The JPS Torah Commentary: Exodus [Hardcover]

Dr. Nahum M. Sarna (Author)

Book Description

Series: JPS Torah Commentary | Publication Date: June 1, 2003

The JPS Torah Commentary series guides readers through the words and ideas of the Torah. Each volume is the work of a scholar who stands at the pinnacle of his field. Every page contains the complete traditional Hebrew text, with cantillation notes, the JPS translation of the Holy Scriptures, aliyot breaks, Masoretic notes, and commentary by a distinguished Hebrew Bible scholar, integrating classical and modern sources. Each volume also contains supplementary essays that elaborate upon key words and themes, a glossary of commentators and sources, extensive bibliographic notes, and maps.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This is the fourth volume in the acclaimed "Jewish Publication Society Torah Commentary" series. Volumes on the books of Genesis and Leviticus were published in 1989, and Numbers in 1990. Following the format of the earlier books, this new work presents the traditional masoretic Hebrew text and the new JPS English translation, along with a masterful commentary by eminent scholar Sarna. Drawing upon classical and modern sources, Sarna's exegesis and historical and philological interpretations are scholarly yet quite accessible to nonspecialist readers. Included are an introduction, six excurses on problematic subjects, a glossary, and notes. Sarna eschews any attempt to discuss the provenance of the Exodus text, although he does state that he considers Exodus a work of historiosophy (a document of faith) rather than a work of historiography. Like its predecessors, this beautifully formatted book will greatly help elucidate the text of a seminal book of the Hebrew Bible. Directed primarily to a Jewish audience (clergy, specialists, and general readers), it could also benefit non-Jewish clergy and specialists as well.
- Robert A. Silver, Shaker Heights P.L., Ohio
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Language Notes

Text: English, Hebrew

Product Details

• Hardcover: 278 pages
• Publisher: The Jewish Publication Society; 1st edition (June 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0827603274
• ISBN-13: 978-0827603271
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 7.6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #766,134 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply stunning, July 20, 2000

By 

R. Kaiser (New Hampshire) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The JPS Torah Commentary: Exodus (Hardcover)

The best commentary on exodus that I have ever seen. This work makes use of literary analysis and comparative Semitics; intertextual commentary relating each book to other biblical books, and evidence from modern archaeological discoveries. Yet, it is also based on traditional rabbinic commentary! While accessible to lay people, it is based on the the highest standards of critical historical scholarship.

20 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Pricey, December 5, 2000

By 

Tupper - See all my reviews

This review is from: The JPS Torah Commentary: Exodus (Hardcover)

As a whole, the JPS series of commentaries on the first five books of the Bible is excellent. However, of the five, I would say Sarna's efforts are the weakest. The Hebrew text is clear, the JPS translation well laid out, and the commentary extensive. However, if you are hesitating the pay the cost of this book, I would recommend Sarna's paperback, Exploring Exodus. While not nearly as lengthy as this commentary, Sarna's paperback contains most of the ideas that he elucidates in this volume. The same can be said of his JPS commentary on Genesis, which does not add much to his shorter paperback book, Understanding Genesis.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sarna enhances the biblical Eodus, May 31, 2010

By 

Israel Drazin (Boca Raton, Florida) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The JPS Torah Commentary: Exodus (Hardcover)

The biblical book Genesis is of course the most exciting and thought provoking books of the Pentateuch, the five books of Moses, at least from a literary point of view. But Exodus comes a close second. And Dr. Nahum Sarna enhances the story with his brilliant commentary built from ancient and modern interpretations and his own unique abilities.

Sarna includes an introduction discussing the book's title, which was drawn from the Greek translation of about 250 BCE, the division of the book into forty chapters, an idea taken from Christian Bibles,the three-parts that divide Exodus, the oppression of the Israelites, the exodus from Egypt and slavery, and the events at Sinai. He also discuses when the events occured.

He includes twenty additional short discussions that preface the biblical narratives on subjects such as the birth and youth of Moses, the plagues, the Sinai covenant, and the Tabernacle.

After the detailed well-written commnetary on the Torah verses, Sarna concludes his book with six discussions on subjects such as who were the Hebrews, the meaning of El Shaddai, and ancient near eastern laws and the bible.

An example of Dr. Sarna's commentary is his discussion of the concept of "hardening Pharaoh's heart," which occurs exactly twenty times in Exodus, half attributed to the man's character and half to divine causuality. Sarna explains the phrase, tells why the verses speak of the heart rather than the mind, why half are assigned as God's work, and what the twenty occurrences mean.