Historical Books

Historical Books Christopher T. Begg, Richard A. Taylor, Fred W. Guyette, and J. Edward Owens OSST ________ 1523. Joshua John Goldingay, Joshua (Baker Commentary on the Old Testament: Historical Books; Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2023). Pp. xix + 507. 54. 99. ISBN 9781540964618. The forty-eight-page introduction that begins this volume covers matters expected in a commentary of this sort (e. g. , authorship, date, textual transmission, canonicity, structure, theology) ; it also touches on certain relevant contemporary issues in light of the Book of Joshua (e. g. , migration, settlement, colonialism, violence). The commentary proper treats the text of Joshua in two main parts: (1) "The Israelites Gain Control of Canaan (1: 1–12: 28) "; and (2) "Joshua and Eleazar Distribute the Land (13: 1–24: 33). " Each of these main parts is divided into units (twelve units in the first part and eleven in the second). Each unit covers (usually) one or two chapters of Joshua and is organized under four rubrics: overview; translation; interpretation; theological reflection. (1) In the overview section G. summarizes various structural features, characteristics of the story, and main ideas of the unit. He characterizes some of the stories in Joshua as "imaginative tales" that are "fictional or semi-fictional" in nature and are presented in hyperbolic language. (2) In the translation section he provides his own rendering of the Hebrew text, accompanied by notes mainly of a text-critical, grammatical, or philological nature. Textual distinctives of the Septuagint receive special attention in these notes. Hebrew words are transliterated throughout, making the work accessible to those without training in the original language. (3) In the interpretive section G. lays out his understanding of the biblical text, engaging along the way with various other interpreters, both ancient and modern. (4) In the final section he reflects on the theological significance of the text, often making application of the stories of Joshua to matters of moral and ethical concern (e. g. , slavery in the United States; treatment of Indigenous Americans; capital punishment; oppression of people groups). G. writes in a casual and unencumbered literary style, often using informal language, word contractions, and an occasional personal anecdote. His choice of terminology is sometimes distinctive (e. g. , "First Testament" rather than "Old Testament"; "the Joshua scroll" or "the scroll" rather than "the book of Joshua" or "the book"). He sometimes prefers non-traditional expressions (e. g. , "Rahab the harlot" is "Rahab the whore, " who is part of "the Jericho whorehouse"; "the living God" is "the lively God"; "the Feast of Unleavened Bread" is "the Flat Bread Festival"). G. prefers to translate rather than transliterate the name of many cities mentioned in Joshua (e. g. , Bet-Aven is "Wickedness House"; Kephirah is "The Lioness"; Qiryat Yearim is "Woodland Township"; Bet-Horon is "The Horon's House"; Bet-Yeshimot is "Desolation House"; Ramat-Mispeh is "Lookout Height"; Betonim is "Pistachios"; Bet-Shemesh is "Sun's House"; Mount Baalah is "Lady Mountain"). On other occasions, he transliterates place names, including the definite article in keeping with the Hebrew expression (e. g. , "The Gilgal"; "The Ai"). This commentary will be of interest to theological students, ministers, and others seeking a thorough treatment of the Book of Joshua that does not shy away from hard questions of an ethical or moral nature. At the end of the volume there is a forty-six-page bibliography and three indices (i. e. , subject, author, Scripture and other ancient writings). —R. A. T. 1524. Ruth Moshe Miller, Rising Moon: Unraveling the Book of Ruth (New York: Kodesh Press, 2022). Pp. xvi + 400. 25. ISBN 979–8888940006. The Book of Ruth is written much like a play in which there are Acts and Scenes. In Act One, the setting is established. The action takes place "in the time when the judges judged. " Judges deal with justice, do they not? But the time of the judges is marred by violence and moral chaos. What is the meaning of the Hebrew word malkuth ("ruled")? In this context it means something like: "to heal the world with God's sovereignty. " Naomi's world is broken, certainly. After suffering hunger in a time of famine, her family migrated from Israel to. . .