Book Review: Finding Beauty in the Bible – An Aesthetic Commentary on the Song of Songs

Robert D. Miller II, Finding Beauty in the Bible: An Aesthetic Commentary on the Song of Songs (McMaster Biblical Studies Series 11; Eugene, OR: Pickwick Publications, 2023).  Robert Miller was a professor of Old Testament at the Catholic University of America. He passed away a few months ago from cancer. It is a honour to…

Note on the Book Historical Depth of the Tiberian Reading Tradition of the Hebrew Bible

I have just finished reviewing Aaron D. Hornkohl's book, The Historical Depth of the Tiberian Reading Tradition of Biblical Hebrew (Cambridge Semitic Languages and Cultures 17; Cambridge: Open Book Publishers, 2023). The book is available as an open access book here. Hornkohl demonstrates masterfully that both the written and oral tradition are ancient (i.e., they…

Book Review: Exegetical Gems from Biblical Hebrew

H. H. Hardy II, Exegetical Gems from Biblical Hebrew: A Refreshing Guide to Grammar and Interpretation (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2019). Hardy is Associate Professor of Old Testament and Semitic Languages at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Hardy has several works focusing on ancient Hebrew linguistics that are just published or getting ready to be…

A Note on the Name Rum/Rom Rosh

I have always enjoyed the novels of Mitch Albom. In his recent novel, The Stranger in the Lifeboat (New York: Harper, 2021), one of the characters is named Rum or Rom Rosh. In the book, this name is explicitly said to be a Hebrew name from the Psalms. The translation given is "God lifted my…

Book Reviews: The Mother of the Infant King Isaiah 7:14; Biblical Hebrew Word Order Debate; Why Read the Bible in the Original Languages?; Shadal on Leviticus

As a result of several pressing academic projects, I have not been able to post in the last few weeks. There are several books I have been wanting to review here. Realising that I will not be able to devote a significant amount of time to a thorough review of these books, I discuss a…

Book Review: Biblical Hebrew Vocabulary in Context

Miles V. Van Pelt and Gary D. Practico, Biblical Hebrew Vocabulary in Context: Building Competency with Words Occuring 50 Times or More (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Academic, 2019). Introduction Biblical Hebrew Vocabulary in Context allows the student to read the Hebrew lexemes which appear most often in the Hebrew Bible in a controlled environment. This…

Book Review – Ruth: A Guide to Reading Biblical Hebrew

Adam J. Howell, Ruth: A Guide to Reading Biblical Hebrew (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Academic, 2022). I appreciate Lexham providing this volume for review. Their provision did not impact my review. On a personal note, I enjoyed reading this volume while preparing for my viva voce.  Introduction  Howell has recently published Ruth: An Illustrated Hebrew Reader’s…

Book Review: The Hebrew Old Testament, Reader’s Edition

Drayton C. Benner, Andrew Zulker, James R. Covington, and H. H. Hardy II, Compilers, The Hebrew Old Testament, Reader's Edition (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2020). I appreciate Crossway providing this edition for review. Their provision of this volume did not impact my review. Over the last couple of decades, a few reader's editions of the Hebrew…

Book Review: Figuring Resurrection: Joseph as a Death-and-Resurrection Figure in the Old Testament and Second Temple Judaism

Jeffrey Pulse, Figuring Resurrection: Joseph as a Death-and-Resurrection Figure in the Old Testament and Second Temple Judaism (Studies in Scripture and Biblical Theology; Bellingham, WA: Lexham, 2021). I thank Lexham Press for providing this volume for review. Their provision did not impact the review.   I have previously reviewed Evil in Genesis: A Contextual Analysis…

Book Review – Ruth: An Illustrated Hebrew Reader’s Edition

Adam J. Howell and Harvey E. Howell, Ruth: An Illustrated Hebrew Reader’s Edition (HA’ARETS; Wilmore, KY: GlossaHouse, 2020).  I have reviewed several of the volumes from the Hebrew Bible in the GlossaHouse Illustrated Biblical Texts Series (Genesis here and Job here). This is the first time I have reviewed a similar resource in their HA’ARETS…