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.
