Mikra: Text, Translation, Reading and Interpretation of the Hebrew Bible in Ancient Judaism and Early Christianity (Compendia Rerum Iudaicarum Ad Novum Testamentum) (Hardcover)

by M. J. Mulder (Author), Harry Sysling (Editor)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
The term "Mikra" is frequently used interchangeably with "Bible" and "Holy Scripture." Nevertheless the term carries more freight, for it means "the way in which the text has always been and ought to be recited and understood by those who have been closely connected with the texts." The many scholars, all specialists in their fields, who contribute to this expansive volume elucidate the many translations and interpretations of the texts from the formation of the canon, through the Greek and Aramaic translations, the Samaritans, the Rabbis, the New Testament writers, the Latin translations, and the early Christian fathers.

From published reviews of the hardcover edition of Mikra: Text, Translation, Reading and Interpretation of the Hebrew Bible in Ancient Judaism and Early Christianity

"A vast amount of important information and useful knowledge has been brought together in this large (but not unreasonably priced) tome. I envy the person who can truly say that he or she has nothing to learn from it. But I doubt whether such a person will easily be found." —The Studia Philonica

"This important work must be commended most heartily. The range of articles is impressive, from 'Writing in ancient Israel and Early Judaism' to 'Old Testament Interpretation in the Writings of the Church Fathers' and the twenty chapters cover the canon, cycles of reading in the synagogue, the ancient versions (Septuagint, Samaritan Targum, Jewish Aramaic translations, Peshitta and Latin translations) and interpretation, authority and use at Qumran and in the apocrypha, Philo, Josephus, and other Hellenistic Jewish authors, rabbinic literature, the Samaritan tradition, Gnostic literature, and the early church.

"The general theme which controls the approach is 'how did the biblical books develop into Mikra, and how could this unique text give rise to such a wealth of interpretations. . . . This will be one of the standard works of reference, which all decent libraries should possess." —The Expository Times

"In its range of coverage the volume breaks some new ground, for no other work of this nature offers anything really comparable. . . . Not the least important feature of this volume is the fact that it embraces both Jewish and Christian tradition, thus emphasizing the importance of studying these two traditions together, rather than in isolation, as has all too often been the case in the past. As one might expect from such a distinguished team of scholars, the quality of the contributions is generally high, and some are outstanding. . . . All in all, this may be judged an eminently successful and useful volume." —Oxford Journals: Journal of Seminary Studies --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

About the Author
Martin J. Mulder was born in Ter Aar, The Netherlands, in 1923. He studied theology at the Free University of Amsterdam and Semitic Languages at Leiden University. He was professor of Semitic Languages at the Free University of Amsterdam (1970-1979) and professor of Old Testament at Leiden University (1979-1989), and also director of the Peshitta Institute of the same university. He published a large number of studies on Israelite Religion, the Old Testament and the Ancient Versions, and on Hebrew and Aramaic. Martin Mulder died in 1994.

Harry Sysling was born in Voorst, The Netherlands, in 1947. He studied theology and Semitic Languages at the Free University of Amsterdam and received his PhD in 1991 from the University of Leiden. He lectured in Rabbinic Hebrew at Leiden University, and worked as a translator for the New Dutch Bible Translation. He is presently engaged in research on targumic studies at the Theological University of Kampen. He has published principally in the area of Hebrew and Aramaic. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 929 pages
• Publisher: Fortress Pr (December 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0800606043
• ISBN-13: 978-0800606046
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 6.8 x 2.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,808,635 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent anthology of articles on the Hebrew Bible, June 10, 2008

By	Jaroslav Melgr "jaroski" (Colorado) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mikra: Text, Translation, Reading, & Interpretation Of The Hebrew Bible In Ancient Judaism & Early Christianity (Paperback)

This volume, edited by Martin Mulder and Harry Sysling, is a priceless collection of studies written by biblical scholars on the Hebrew Bible (Mikra). Anyone interested in the Mikra should have this volume in his/her library. It covers the whole spectrum of topics under the book's subheading "text, translation, reading and interpretation." Each study is well written and very thorough with references, bibliography and occasional illustrations or photographs.

The first several articles deal mostly with the biblical text itself, from the alphabet, writing system, literacy in the ancient world, scribal practices, reading cycles, versions of the text, textual transmission to canonization of the text and formation of the Hebrew Bible. Then, the focus shifts to discussing various methods of interpretation of the text of the Hebrew Bible across time and by various groups. This ranges from biblical interpretation at Qumran to biblical interpretation as attested in Rabbinic literature, in writings of Josephus and Philo, to biblical interpretation by Gnostics and Early Christians, to name a few. The list is simply too long, but it provides probably the most thorough coverage of the topic to be found in a single volume.

The beauty of this volume is not only the depth and breadth with which it covers the Hebrew Bible, but also in the fact that the articles, while arranged in a logical order, are independent of each other. Thus one can pick up virtually anywhere in the book and read the topic he or she is interested in without having to read the preceding chapters. However, with that said, the articles are well written and should be accessible to both scholars and laymen alike. So the reader will certainly be edified by reading just about any article in the book. I highly recommend it.


For an interested reader, here is a list of chapters/topics covered in the book:

1. Writing in ancient Israel and early Judaism (Aaron Demsky and Meir Bar-Ilan)
2. Formation of the Hebrew Bible (Roger Beckwith)
3. The transmission of the Biblical text (Martin Mulder)
4. The reading of the Bible in the ancient synagogue (Charles Perrot)
5. The Septuagint (Emmanuel Tov)
6. The Samaritan Targum of the Pentateuch (Abraham Tal)
7. Jewish Aramaic translations of Hebrew scriptures (Philip Alexander)
8. The Old Testament Peshitta (Peter Dirksen)
9. The Latin translations (Benjamin Kedar)
10. Use, authority and interpretation of Mikra at Qumran (Michael Fishbane)
11. Use and interpretation of Mikra in the Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha (Devorah Dimant)
12. Authority and interpretation of scripture in the writings of Philo ((Yehoshua Amir)
13. Use, authority and exegesis of Mikra in the writings of Josephus (Louis Feldman)
14. The interpretation of the Bible by the minor Hellenistic Jewish authors (Pieter van der Horst)
15. The interpretation of scripture in Rabbinic literature (Rimon Kasher)
16. Use, authority and exegesis of Mikra in the Samaritan tradition (Ruairidh Boid [M.N. Saraf])
17. Use, authority and exegesis of Mikra in Gnostic literature (Birger Pearson)
18. The Old Testament Canon in the Early Church (Earle Ellis)
19. Biblical interpretation in the New Testament Church (Earle Ellis)
20. Old Testament interpretation in the writings of the Church Fathers (William Horbury)

9 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bible interpretation and history at their finest, February 24, 2003

By A Customer

Martin J. Mulder's 'Mikra: Text, Translation, Reading and Interpretation of the Hebrew Bible in Ancient Judaism and Early Christianity' is a masterpiece, spanning centuries of interpretive historical development. It's written both for the academic and the interested layperson. Books like this are difficult to locate nowadays, but are well worth the effort.
A gem.

0 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Quick, flawless, January 4, 2007

By	Justin M. Rogers (henderson, tennessee United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Mikra: Text, Translation, Reading, & Interpretation Of The Hebrew Bible In Ancient Judaism & Early Christianity (Paperback)

Order was received quickly and in the exact condition represented by the seller.