Customer Reviews

The Torah for Family Reading: The Five Books of Moses, the Prophets, the Writings

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This version of the Old Testament is the most readable ever. It is a slightly modernized King James version, so all the quotes and slogans are instantly recognizable. It is also edited with most lists and social customs relegated to the appendix, emphasizing core moral principles. Leviticus in this book is a clear-cut unambiguous position-statement. You can be in no doubt what Judeao-Christianity is all about after reading it. Should be on every bookshelf that contains a Bible.

In the Introduction, Joe Gaer says:
"In language The Torah for Family Reading approximates the Authorized King James Version more closely than any other version in English. That is to say, the Hebrew Scriptures were compared word for word and sentence for sentence with the Authorized Version, and preference was given to the time-honored and familiar text, unless the difference involved accuracy of meaning or clarity of thought. All obscurities and archaisms were eliminated, so that every member of the family who can read, can read the text without difficulty."
"In The Torah for Family Reading every chapter is accounted for. Yet it is considerably shorter than any of the standard versions, because all duplications, specifications, and detailed descriptions of rituals and genealogies have been relegated to summarized notes at the end of the book; the principal laws are given separately in a summary, alphabetically arranged;"

.. and that says it all. A work of genius.

This is NOT a modernized King James Version of the Christian Old Testament - its the Hebrew Bible paraphrased. However, its is a great resource for Christains and Jews alike and very readible!