Bede: On the Tabernacle (Liverpool University Press - Translated Texts for Historians) [Paperback]

Bede (Author), Arthur G. Holder (Translator)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0853233780 | ISBN-13: 978-0853233787 | Publication Date: May 1, 1994

This volume contains the first English translation of Bede’s allegorical commentary on the tabernacle of Moses, which he interpreted as a symbolic figure of the Christian Church. Written in the early 720s at the monastery of Wearmouth-Jarrow in Northumbria, On the Tabernacle (De tabernaculo) was the first Christian literary work devoted entirely to this topic and the first verse-by-verse commentary on the relevant portions of the Book of Exodus. On the Tabernacle was one of Bede’s most popular works, appearing in a great many manuscripts from every period of the Middle Ages.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Liverpool University Press (May 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0853233780
• ISBN-13: 978-0853233787
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,951,783 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Holder Brings Bede to the 21st Century, August 6, 2000

By 

Symeon Jekel (Camp Hill, PA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bede: On the Tabernacle (Liverpool University Press - Translated Texts for Historians) (Paperback)

Arthur G. Holder has provided a great service to English speakers everywhere in his edition of Bede: On the Tabernacle. This is a translation of an amazing text from the Venerable Bede, often known as the "Father of English History".

The work by Bede is a commentary on the major Old Testament texts which established the tabernacle. If you are a student of scripture, or have an interest in the medieval mind I can't see why you wouldn't buy this book.

Bede finds layers and depths of spiritual meaning in every pole hook, and ring of the sacred house of worship. In addition to putting his interpretive approach to work, he enlightens us with several passages directly explaining his methods of handling the sacred scriptures. If modern exegetes are committed to word studies, Bede was committed to "detail studies," taking the grammatical meaning of the words in most cases for granted and spending his effort on the spiritual implications.

Even if you don't finally succumb to the seductive clarity of Bede's allegorizing, you will have basked in the pattern revealed to Moses on the mount as well as the delightful power of one of the most peaceable, devout, and honorable of minds ever to record its thoughts. Bede managed to pack nearly 500 scriptural quotes and allusions into 150 pages of text. As they say nowadays. "The man knew his Bible."

Go get it. And again thanks to Dr. Holder.

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful, refreshing and very insightful, September 28, 2010

By 

Timothy - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Bede: On the Tabernacle (Liverpool University Press - Translated Texts for Historians) (Paperback)

For anyone that has a desire to read an untainted view of the Tabernacle that in many cases pushes outside of the boxes and isn't afraid to voice the opinion that is unlike many repetative books today then this is the book for you. Of course I enjoy reading all ancient books such as these due to the intellect alone the authors wrote with. Of course there is a small bit of early century Catholic influence (Bede was a Monk of course!) but nevertheless the book is an excellent addition to your library if you like to study the Tabernacle.