I Samuel (The Anchor Bible, Vol. 8) [Hardcover]

Jr. P. Kyle McCarter (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 11, 1979

I Samuel is Volume 8 in the  Anchor Bible series of new, book-by book  translations of the Old and New Testaments and Apocrypha. In  his series debut, P. Kyle McCarter, Jr., has  written a volume of interest and value to both the  scholar and the general  reader.

McCarter's treatment of I Samuel  consists  of:

Introduction : review of the literary problems and  historical circumstances surrounding the writing of  the  book.

Translation : fresh and authoratative, this new  translation of I Samuel fully utilizes  for the first time ancient manuscript fragments  found at Qumran.

Textual  Notes : for the scholar, technical  information on the texts used in the  translation.

Notes : for the untrained  reader, descriptions of people, places, customs,  and unusual features of the  language.

Commentary : an explanatory  summary of each passage of  translation.

Maps : illustrating the book's  dramatic events.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

I Samuel is Volume 8 in the Anchor Bible series of new, book-by book translations of the Old and New Testaments and Apocrypha. In his series debut, P. Kyle McCarter, Jr., has written a volume of interest and value to both the scholar and the general reader.

McCarter's treatment of I Samuel consists of:

Introduction : review of the literary problems and historical circumstances surrounding the writing of the book.

Translation : fresh and authoratative, this new translation of I Samuel fully utilizes for the first time ancient manuscript fragments found at Qumran.

Textual Notes : for the scholar, technical information on the texts used in the translation.

Notes : for the untrained reader, descriptions of people, places, customs, and unusual features of the language.

Commentary : an explanatory summary of each passage of translation.

Maps : illustrating the book's dramatic events.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 474 pages
• Publisher: Anchor Bible (December 11, 1979)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385067607
• ISBN-13: 978-0385067607
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.4 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #495,035 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not the best translation, but worthwhile, September 10, 2001

By 

J. A Magill (Sacramento, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: I Samuel (The Anchor Bible, Vol. 8) (Hardcover)

The anchor translation of Samuel, as with all of the volumes in the series, is rather archaic. The attempt to turn biblical hebrew into old english in an effort to make it more formal is an old tradition, and takes much away from the work. On that score, Everett Fox's "Give Us a King" offers a far more readable and interesting translation. Alter's work is also superior for its explination of ambiguity in language where they occur. So why four Stars?

The Anchor is a must own work for its excellent maps and quite good commentary. The translator also breaks the work down into interesting units of drama that give an interesting perspective. If you just want to read Samuel to get the flavor of the work, read Fox instead. However, if you are studying it, this work, for all its flaws, is a must own.