Customer Reviews

How to Read the Bible

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If you have a sense that a literal approach to the Bible might not be a fruitful way toward understanding, then this book clears the way by clarifying some good reasons for that feeling. Mr. Brettler has a knowledgeable and respecful attitude towards both the old and new testament. He demonstrates not only its historic context, but the literary traditions of the various writers who have created the anthology we call the Bible. His scholarly approach calmly explicates the metaphorical and poetic mind set that was never intended to be scientifically, nor even purely historically accurate....but which nevertheless presents us with a kind of overarching wisdom, which yet trancends the measurable. It offers the hope of a more balanced and integrated concept of self knowledge than we have today. It was a satisfying read, and a wonderful conterpoint to all the tulmut which was taking place here in York County, Pennsylvania...in a little rural town some readers might recall.....Dover, Pennsylvania.

Like another reviewer, I was introduced to this book from the National Public Radio program Fresh Air with Terry Gross. The interview with Mark Zvi Brettler was totally enlightening and fascinating.

Now I am taking an excellent Christian course of classes on the Bible, much of it on the Hebrew Bible (what Christians call the Old Testament). In my classes there is such a wealth of information well taught that sometimes I do not feel that I have either internalized the essence of the topic and useful information on the history of the writing and compilation of the Bible itself. In fact that is not the point of the class. I use Brettler's book to pull myself away and look at the information a slightly different way.

I have been greatly enlightened by reading Professor Brettler's book as it covers much ESSENTIAL information I think a person needs to read the Bible (Old Testament). For example, I did not know that there were several different versions of the "ten commandments" (the Decalogue), and even different Christian denominations used different versions.

Well, this is a wonderful book and whether you end up agreeing with everything Brettler has concluded is irrelevant to whether reading it is a great learning experience. I also think it is helpful for Christians to read a book by a Jewish Bible scholar, although many of his sources come from Christian scholars as well a Jewish ones.

Professor Brettler brings together his considerable knowledge of archeology, religion, Semitic languages to demonstrate to the reader that the traditional and generally literal way of reading the Bible simply does not comport with what was written or intended by the author(s). He illustrates this point repeatedly by pointing up apparent inconsistencies e.g., the reports of the slaying of Goliath by two different figures, one the well known David and the other, a relatively unknown Israelite, the fact that the Torah as such(the first five books) was not known to
the Prophet Amos, although he refernces traditions that comport with some of the ones in the Torah, but not the book of Deutronomy as evidenced by Amos' approval of certain mourning practices forbidden in that Book. He also emphasizes his opinion that the Canonical version we now have was most assuredly not the original, in part due to absence of an obligation on the part of the redactor(s) or even the oral transmitter(s) to the text, particularly where there were other objectives to be accomplished. A draw-back of the book is Professor Brettler's decision not to have footnotes in proximity to the cited provisions. However, on the whole, the book is filled with data and textual quotations that can be easily verified by the reader with ready access to translations of the Bible.

Dr. Brettler's presentation of all of the familiar Bible stories (and a few, maybe, not so familiar) as understood through the "Historical-Critical Method" of Bible study hits that magic "sweet spot" between scholarly writing and "a good read." Particularly for those familiar with the Hebrew Bible (aka the New Testament,) the flow of his narrative manages to interleave discussion of archeological findings and ancient texts with the Bible stories themselves, as seen from the historical perspective.

The fact that this book is a pleasure to read almost conceals the fact that it is also crammed with information, both historical and interpretive, reflecting Dr. Brettler's depth of learning. One can hardly turn a page without revealing some new tidbit of insight, many of which trigger a new understanding of some aspect of a Bible story or of a larger view of the Bible's context and meaning.

This is a book I'll return to again and again

I found this an enjoyable and thoughtful book. I would label much of it "educated speculation" but the emphasis on historical setting, the events that were contemporaneous to the Biblical authors, the historicity, the entomology, the fact that we can only guess at the literal meaning of certain colloquialisms used in the sacred texts, all that was priceless. One is not required to agree with Marc Z. Brettler's conclusions to read this book. Whether it serves to educate, enlighten, convince, or merely stimulate a good sound argument, this is a book worthy of the time it requires to read. Brettler may or may not be wrong but he cannot be accused of ignorance when it comes to his subject matter. Too often books about the Bible lean too far toward timidity in the author's reverence for the subject matter, or else the writer is an iconoclast intend on dismantling and disproving the Bible itself, and it was good to have the balance between those polarities that the more objective Brettler found. After reading this I was glad I took the occasion to consider western civilization's most revered texts from this purely scholarly perspective.

Marc Brettler's book unravels many issues that the modern reader of the Bible faces. His pointing out the various sources which were combined in the Bible and his unraveling of these sources clears up many issues and contradictions that the reader finds in the Bible. His understanding of the way the Bible was read in biblical times gives a much clearer picture of what it meant to the ancient reader.

Anyone interested in the Bible will find this book a valuable companion.

I don't know why, but about once or twice a year, I keep buying books like this one. Books where the author is actually engaged in an argument in his (mostly his) mind with fundamentalists and that's the one audience who will never read his book. That said, this is a very good read through the familiar material and I appreciate Brettler's care for his readers. It would be a great book for a church group to read together. It is very helpful in that classes that I lead.

This is an informal companion to the Bible written by a thoughtful expert looking to demonstrate the benefits of the historico-critical method. The book might be best described as a collection of Brettler's observations. It roughly follows the same order of the Bible, and is filled with direct-text quotations to support the author's evidence.

This is a very simple, easily-read commentary. It would make a great companion for someone approaching the Old Testament for the first time.

Nearly a year ago, I bought a copy of How to Read the Bible. I have read it several times since, and often refer to it in my Bible readings. Because my son once said that he tried to read the Bible, but he just didn't understand it, and couldn't see how much of it would be of use to him, I sent him Brettler's book. It's stated goal is to demystify an otherwise enigmatic book. I believe it accomplishes that goal well. Though written first to a Jewish audience, by giving a better understanding of what the various parts would have meant in the time and context in which the Bible was written, it brings new meanings to contemporary readers of all faiths.
I have yet to find out whether he found it a help or not, but he's reading it, and that's while he's on vacation, too.

This is a really interesting book that takes a look at the Hebrew Bible using an historical-critical method. It is very accessable and readable, while still being a valuable scholarly work. Very, very interesting. You'll learn things you never heard about in Sunday School.