Tremper Longman III and Mark L. Strauss. The Baker Compact Dictionary of Biblical Studies. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2018.
I'm amazed at how useful this concise dictionary is. One usually encounters numerous technical terms in academic biblical studies: many of the words tend to perplex unseasoned readers. Even those of us who have become acclimated to reading professional biblical studies may find ourselves confounded by theological vocabulary or termini technici associated with scriptural studies.
The new work written by Longman III and Strauss provides definitions for unfamiliar terms and it contains entries for place names, personal names, academic specialties, and the definitions are clear and specific. Not only do the authors discuss strictly biblical topics or words, but even words that apply to the ancient world at large are found in the dictionary. For example, an informative paragraph about the Epicureans not only defines the word, but says that Epicurus was a materialist who believed that matter and space exist--bodies and motion--but nothing else.
There is not much written about Shekinah, other than the term is rabbinic and derives from a Hebrew verb meaning "to dwell." The book provides more information for the word "Ketuvim." An acronym for the Hebrew Bible is Tanakh (also spelled Tanach or Tanak): these letters stand for Torah (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible), Nevi'im (the Prophets), and Ketuvim refers to "the Writings." Which books comprise the Nevi'im and the Ketuvim? The Baker Compact Dictionary supplies accurate and helpful definitions for each one of these words.
While I by no means endorse everything that this dictionary asserts, readers of academic biblical literature will be hard pressed to find a resource that has this much content for such a low price. I also want to thank Baker Books for sending me a review copy of this publication; I was not under obligation to give a favorable review.
6 comments:
http://etzion.org.il/en/parashat-teruma-and-let-them-make-me-sanctuary-i-may-swell-among-them
Thanks, Duncan. What I've read so far looks quite informative.
Yes it does, and it also demonstrates why the book you have reviewed just cannot distill certain ideas into a concise definition however hard they might try.
Granted, some definitions are hard to simplify, but others more readily lend themselves to this approach. I believe we have to view each book in the light of its purpose for being written. For instance, a compact Greek or Latin dictionary is not going to have comprehensive or exhaustive definitions for words. That would be asking too much of such a resource. So while the compact dictionary might not offer much for Shekinah, it does offer more for other entries. I also just look at the publication as something to use until I'm able to consult a work that's more comprehensive.
In the case of Shekinah, as per many "Hebrew" words one definition does not cut it. Dwelling or Settling, both have some validity and that difference in connotation is evident - 1 Kings 8:27; Isa. 66:1; Acts 17:24.
This precise term seems to emerge from the Targums.
The compact dictionary is not saying Shekinah has only one definition. It's purpose is to give concise denotations, not extensive definitions. Otherwise, it wouldn't be a tiny work that fits in one's pocket.
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