Journal: Masters Seminary Journal
Volume: TMSJ 14:2 (Fall 2003)
Article: Book Reviews
Author: Anonymous

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MSJ 14:2 (Fall 2003) p. 329

Book Reviews

T. Desmond Alexander and David W. Baker, eds. Dictionary of the Old Testament: Pentateuch. Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity, 2003. xxii + 954 pp. $52.00 (cloth). Reviewed by Dennis M. Swanson, Seminary Librarian

For the last several years. InterVarsity Press has been establishing itself as a leading publisher of scholarly reference works. After the completion of the four-volume Dictionary of the New Testament series, they have embarked on a matching four-volume set on the OT.

The editors have assembled an impressive list of nearly one hundred individual contributors who represent a full spectrum of evangelical scholars. The work includes a helpful list of the contributors with a listing of the articles they authored. The editors have a useful section on “How to Use this Dictionary” that details the structural features of the work (xi-xii). A list of abbreviations which duplicates the Society of Biblical Literature guidelines is a useful part of this volume. The work has a helpful two-column format with each article outlined at the beginning. All articles have rather extensive bibliographic support.

It is impossible to discuss even a small portion of the nearly 200 articles in this massive volume. Some are worthy of special note, however. The article by B. T. Arnold on “History of Pentateuchal Criticism” (622–31) is an excellent survey of the major issues and personalities in OT historical criticism. The articles on the “Date of the Exodus” (258–72) by John H. Walton and the “Exodus Route and Wilderness Itinerary” (272–80) by Peter Enns are exceptionally detailed with excellent charts. A thought-provoking article on “Preaching from the Pentateuch” is included (637–43).

The publisher is to be commended for commissioning and the editors for producing this new addition to biblical reference. The volume should serve as the standard reference work on the Pentateuch for many years.

Bill T. Arnold and Bryan E. Beyer. Encountering the Old Testament: A Christian Survey. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1999. 521 pp. $49.99 (cloth); and idem, eds. Readings from the Ancient Near East: Primary Sources for Old Testament Study. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2002. 240 pp. $19.95 (paper). Reviewed by Keith Essex, Assistant Professor of Bible Exposition and Dennis M. Swanson, Seminary Librarian.

MSJ 14:2 (Fall 2003) p. 330

Bill T. Arnold, professor of Old Testament at Asbury Theological Seminary, and Bryan E. Beyer, dean and professor of Old Testament at Columbia International University, have combined to produce these two volumes in the “Encountering Biblical Studies” series of textbooks. The two books are companion work...

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