Böcker av Dr Daniel I Block

To many readers the book of Ezekiel is a hopeless riddle. We still find many features of the man and his message difficult and sometimes even shocking, if not offensive. The bizarre opening vision catches us off guard and tempts us to stop reading. However, if we persist, and if we meditate long and hard on individual utterances and sign actions, we will discover that despite the strangeness of the man and his utterances, this is the most clearly organized of the major prophetic books. Individual prophecies are clearly marked by headings and often by conclusions. If we persist, we will also discover that from a rhetorical perspective, this priestly prophet knew his audience; he recognized in Judah''s rebellion against YHWH the underlying cause of the divine fury that resulted in the exile of his people and the fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians in 586 BCE. But he also recognized that YHWH''s judgment could not be the last word. Because his covenant was eternal and irrevocable he looked forward to a day of spiritual renewal and national restoration.This is the first of two volumes of essays on Ezekiel and his book. The seven general essays and two studies of particular texts in this collection explore the times, the message, and the methods of the prophetic priest. ""Once again Daniel Block has provided wise perspectives that enable us to ''see with our eyes, hear with our ears, and set our hearts'' (Ezek 40:4) on many of the enigmas in the book of Ezekiel.""--Mark J. Boda, McMaster Divinity College""Few scholars, whether evangelical or critical, Christian or Jewish, know the book of Ezekiel like Daniel Block. This collection of essays profoundly deepens and enriches our appreciation of the prophet''s work and is an essential resource for all who study it.""--Iain Duguid, Grove City CollegeDaniel I. Block is the Gunther H. Knoedler Professor of Old Testament at Wheaton College, Wheaton, Illinois. He is the author of The Book of Ezekiel Chapters 1-24 (1997), The Book of Ezekiel Chapters 25-48 (1998), Judges and Ruth (1999), ""How I Love Your Torah, O LORD!"" (2011), The Gospel according to Moses (2012), and Deuteronomy (2012).

To many readers the book of Ezekiel is a hopeless riddle. However, if we take the time to study it, we will discover that despite the strangeness of the man and his utterances this is the most clearly organized of the major prophetic books. If we persist, we will also discover that from a rhetorical perspective, this priestly prophet knew his audience; he recognized in Judah''s rebellion against YHWH the underlying cause of the divine fury that resulted in the exile of his people and the fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians in 586 BCE. But he also recognized that YHWH''s judgment could not be the last word. Because his covenant was eternal and irrevocable he looked forward to a day of spiritual renewal and national restoration. This is the second of two volumes of Block''s essays on the book of Ezekiel. The essays in this volume explore the theme of Kingship in Ezekiel--both his assessment of Judah''s historical kings and his hope for a restored Davidic King/Prince--and the mysterious visions concerning Gog''s attack on restored Israel (Ezek 38-39) and concerning the new temple (40-48). Block brings to bear decades of study of the book to open up fresh insights on the ancient text. ""Few people know the book of Ezekiel as well as Block does and fewer still are able to explain the unique and challenging aspects of this great prophet''s rich theology as well as he does. The book''s nine individual studies address Ezekiel''s purposes in ways that allow a reader to see, through experienced eyes, real treasures of biblical theology. For anyone planning to preach or teach Ezekiel, Block''s work provides a wonderful introduction--better, I think, than one could find in any of the standard commentaries.""--Douglas Stuart, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary""Daniel Block is one of the foremost Ezekiel scholars of our time, author of a major two-volume commentary on the book and numerous other studies. In Beyond the River Chebar: Studies in Kingship and Eschatology in the Book of Ezekiel he gathers together a selection of the important essays he has written on these themes over the years. It is splendid to have these available between two covers and we are again indebted to Daniel Block.""--Paul M. Joyce, Samuel Davidson Professor of Old Testament/Hebrew Bible, King''s College LondonDaniel I. Block is the Gunther H. Knoedler Professor of Old Testament at Wheaton College, Wheaton, Illinois. He is the author of The Book of Ezekiel Chapters 1-24 (1997), The Book of Ezekiel Chapters 25-48 (1998), Judges and Ruth (1999), ""How I Love Your Torah, O LORD!"" (2011), The Gospel according to Moses (2012), and Deuteronomy (2012).

Like the book of Romans in the New Testament, the book of Deuteronomy provides the most systematic and sustained presentation of theology in the Old Testament. And like the Gospel of John, it represents mature theological reflection on God''s great acts of salvation, in this case associated with the exodus of Israel from Egypt. Unfortunately, for many Christians, Deuteronomy is a dead book, either because its contents are unknown or because its message is misunderstood. The essays in this collection arise from a larger project driven by a passion to recover for Christians the life-giving message of the Old Testament in general and the gospel according to Moses in particular. The ""meditations"" cover a wide range of topics, from explorations into the meaning of specific texts to considerations of the ethical and homiletical relevance of the book for Christians today.""Dan Block is a world-class scholar and dynamic Bible teacher who has a passion for helping the church understand the Old Testament. In this volume, which is the fruit of decades of careful study in the book of Deuteronomy, Dr. Block brings clarity to crucial issues in biblical interpretation and reveals the grace of God in the law of Moses."" --Philip G. RykenPresident, Wheaton College""Daniel Block makes a persuasive case for the critical importance of the book of Deuteronomy. It culminates the Pentateuch and throws a long shadow of influence on the rest of the Old Testament. One must understand Deuteronomy to understand the Old Testament. Through his erudition and his love for the word of God, Block powerfully unpacks this crucial book. His passion is contagious and his insight will transform how you read Deuteronomy.""--Tremper Longman IIIRobert H. Gundry Professor of Old TestamentWestmont College""Block writes with energy, passion, and clarity. He is at home both in teasing out linguistic details and in delineating large theological landscapes. Known as a first-rate teacher, Block''s research is thorough, his arguments compelling (e.g., the Shema'' text), and his graphs and tables helpful. This good menu of articles on worship, leadership, mission, the Decalogue, etc., is flavored with spicy ANE input, with challenging applications, and above all with scholarly acumen and spiritual fervor.""--Elmer A. MartensPresident Emeritus and Professor of Old Testament EmeritusFresno Pacific Biblical SeminaryDaniel I. Block is the Gunther H. Knoedler Professor of Old Testament at Wheaton College, Wheaton, Illinois. He is the author of The Book of Ezekiel Chapters 1-24 (1997), The Book of Ezekiel Chapters 25-48 (1998), Judges and Ruth (1999), and Deuteronomy (NIVAC, forthcoming).

Jacob Milgrom was a man of deep faith and deep learning. As teacher and scholar he is best known for his work on ancient Israel''s religion, especially its cultic expression in tabernacle and temple. His command of this subject is evident in his massive, three-volume commentary on Leviticus (Anchor Bible Commentary) and his commentary on Numbers (JPS Torah Commentary). This provides perfect background for one who seeks to instruct us on the final chapters of Ezekiel. In this volume Milgrom guides us engagingly through Ezekiel''s oracle against Gog (chs. 38-39) and his final vision of Israel''s physical and spiritual restoration (chs. 40-48). Regrettably Professor Milgrom did not live to see his work on Ezekiel appear in print. Given his influence on biblical scholarship far beyond his native Jewish world, it is fitting that this final form of this project be cast as an interfaith dialogue with Daniel Block, who has himself written a major two-volume commentary on Ezekiel (NICOT). This volume offers a window into how one Jewish scholar engaged with the work of a Christian scholar. It invites readers to listen in on their conversation, in the course of which they will also hear the voices of medieval Jewish rabbis, particularly R. Eliezer of Beaugency and R. Joseph Kara. While Block and Milgrom are free to disagree in their reading of particular texts, readers will find this dialogue illuminating for their own understanding of the last chapters of Ezekiel.""According to rabbinic tradition, rabbi Hananiah ben Hezekiah burned three hundred barrels of oil in his lamp before being able to harmonize the laws of Moses with those given in Ezekiel. In a similar way, Jacob Milgrom''s lifetime of scholarly study of the Pentateuch ideally equipped him to write a commentary on Ezekiel 38-48. This volume will be an indispensable reference point for all future work on the prophet.""--Iain Duguid, Professor of Old Testament, Grove City College""The late Jacob Milgrom was the leading expert on biblical cult and ritual in his generation. His commentaries on Leviticus, for which he is best known, reflect the meticulous, holistic approach to biblical texts that became the hallmark of his life''s work. In this, his last major publication, Milgrom brings this approach to bear on the final chapters of Ezekiel. Never shy of new ideas, his bold proposals will challenge Ezekiel scholarship for years to come."" --William A. Tooman, University of St. Andrews""Seldom has such a spirited written discussion taken place between a Jewish and an evangelical scholar as is found in this study. Even more fascinating is the direct way in which the most difficult portion of the prophecy of Ezekiel (chapters 38-48) is engaged--with respect for each other and with a commitment to the text. It is a joy to recommend this book both for the stimulating way it handles Scripture and for the promise it holds for additional joint ventures between the two scholarly traditions.""--Walter C. Kaiser Jr., Gordon-Conwell Theological SeminaryJacob Milgrom (1923-2010), an esteemed rabbi in Conservative Judaism, was Professor Emeritus of Near Eastern Studies at University of California, Berkeley. He was the author of many books, most notably The JPS Torah Commentary: Numbers (1966) and the three-volume Anchor Bible Commentary of Leviticus (1991-2001).

To many people the law stands in opposition to the gospel. While it may be possible to read Paul''s epistles this way, the book of Deuteronomy will not allow this reading. Like the book of Romans in the New Testament, Deuteronomy provides the most systematic and sustained presentation of theology in the Old Testament. And like the Gospel of John, it represents mature theological reflection on God''s great acts of salvation, in this case associated with the exodus of Israel from Egypt. The gospel according to Moses begins and ends with the gracious work of God for undeserving subjects. In a book that consists largely of Moses'' farewell sermons to his congregation, Israel''s first pastor seeks to inspire his congregation to a life of faith and godliness in response to God''s great mercy. Unfortunately, for many Christians, Deuteronomy is a dead book, because we have lost sight of the gospel. The essays in this collection arise from a larger project driven by a passion to recover for Christians the life-giving message of the Old Testament in general and the gospel according to Moses in particular. The ""meditations"" in this volume cover a wide range of topics, from explorations into the origins of Deuteronomy to considerations of the ethical and homiletical relevance of the book for Christians today.""Dan Block is one of the finest Old Testament exegetes of this generation. This collection of his thoughtful articles on Deuteronomy will be invaluable to anyone studying the book. His labors and analyses are a gift to both the academy and the Church.""--John H. WaltonProfessor of Old TestamentWheaton College and Graduate School""With the seasoned skill of a mature scholar and the passion of a preacher, Dan Block offers us another fine volume on Deuteronomy. This theological manifesto of ancient Israel continues to speak across the centuries, and there can be no better guide than Block to help the people of God today hear the abiding voice of the one true God in its pages.""--M. Daniel Carroll R.Distinguished Professor of Old TestamentDenver SeminaryDaniel I. Block is the Gunther H. Knoedler Professor of Old Testament at Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL. He is the author of The Book of Ezekiel Chapters 1-24 (1997), The Book of Ezekiel Chapters 25-48 (1998); Judges and Ruth (1999); and Deuteronomy (NIVAC), forthcoming).

About the Contributor(s):Daniel I. Block is the Gunther H. Knoedler Professor of Old Testament at Wheaton College, Wheaton, Illinois. He is the author of The Book of Ezekiel Chapters 1-24 (1997); The Book of Ezekiel Chapters 25-48 (1998); Judges and Ruth (1999); and Deuteronomy (NIVAC, forthcoming).