Pentateuch as Narrative, The

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Summary: An informed evangelical perspective on the Pentateuch
Review: My Old Testament prof assigned this book my first semester of seminary and I blew through it so I could check off the reading assignment on the final.

Recently, I began reading through the Pentateuch again and was bewildered as always. Then I remembered to begin looking stuff up in Sailhamer's book. It's amazing how much more I have learned when reading it for fun and not for an assignment.

The introduction is a bit tedious, but worthwhile. The real goldmine for us, though, is in his explanation of those pesky and ever-present laws which make no sense to the average 21st century reader. This book is worth the price of admission just for the explanation of the Levitical laws.

I have a friend who will be studying with Sailhamer at Southeastern Seminary and I envy him a little now because of this book. If you are serious about understanding the OT, this book is an absolute must.

Rating:
Summary: Well researched and easy to read.
Review: Sailhamer will change the way you look at the Bible. His study and insight about the Torah is tight and very well supported. He has unlocked the way one should look at the structure of the author's writing within a book of Scripture. With this type of thinking he argues that the Bible can stand on it's own, and we can find meaning within the text itself. This book should be required reading for any student of the Bible.

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Summary: An approach to the Torah which is remarkable
Review: Text versus event opens the context and intention of Moshe into a whole new light and brings a fresh perspective to passages that may have seemed problematic in the past. Reading "The Pentateuch as Narrative" has completely challenged the way I approach the Torah and deepened it's application to my life. Must reading for anyone serious about grappling with the Torah's application and real life issues.