Customer Reviews

The Temple: Its Ministry and Services

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

In this book, Edersheim does a brilliant job of organising the various details of first century worship in the Jewish temple, making it accessible to the modern reader. The first few chapters describe the physical setting and furnishing of Jerusalem and the temple.

After providing that, Edersheim systematically explains the various categories of offerings (burnt offerings, sin offerings, peace offerings, &c.) and the Jewish festival cycle. He relies both on the commandments as given in the torah, and the subsequent traditions which grew up in post-exilic Jewish worship to explain things as they were when the New Testament was written. When appropriate, some space is devoted to differences of opinion amongst the various rabbinical schools.

Numerous footnotes referencing scripture and various tracts in the Mishnah are provided, but so many as to be distracting.

The only real criticism I have of the book is that it is over 100 years old. One suspects that research within the last century might expand or clarify sections. Also, monetary equivalents are given relative to British Pounds Sterling of the 19th century; not particularly helpful.

I would also offer a caveat. I bought mine used, and did not get the edition with the pictures and illustrations - so be careful to make sure you get the edition you intend.

All things considered, it's a must-have book for anyone who wants to understand the numerous temple references in the New Testament.

This book is a wonderful book--it is well written, organized well in a format that allows for relatively quick reference, and just plain has a lot of information in it.

Edersheim was a Messianic Jew who lived during the 1800's. He was a phenomenal scholar, which he proves again in this book. This book is riddled with citations to the Talmud, Josephus, and many other early sources. By Edersheim's own admission, he omits as many footnotes as he can--and there are still more footnotes than most books written today!

That said, I suspect it is not the book for everyone. First of all, it is written from a Christian perspective. Edersheim shows, very effectively, how Christ fulfilled all that the Temple portrayed. To do this, there are some discussions that many people will find simply boring (I found most of them fascinating). Also, it is worth noting that this book was first published in 1874--and the Edersheim's writing style is thus outdated by over a century. If that doesn't bother you, then great--pick up the book. Or, if you don't plan on actually reading the book cover to cover, but would like a good reference, this would be a good book as well. If, on the other hand, you don't enjoy reading 19th-century language, this book may be sufficiently painful enough for you that you should pass it up.

However--and a big however--if you're not sure whether you would like this book, get it anyway. It's a great book.

Edersheim takes the reader throughout the first-century Temple, illuminating many things that are not commonly known. The book has some very detailed information in it, details not known to most people. These details bring to light many of the themes of the New Testament, and helps the reader understand exactly what was meant in a given passage.

For a better understanding of the Temple in the times of Christ, this book is superb--but like I said, probably not for the faint of heart.

This is a great book for foundational learning in Bible study. It presents the Temple as it was in the time of Solomon and in the context of the Mosaic Law. It relates that Temple to the ministry of Jesus and how all that He did was set within the context of atonement, sacrifice and worship of the One True G-d.

Edersheim is not the easiest to read. The gold is there it just takes time and patience to pan for it. I personally would not be without his works but unless you are accustomed to reading "dated" works this might be difficult. His sentences can get involved. It is not anachronistic, but some might appreciate more modern findings and writers. Those not used to reading what would, by some, be termed dry works might start with something else. He led the way for others to follow in contemporary history and the social settings of the days of Jesus and as such deserves to be read.

I echo the one thought of the first reviewer. Don't make the mistake I did of getting the cheaper used book. I truly thought I was getting the latest edition. Nope. This was the early edition with NO pictures. On top of that the writing style is antiquated. All of this has been improved in the 1997 edition with its numerous illustrations and updates on the archeology as well as modern english useage.

Mostly concerned with the Temple services at the time of Jesus Christ, this beloved author takes a look at most of the ceremonial and social happenings at the Temple in Jerusalem. His interest is clearly the exegesis of New Testament passages and their relevance to the Temple language. Many readers can certainly benefit from a reading of this book, being able to read their Bibles in a much more accurate context. One can just picture the expressions on the crowds and Pharisee's faces as Christ made use of Temple symbolism is regard to himself. Another area which I thought the author did a fine job of commentary on was his exposition on the differences and additions to the ceremonies Moses and the early Israelites would have kept, something modern Christianity does not appreciate in its constant attack on Torah. The authors appreciation of the Hebraic culture is obvious and his striving for reconciliation between the two religious systems is certainly applied. This book has stood the test of time and appears to have the strength to remain a classic.

Alfred Edersheim's writings are considered a benchamrk by many. His original "Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah" (3000 pages) is a classic.
I purchased his book regarding the temple based on his track record.
The book, though written years ago, is a thorough study in the set-up, operation, and functionality of the temple in all its glory.

Anyone desiring to understand present-day worship in the church needs to understand the worship in the original temple. Not necessarily to imitate it, but learn how to approach God in a manner consistent with Who He is. Understanding the methods of the "original" temple worshippers, yields many "keys" on how to worship God today. Desire to understand worship of God?...I recommend reading this book.

An excellent, in depth analysis of the Temple by a master. Updates make it much more easily read by a modern audience

I have only read sections of this book, but what I have read are excellent in their complete description of the Jewish temple. From the layout of the temple to the implements used, Edersheim fully explains why the temple was even needed and the ceremonies performed by the priests. I plan a return trip to the Holy Land in the Summer of 2001, and I will be bringing this book with me to read closer in my desire to fully understand this place. As we know, the conflict in Israel stems mainly from the holiness of this site, held by both Jews and Christians today.

This book was written towards the end of the 19th century, and the style of writing betrays this. Edersheim occasionally adds Christian interpretations, which can be a bit distracting. However, the images he builds up of the services in the Jewish Temple of the 1st century CE, are very edifying and uplifting. It is often difficult to realise, even in the 20th century, the sense of holiness and reverence that the ancient worshippers felt; also the feeling that, when they entered the Temple, they were actually coming into the presence of God. This book is a valuable historical work; very few books are dedicated to the spirituality of a lost, ancient institution such as the Jerusalem Temple. It is an excellent book, both from an historical and a spiritual perspective. The only improvement on this work would be to remove the Christian overlay on what was essentially a Jewish institution, so that people can read about the Temple, not only to gain a sense of what the people who used it (Jews) felt, but also so that the reader can make up their own mind, and develop their own interpretations. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about the Temple in Jerusalem as it was in the 1st century CE.