Customer Reviews

Proverbs 1-9 (The Anchor Bible)

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This volume is the first of two that will replace the prior Anchor Bible volume, Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, by R.B.Y. Scott, now more than forty years old. Much has been found, read, and discussed since then, making the new volume necessary and welcome.

The greatest strength of the book is Fox's ability to place Proverbs in the extraordinarily rich wisdom tradition of the ancient world, with particular attention to surviving texts from Egypt, Mesopotamia, and the Dead Sea. No less important is his attention to the differing transmissions of Proverbs through different scriptural traditions. Like the best of the Anchor volumes, the notes delve deeply into the details, constantly paying close attention to the Hebrew, with reference to the Talmud, to elucidate words, syntax, and symbolism.

Fox goes beyond merely recording parallels with other texts and commentaries of prior scholars: he weighs them, disputes them, and advances his own conclusions.

This new volume encourages me to think that the Anchor Bible will continue to grow and improve.