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A lost treasure for large segments of the modern world, the book of Deuteronomy powerfully repays contemporary readers' attention. Part of the Reading the Old Testament series. The book of Deuteronomy represents Scripture pulsing with immediacy, offering gripping discourses that yank readers out of the doldrums and back to Mount Horeb and an encounter with divine Word issuing forth from blazing fire. God's presence and Word in Deuteronomy stir deep longing for God and move readers to a place of intimacy with divine otherness, holism, and will for person-centered community. The consistently theological interpretation reveals the centrality of Deuteronomy for faith and powerfully counters critical accusations about violence, intolerance, and polytheism in the book.Stephen L. Cook serves as the Catherine N. McBurney Professor of Old Testament Language and Literature at Virginia Theological Seminary. He did his doctoral training in Old Testament at Yale after having earned the M.Div. degree at Yale's Divinity School. Stephen has served in several capacities as an officer of the Society of Biblical Literature and is currently chair of the executive committee, the Catholic Biblical Association, Baltimore-Washington Region.Praise for Reading Deuternomy"Stephen Cook's theological commentary puts Deuteronomy's compelling reinterpretation of an earlier minority tradition in ancient Israel in lively dialogue with other like-minded representatives of this 'outsider' stream of tradition within the Old Testament (Hosea, Micah, Jeremiah, Malachi, the Elohist, Psalms of Asaph, Joshua-2 Kings). All this is done in service to Cook's overall aim to bring out the 'vibrant liveliness and pressing relevance' of Deuteronomy as a resource for constructive theological formation for contemporary people of faith today. An insightful and accessible study of the theology and ethics of Deuteronomy." -Dennis Olson, Charles T. Haley Professor of Old Testament Theology Chair, Biblical Studies Department, Princeton Theological Seminary"Stephen Cook's commentary on Deuteronomy captures the reforming spirit of this biblical book. With his own fresh and dynamic voice, Cook unleashes the forceful, commanding voice of Deuteronomy. Read in light of Cook's long and deep scholarship, Deuteronomy emerges as a powerful source for theological reflection for the church today. Most highly recommended for courses in seminaries, divinity schools, and programs in theology." -Mark S. Smith, Skirball Professor of Bible and Ancient Near Eastern Studies, New York University"Stephen L. Cook provides an accessible yet profound theological commentary on the theologically rich book of Deuteronomy. Often thought-provoking and always insightful, Cook's contribution illumines the ancient biblical text so modern readers, particularly lay and clergy, can come to a deeper understanding not only of the book itself but also of the God who reveals himself through it." -Tremper Longman III, Robert H. Gundry Professor of Biblical Studies, Westmont College

Genesis, a book of wondrous stories, is also a profound exploration of the human condition. Reading Genesis, part of the Reading the Old Testament series, invites any reader, religious or otherwise, to listen in and to join in on this ancient conversation on what it means to be human. From Cain and Abel to Joseph and his brothers, the narrative of Genesis focuses on the corrosive effects of envy and resentment. Ultimately, it shows a path toward reconciliation. Julie Galambush applies current historical, archaeological, and literary scholarship to create a nuanced and highly accessible commentary, explaining the history behind the writing of Genesis, the customs and laws that "went without saying" for ancient readers, and even the puns that enrich the original Hebrew but are lost in translation. She also addresses the challenges facing contemporary Jews and Christians who accept Genesis as sacred Scripture but reject practices the Genesis authors readily accepted, such as slavery and the "gifting" of women as concubines.Julie Galambush is Walter G. Mason Distinguished Associate Professor of Religious Studies, Emerita, at The College of William & Mary. She holds bachelor of arts and master of divinity degrees from Yale University and a doctorate in Old Testament Studies from Emory University and is a frequent lecturer in churches and synagogues.Praise for Reading Genesis"Reading Genesis is an amazing piece of work with a literary flair par excellence. It is readily accessible to all readers, with new insights even for trained scholars as well. It is rich in information, including comparative material from the ancient Near Eastern world, that is sure to enlighten all readers. Galambush's feminist concerns and insights also shine through as she raises the women in Genesis to prominence. A must read for everyone interested in understanding Genesis!" -Kah-Jin Jeffrey Kuan, President and Professor of Hebrew Bible, Claremont School of Theology"Julie Galambush is a gifted and engaging teacher. Her new introduction to the book of Genesis engages the complexities of that notoriously difficult book with clarity, scholarly skill, humanity, and a welcome sense of humor." -Barbara Nevling Porter, Research Associate Harvard Semitic Museum and Director of the Casco Bay Assyriological Institute"Reading Genesis is a learned, beautifully written commentary that is truly for every serious reader of the Bible. It speaks to the reader who is searching for spiritual insight without compromising an iota of serious scholarship. Julie Galambush knows the field of contemporary Bible studies as well as the traditional commentaries. Most of all, Dr. Galambush is a careful reader who knows how to go deeply into the text's many layers." -Rabbi Daniel G. Zemel, Temple Micah, Washington, DC

Engaging with theological messages of the book of Isaiah as a unified whole, the volume of the Reading the Old Testament series will both illuminate and inspire readers to wrestle with its theological implications for today's church and society. In this commentary, Hyun Chul Paul Kim brings together innovative interpretive approaches and the proposals of various scholars to interpret the book of Isaiah in light of the ancient literature/culture, intertextual allusions/correlations, and socio-historical contexts of the empires. While closely exegeting key issues of each chapter, the commentary also explores interpretive relevance and significance between ancient texts and the modern world. Engaging with theological messages of the book of Isaiah as a unified whole, the commentary will both illuminate and inspire readers to wrestle with its theological implications for today's church and society.Hyun Chul Paul Kim is the Harold B. Williams Professor of Hebrew Bible at Methodist Theological School in Ohio. He is the co-author of You Are My People: An Introduction to Prophetic Literature and co-editor of The Desert Will Bloom: Poetic Visions in Isaiah, Formation and Intertextuality in Isaiah 24-27, and Concerning the Nations: Essays on the Oracles against the Nations in Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel. A former co-chair of the Formation of the Book of Isaiah group at SBL and a recent Fulbright U.S. Scholar to Korea, he is currently a co-chair of the Intertextuality and the Hebrew Bible consultation at SBL.Praise for Reading Isaiah"Hyun Chul Paul Kim presents a compelling commentary on the book of Isaiah, a book that would be considered politically incorrect in our contemporary world. He deftly combines the details of a diachronic, or historical, analysis of the various elements of the book with an overarching synchronic, or literary, perspective that unites the book as a whole. His work is fundamentally intertextual in that it explores the relationships between Isaiah and ancient and contemporary worlds. This accessible commentary will both prompt and enable students to engage this endlessly fascinating book." -Marvin A. Sweeney, Professor of Hebrew Bible, Claremont School of Theology and Professor of Tanak, Academy for Jewish Religion

"Five intriguing and quite different compositions are gathered together in the Hebrew Bible under the name Megillot, the Hebrew word for "scrolls." They are the Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, and Esther. Ever since the scrolls of the Megillot came into existence, they have been interpreted in a myriad of ways. Mathews approaches them via the lens of Biblical Performance Criticism"--