JPS Tanakh Commentary Collection (9 Vols.)

The JPS Torah Commentary Series: Genesis

• Nahum M. Sarna
• 414 pages | 1989

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.

Nahum M. Sarna (1923– 2005), was born in London and received his training in rabbinics at Jews College, London, and his B.A. and M.A. from the University College London. After living in Israel for two years, he settled in the United States in 1951, and received his Ph.D. in biblical studies and Semitic languages from Dropsie College, Philadelphia.

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The JPS Torah Commentary Series: Exodus

• Nahum M. Sarna
• 278 pages | 1991

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.”

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The JPS Torah Commentary Series: Leviticus

• Baruch A. Levine
• 284 pages | 1989

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.

Baruch Levine is the Skirball Professor of Bible and Ancient Near Eastern Studies at New York University, and has also served as Guest Professor at the Hebrew University and at Ben Gurion University. He is the Editor of the Israel Exploration Journal and a member of the Archaeological Council of the Israel Exploration Society.

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The JPS Torah Commentary Series: Numbers

• Jacob Milgrom
• 520 pages | 1989

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.

Jacob Milgrom is a scholar and professor emeritus in the field of Biblical Studies at the University of California. He is most known for his research on the book of Leviticus and the purity regulations of the Torah.

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The JPS Torah Commentary Series: Deuteronomy

• Jeffrey H. Tigay
• 548 pages | 1996

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.

Jeffrey H. Tigay, a 1995 winner of the Lindback Award for distinguished teaching, is A.M. Ellis Professor of Hebrew and Semitic Languages and Literatures in the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations at the University of Pennsylvania. From 1995-1998 he was Chair of the Jewish Studies Program.

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The JPS Bible Commentary Series: Esther

• Adele Berlin
• 110 pages | 2001

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].

This informative commentary ... dissects the Book of Esther and, by extension, the Jewish holiday of Purim. Berlin begins with a lengthy introduction, discussing Esther as comedy and as Diaspora literature; the introduction does a fine job of explaining the Persian period and its various art forms.
— Publishers Weekly

Adele Berlin, a scholar of biblical and ancient Near Eastern literature, has developed the Biblical Studies program at the University of Maryland and has designed and taught courses on biblical narrative and poetry, ancient Near Eastern culture and literature, and methods of biblical interpretation.

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The JPS Bible Commentary: Ecclesiastes

• Michael V. Fox
• 128 pages | 2004

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.

The sum of the matter, when all is said and done, is that the JPS Ecclesiastes/Koheleth is a thorough, sensitive and engaging study with much to recommend it.
— Canadian Jewish News

This is an insightful and accessible commentary that reflects many years of deep engagement with the text.
— Journal of Hebrew Scriptures

This volume is a profitable resource for both scholars and pastors. Pastors will appreciate its brevity and clarity, and scholars will respect its depth and thoughtfulness.
— Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society

Michael V. Fox received his rabbinical ordination from Hebrew Union College. He received a Ph.D. in Bible, Semitics, and Egyptology from the Hebrew University. He is currently Halls-Bascom Professor of Hebrew at the University of Wisconsin.

The JPS Bible Commentary Series: Jonah

• Uriel Simon
• 52 pages | 1999

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.

Simon's commentary is a welcome addition to this excellent series.
— Interpretation

Uriel Simon is a professor at Bar Ilan University in Israel and served as a director of the university's Institute for the History of Jewish Research. He has also taught at the Jewish Theological Seminary, Yale University, and Harvard University.

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The JPS Bible Commentary Series: Haftarot

• Michael Fishbane
• 700 pages | 2002

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.

... without a doubt, the finest commentary on the Haftarot I have studied.
— David L. Lieber, President Emeritus and Skovron Distinguished Service Professor of Biblical Literature and Thought, University of Judaism; Senior Editor of Etz Hayim

Michael Fishbane, Ph.D., is one of the foremost Hebrew Bible scholars in the world today and is the Nathan Cummings Professor of Jewish Studies and chair of the Committee on Jewish Studies at the University of Chicago.

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