PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS: Nearly 5,000 articles written by 600 first-rate Bible authorities thoroughly explaining books, persons, places and significant terms of the Bible
DESCRIPTION
The Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible gathers nearly 5,000 alphabetically ordered articles that thoroughly yet clearly explain all the books, persons, places, and significant terms found in the Bible. The Dictionary also explores the background of each biblical book and related writings and discusses cultural, natural, geographical, and literary phenomena—matters that Bible students at all levels may encounter in reading or discussion.Nearly 600 first-rate Bible authorities have contributed to the Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible. Intended as a tool for practical Bible use, this dictionary reflects recent archaeological discoveries and the breadth of current biblical scholarship, including insights from critical analysis of literary, historical, sociological, and other methodological issues. The editorial team has also incorporated articles that explore and interpret important focuses of biblical theology, text and transmission, Near Eastern archaeology, extrabiblical writings, and pertinent ecclesiastical traditions—all of which help make the Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible the most comprehensive and up-to-date one-volume Bible dictionary on the market today.
Features of the Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible:
- Nearly 5,000 entries explain every book, person, place, significant event, and distinctive term or expression found in the Bible
- Written by nearly 600 respected authorities in the field of biblical scholarship
- Supplementary aids include lists of abbreviations, pronunciation guide, transliteration key, and concise bibliographies to guide further research
- Entries cover the Deuterocanonicals as well as the Hebrew and New Testament scriptures
- Based on the New Revised Standard version of the Bible, with attention given to alternate readings in other major translations
Charts and Photos of the print edition are not included in this electronic version due to copyright restrictions.
The Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible is intended as a tool for practical Bible use, reflecting recent discoveries and the breadth of current biblical scholarship, including insights from critical analysis of literary, historical, archaeological, sociological, and other methodological issues. Approximately 5000 entries identify all persons and places named in the Bible, as well as cultural, natural, geographical, and literary phenomena – matters that Bible students at all levels may encounter in reading or discussion. Articles explaining and interpreting important focuses of biblical theology, text and transmission, Near Eastern archaeology, extrabiblical writings, and pertinent ecclesiastical traditions have been incorporated in an effort to make this the most comprehensive one-volume Bible dictionary available.
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Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible
Review on The Masters Serminary
By David Noel Freedman, gen. ed.
Grand Rapids : Eerdmans (2000). xxxiii + 1425, 16 plates Pages.
Reviewed by Dr. Michael Grisanti
12.1 (Spring 2001) : 105-106
Freedman and the other editors offer this volume as “a tool for practical Bible use, reflecting recent discoveries and the breadth of current biblical scholarship, including insights from critical analysis of literary, historical, archaeological, sociological, and other methodological issues” (xxiii). It contains approximately 5,000 alphabetically ordered articles that identify all persons and places mentioned in the Bible as well as cultural, natural, geographical, literary, and theological issues of relevance. Although the editors initially intended simply to revise and update the 1987 edition of the Eerdmans Bible Dictionary, this volume represents an entirely new reference work. Unlike multi-volume Bible dictionaries (perhaps more properly regarded as encyclopedias), Freedman regards this volume as a “rapid-response reference work” (xxi). The entries range in length from one sentence to multiple pages. Several entries conclude with a brief bibliography (the editors did not encourage the writers to include lengthy bibliographies). In addition to the sixteen maps at the end of the volume, four maps and a relatively small number of photographs and drawings appear throughout the body of the text.
In light of the breadth and size of this work, it offers helpful information to anyone who uses it. Obscure topics as well as significant issues receive attention. Students of the Bible should have at least a solid one-volume Bible dictionary in their library. However, even though this reviewer and the seminary librarian, Dennis Swanson, contributed articles to the work, it is probably not the best one-volume Bible dictionary on the market for evangelical readers. Most of the major articles are written from a non-evangelical perspective. For example, the Mosaic authorship of the Pentateuch is discounted, Isaiah and Zechariah both involve two distinct sections by two different authors, Daniel was written in the Maccabean period, the Pastorals were not written by the apostle Paul, nor was 2 Peter written by the apostle Peter. Although evangelicals should not necessarily limit their library to volumes written by evangelicals or books that totally agree with an evangelical position, it would be helpful if a reference work of this kind would at least present the evangelical option as a credible option (something that rarely happens in this volume). If a student of the Bible is able to own more than one single-volume Bible dictionary, the Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible deserves consideration. It will provide its reader with an overview of the current position in biblical scholarship on a number of issues. However, this reviewer would not recommend it as the first or only Bible dictionary a diligent student of the Bible should own.
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Book Review of Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible, by David Noel Freedman, ed.
by Ranko Stefanovic, Andrews University
Finally, I would like to see the articles on the books of the Bible follow a standard form or outlíne dealing with, for instance, authorship and date, composition, contents, and major themes. It appears that each author follows his or her own outline.
Ranko Stefanovich, Andrews University
https://works.bepress.com/ranko_stefanovic/6/
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©2013, Mary Harwell Sayler
http://www.biblereviewer.blogspot.com
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Review by Choice Review
Copyright American Library Association.
https://www.buffalolib.org/vufind/Record/1102387/Reviews
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AWARDS and RECOGNITIONS
Academy of Parish Clergy, Top Ten Books of the Year (2001)
Choice Magazine, Outstanding Academic Book (2001)
American Library Association, Outstanding Reference Source by the Reference and User Services Association (2002)
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Elizabeth Achtemeier
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Peter Machinist
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Library Journal
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Various Reviews
Choice
Wisconsin Lutheran Quarterly
The Expository Times
Theological Book Review
Bibliotheca Sacra
America
Review of Biblical Literature