holiness, the principles of land tenure, and more. Also included is a generous introduction, an essay on Leviticus in the ongoing Jewish tradition, eleven excursuses with footnotes, and helpful charts.

Milgrom’s exhaustive commentary on Numbers offers penetrating insights into this sacred book. Throughout, he maintains respect for classical Jewish commentators, but does not hesitate to incorporate modern Biblical research. The commentary itself is divided into two parts, “The Generations of the Exodus” and “The Generations of the Conquest,” which are both supplemented by additional forays deeper into the text. These include sections on the census in the wilderness, purification from contamination by a corpse, the war against Midian, and many others. And all this is over and above the line-by-line analysis, the informative introduction, the footnotes, the charts, the maps, and the 77 excursuses to the commentary.

In this comprehensive commentary on Deuteronomy, Tigay handles the often complex text with the skill of a master scholar. Within the line-by-line commentary are elaborations on specific textual, historical and social issues that oftentimes continue through many pages. This is above and beyond the 33 excursuses to the commentary, the extensive footnotes and the helpful charts and maps. A worthy addition to the highly-lauded JPS series of commentaries.

The commentary approaches the Book of Esther from a fresh literary point-of-view. It includes essays entitled "When and Where Was the Book of Esther Written?"; "Sex and Spies"; "Rabbinic Interpretation"; and many others. Recipient of the Prize of the Minister of Science, Culture, and Sport [of the State of Israel] for classical literature for the year 5762 [2001].

Fox's potent commentary is a terrific introduction to Ecclesiastes for the educated layman or scholar who wishes to better understand this fascinating and sometimes frustrating book. The author succinctly presents the consensus of modern thought on Ecclesiastes: that it is a fairly late production as books of the Bible go and that it is a series of philosophical reflections, not a systematic work of philosophy. It concerns itself with universal philosophical questions, rather than events in the history of Israel and in the Hebrews' covenant with God.

Simon provides a critical line-by-line commentary of the biblical text. It includes an extensive scholarly introduction, generous bibliographic and critical notes, and other explanatory material. Simon refers to traditional rabbinic commentaries, and the Mishna, Midrash and Talmud. His commentary also makes use of literary analysis, comparative Semitics, and evidence from modern archaeological discoveries.

The haftarot are an ancient part of Hebrew liturgy. These supplemental readings are excerpted from the Prophets (Nevi'im) and accompany each weekly Sabbath reading from the Torah as well as readings for special Sabbaths and festivals.

Noted Bible scholar Michael Fishbane introduces each haftarah with an outline and discussion of how that passage conveys its meaning, and he follows it with observations on how it relates to the Torah portion or special occasion. Individual comments—citing classical rabbinic as well as modern commentators—highlight ambiguities and difficulties in the Hebrew text, which appears in concert with the JPS translation. The haftarot are also put into biblical context by a separate overview of all prophetic books (except Jonah) that are excerpted in the haftarah cycle. This volume was a National Jewish Book Award Finalist.