JPS Guide: The Jewish Bible

by Jewish Publication Society

Publisher:

Jewish Publication Society

, 2008

Overview

This volume began with a simple idea: to create a concise companion to the Bible. But that led to a not-so-simple question: How does one develop a guide that is worthy of accompanying such a complex book and keep it short and uncomplicated? A book based on scholarship without being “scholarly”? The Jewish Bible: A JPS Guide is what it set out to be: an introduction and compact reference to the most fascinating and influential book of all time.

This new volume in the acclaimed JPS Guides series is an invaluable companion to the Jewish Bible, providing readers with ready access to important facts and Bible basics:

• how the Bible became the "Bible"; its origins, content, and organization
• distinctions between the Jewish Bible (JPS TANAKH) and Christian Bibles
• a short history of Bible translations, and how they differ
• Bible commentaries
• storytelling, poetry, law, prophecy, and wisdom literature
• popular methods of Bible study
• finding meaning through midrash

In addition, there are summaries of all the biblical books; dozens of text boxes; an extensive glossary of Bible terms, places, and people; maps, charts, and tables; and large foldout timelines and family trees—all in color.

Contributions are by leading Bible scholars and educators: Marc Zvi Brettler, Joyce Eisenberg, Michael Fishbane, Michael V. Fox, Leonard Greenspoon, Jill Hammer, Stuart Kelman, Adriane Leveen, David Mandel, Lionel Moses, Shalom Paul, Benjamin Edidin Scolnic, Ellen Scolnic, David E. S. Stein, Barry Dov Walfish, and Andrea Weiss.

Key Features

• Serves as a clear and concise handbook to the TANAKH
• Provides readers with important Bible facts
• Includes summaries of all the biblical books

Contents

Top Highlights

“until the 2nd century b.c.e., when Aramaic took its place as the everyday language.” (Page 226)

“The name of the final part of the Bible, ‘Kethuvim,’ means ‘Writings.’” (Page 3)

“Kethuvim’ has come to serve as a catchall term. It is a mixed collection, and it contains such diverse works as Psalms (prayers), Chronicles (history), Daniel (prophecy), and Song of Songs (erotic poetry).” (Page 3)

“In classical Rabbinic literature, the two most common terms for the Bible are miqra (literally ‘that which is read or recited aloud’) and Kitvei Hakodesh (The Holy Writings).” (Page 2)

“The scholarly and holy language of the Jews, used in prayer. It is the language in which most of the” (Page 226)

Praise for the Print Edition

. . . A great reference work for beginners and more advanced students… Anyone interested in Bible study should find something of interest in this excellent guide.

—The Reporter, Wheaton College

Product Details

• Title: JPS Guide: The Jewish Bible
• Publisher: JPS
• Publication Date: 2008
• Pages: 250

About Jewish Publication Society

The Jewish Publication Society of America was founded in Philadelphia in 1888 to provide the children of Jewish immigrants to America with books about their heritage in the language of the New World. As the oldest publisher of Jewish titles in the English language, the mission of JPS is to enhance Jewish culture by promoting the dissemination of religious and secular works of exceptional quality, in the United States and abroad, to all individuals and institutions interested in past and contemporary Jewish life.

Over the years JPS has issued a body of works for all tastes and needs. Its many titles include biographies, histories, art books, holiday anthologies, books for young readers, religious and philosophical studies, and translations of scholarly and popular classics. It is perhaps known best for its famous JPS Tanakh, the translation of the Hebrew Bible in English from the original Hebrew.