The Koren Tanakh of the Land of Israel: Exodus

Theologian Sacks (Lessons in Leadership) translates and analyzes the Hebrew Bible in this attractive, thoughtful resource. His treatment of the Hebrew Bible is grounded in examination of the ancient Near Eastern milieu of the Israelites. A colorful chart contrasts stages in Israelite history with parallel developments in Egypt, Greece, Mesopotamia, Rome, and the Kingdom of the Hittites. Essays preceding scripture provide accessible overviews of relevant subjects—such as the history, culture, and religion of Egypt—at the time Moses was called upon to free his people. While committed to a fundamentalist approach, this volume also includes discussions of motifs that stories such as Moses’s birth share with Mesopotamian mythology, noting the ethical principles that distinguish the Bible version. The commentary doesn’t always dig deep; for example, the episode in Exodus 4: 24–26, in which God seeks to kill Moses after entrusting him with his sacred mission, receives a very short treatment. While The Jewish Study Bible remains the go-to source for Hebrew Bible students, those comfortable with translation and analysis premised on the traditional view that “the Torah is a unified text from a single Divine author” will find this beautifully presented edition of the Book of Exodus helpful and enlightening. [em](Mar.) [/em]