Joel: A New Translation with Notes (Anchor Bible) (Hardcover)

by James Crenshaw (Author)
Key Phrases: mushrooming smoke, two bicola, oracular formula, New York, Old Testament, Masoretic Text (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Scripture Scholar James L. Crenshaw  Captures The Ominous, Yet Hopeful Spirit Of Joel's  Prophecy In His New Translation And  Commentary.

Joel's Prophecy has an unexpectedly familiar  ring to it. The biblical book of Joel is relevant to  our late-twentieth-century world because it  confronts an age when people tolerated almost anything,  did not want someone telling them how to live  their lives, and had difficulty distinguishing right  from wrong. It was at once a time of  self-indulgence and a time of spiritual decay. The economic and  political disparity of the day, combined with  widespread social injustice and deviant religious  practices, brought about God's judgment on his chosen  people, the judahites. Pleading the litany of sins  in Joel is like reading the newspaper, things have  not changed much in 2,500 years. Leading Scripture  scholar James L. Crenshaw's fresh translation of  the biblical prophecy of Joel combines the latest  research into Hebrew language and literature with  down-to-earth insights into how Joel's words relate  to the modern world. Drawing upon a thorough  analysis of the book's grammar and philology, literary  forms and context, religious and social situation,  and historical setting, Crenshaw offers the most  informed and up-to-date commentary available. For  those who want to read and understand Joel, this  book is indispensable.

Language Notes
Text: English, Hebrew (translation)
Original Language: Hebrew

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Doubleday Religion; 1st edition (September 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385412053
• ISBN-13: 978-0385412056
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #848,577 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A very good supplementary commentary, February 9, 2004

By	David Zampino "21st Century Hobbit" (Delavan, Wisconsin) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This translation and commentary on Joel by James Crenshaw is a worthy addition to the Anchor Bible series, and a supplementary text to a course I'm currently teaching on the Minor Prophets. While some of the material presented will be beyond the basic student of the Bible (especially with reference to nuances in the Hebrew language) this will not detract from the book's overall value.

Joel is a difficult book with a dark tone. Crenshaw's notes shed some welcome light.

5 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Great Philologically Liberal Commentary, October 3, 2000

By	Matt Blazer (Columbia, Mo. USA) - See all my reviews

I am using this book as a supplement as I translate the book of Joel with a Professor at the University of Missouri. For purposes such as this it is an excellent reference. However, it does not beat supplementary translations in accuracy. Instead, Crenshaw is writing a commentary as he translates. The purpose is two-fold. I only mean that the commentary is only great within the confines of Crenshaw's translation. Unless you are an exhaustive Key-Word scholar, do not purchase this unless you are familiar with biblical Hebrew. It is not a commentary based upon the English text. It is a commentary based upon Crenshaw's rendering of the Masoretic text.