Books by "David Noel Freedman"
4 books found
The Bible's Writings: An Introduction for Christians and Jews introduces the reader to the world of Psalms, Proverbs, Job, The Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Esther, Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, and 1 and 2 Chronicles. These books form the third section of the Hebrew Bible--the Writings/Ketuvim. Features: Introduction to the Bible; Introduction to the Writings; Women's Voices Today; Women's Voices Then; and Women's Voices: A Cautionary Note. Each chapter covers one particular biblical book. Chapter divisions: 1, 2Introduction with chapter-by-chapter analyses or section-by-section analyses / geo-political and historical background / significant events / personalities / concepts and divisions. 3. The biblical book and the Christian Scriptures. 4. The biblical book in rabbinic literature. How did the rabbis utilize quotations from the Writings to teach their values? Extensive quotations. 5. Text study. An excellent source for Christian, Jewish, or Interfaith Study of the Bible's Writings.
Apart from Genesis, Tobit contains more information about marriage than any other biblical book. It reflects third-century beliefs and customs yet also serves a didactic function, teaching Diaspora Jews what they should value in their own marriages. This monograph elucidates these elements by asking four questions: 1) Whom should one marry? 2) How does one get married? 3) What role does God play in marriage? 4) What do actual marriages look like? By contextualizing Tobit in light of the Old Testament and relevant Ancient Near Eastern texts, one can appreciate the book's unique claims. Endogamy is defined more narrowly than in other Old Testament texts as Israelites are now enjoined to marry close relatives. Monetary matters such as the payment of the bride-price are downplayed, while adherence to the Mosaic Law is emphasized in the marriage contract and the wedding ceremony. Furthermore, intertextual links with Genesis 24 cast Tobiah and Sarah as founders of a "new Israel", showing that God becomes involved in their marriage so that the nation of Israel will not die out. Finally, the author's portrayal of three married couples in the book reveals much about gender roles and also creates a realistic portrait of the marital relationship in terms of communication, cooperation, and conflict.
The close relationship between the Old Testament and archaeology goes without saying. However, the methodological nuances involved are often either underappreciated or ignored. Using William Dever’s idea of convergence, this work attempts to flesh out details on how archaeology and Old Testament studies merge. It examines some of the most important archaeological finds to date and determines that, whether through a broad or narrow convergence, the history of research has shown that these two separate disciplines exhibit a tendency to inform one another. In the case of Old Testament studies, these convergences may even be paradigm-shifting. In every case, the convergences are historically and culturally informative, and therefore illuminate the depth of the biblical text.
Kerux Commentaries enable pastors and teachers to understand and effectively present the main message in a biblical text. Unlike any other commentary series, each volume is written by an expert in biblical exegesis and an experienced homiletician in partnership. Inclusion of a preaching author means that the commentary is focused on biblical insights that are useful in biblical teaching, with communication strategies and illustrations for each passage that are powerful and engaging. Each volume is divided into distinct preaching segments, in which the authors guide the reader through a well-tested sequence: exegetical analysis, theological focus, and teaching strategy. Based on the text-driven Big Idea model, Kerux enhances the reader's ability to deliver a message that is biblical, cohesive, and dynamic.