Customer Reviews

The Commentators' Bible (Exodus): The JPS Miqra'ot Gedolot: Exodus

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Compiled by Michael Carasik, a teacher of Bible at the University of Pennsylvania, Miqra'ot Gedolot (or "large format bible") is now available in an understandable English edition. It was first published 500 years ago (the second edition was published in 1525 by Rabbi Yakov ben Hayyim) as the "Rabbinic Bible." The format is a Hebrew text from the bible in the middle of the page. On top of this Hebrew box is a Targum, or translation(s) in English; surrounding the passage are medieval commentaries from Rashi (RAbbi SHlomo ben Yitzhak, 1040-1105, Northern France), Rashbam (RAbbi SHmuel Ben Meir, 1085-1174, grandson of Rashi, Northern France) , Ibn Ezra (Rabbi Avraham ibn Ezra, 1089-c1164, Muslim Spain/Italy/France/England), and Nachmanides / RambaN (RAbbi Moshe Ben Nahman, 1195-c1260, Spain/Israel) in new, more understandable, English translations. Other commentators are included when appropriate, including "Masorah (or c1000 traditions)", Bekhor Shor (12th Century France), Rabbi David Kimhi (RaDaK, c1160-c1235, Provence), Hizkuni, Gersonides/Ralbag, Abarbanel (15th Century Inquisition/Spain/Portugal, Italy), and Sforno (Italy, 1470-1550). Abarbanel provides the main question. The biblical passage is translated using BOTH the 1917 (Old JPS) and 1985 (New JPS) JPS English translations, since great scholars wrote them in each period, and nuggets of insight can be derived from each one, even if they are not parallel. The beauty of reading medieval commentaries on Exodus is that they find connections and contradictions that lay readers in English may miss from the more modern bibles. Also, since the commentators lived at different times in different circumstances, the reader can see how the biblical passage spoke to various scholars over time. It also is more raw than the Hertz bibles' (U.K. Chief Rabbi J. H. Hertz), that were used in many synagogues, and written to gloss over "primitive" Hebrew practices. The editor recommends that you follow one particular commentator through an entire story; compare different commentators; compare the two differing English translations and try to understand why they differ; read an entire chapter in the Old JPS translatoin and then in the New JPS translation and see what insights you can find; and/or ponder whether the questions you ask on the text are the same questions that Abarbanel and others felt were the glaring issue. Go and Learn.

When I first read about this "translation" of Mikra'ot Gedolot, I thought to myself: it can't be true. Chavel's English translation of RaMBaN's (Nachmanides) commentary on Shemot (Exodus) alone contains 626 pages of text. How in the world could all of that plus the other classical commentaries plus the original biblical text in Hebrew plus two translations of the biblical text all fit into a 349 page volume? The answer is that they don't. Just by checking the sample page available on the JPS website, I immediately saw that much of Ibn Ezra was missing. For all I know, this may be a very useful volume. However, if you think that it really offers translations of all the materials that appear in a real Mikra'ot Gedolot - think again.

This new translation of Miqra'ot Gedolot - Exodus is wonderful. The format is easy to read, the translations are very accessible, and the page of commentaries comes alive for those who are (yet) unable to read the original in Hebrew. This translation opens up a whole new world for the student of Torah and Bible - hearing the voices of the commentators respond to each other... and now the reader is invited to join the conversation. Looking forward to all five books of Torah.. and beyond.

I bought the book on the recommendation of my brother and boy am I glad I did! I always wished I could read all the commentaries surrounding the basic text in the Bible, but my Hebrew isn't up to it and my Aramaic is non existant. This book has solved my problem. It is fascinating and deepens the reader's understanding of Exodus.

This is by far my favorite Torah commentary yet! It includes the original Hebrew text and two English translations, which are useful for understanding words with multiple meanings. The commentaries are excellent. While they are edited to exclude most of the notes on the grammatical structure of the text, they provide incredible depth to the meaning of the text and fill in a great deal of background from midrash. This is the text I use when I teach a Torah study class for adults.

This is the first Commentator's Bible I have owned and used in my Torah study. I was extremely pleased with the easy accessibility to the thoughts and discussions of our famously erudite rebbe's of previous generations. Their insights and discussions, although years apart, appeared as if they were all in the same room discussing the parshot. This book has helped me gain deeper understandings in my weekly study of the Torah. I wish their was one for Vayikra and Devarim.

Thank you for making Miqra'ot Gedolot accessible in English for Sefer Shmot. The volume is beautiful and easy to read and use. Please, please make available the other four books of the Torah.

I bought this book for a class and the various commentaries have proved to be very interesting. I generally like the organization although sometimes it gets a little confusing especially when you go from page to page. However, I'm not sure there is any better way to do it.

This is an English translation of the great Miqrao't Gedolot which was the most popular Torah commentary. We use it in our Torah study session. MG contains the medieval commentators who have done a marvelous job in explaining the original text. These include the best and the brightest such as Rashi, Ibn Ezra, and Nachmanides. For many years the was "mother's milk" at the Yeshivot. This will open new avenues for those who really want to understand the process of studying Torah. It would be wise for non-Jewish groups to use it so that they may comprehend the development of a rational society that cherishes "menchlichkeit" meaning good human behavior. It is truly a "Gift from God."

This is a wonderful compendium of authoritative commentary on the book of Exodus. It is well led out and easy to read. Great for reference and great for study.