John C. Endres

Feminist Biblical Interpretation

Biblical Studies & Commentaries

“We owe a tremendous debt to Luise Schottroff and Marie-Theres Wacker for overseeing this compendium of feminist critical study of the Scriptures. . . . The authors approach their texts from a variety of angles, raising questions and issues that seldom make their way into other biblical commentaries; each commentary will delight readers with unexpected surprises. Thanks to the translators and editors for bringing a wonderful collection of contextualized German biblical scholarship to the English-speaking world.”

Jubilees

Biblical Studies & Commentaries

“James C. VanderKam’s commentary on Jubilees is a joy to read. It is the most complete treatment of the book one will find. Beginning with textual and historical studies, his years immersed in study of the Book of Jubilees bears fruit: translations are based on Ethiopic (Ge`ez), Latin and Hebrew (Qumran) witnesses–and occasional Syriac readings. The scope of his study includes the entire history of scholarship on Jubilees since the book became available to Western scholars in 1840. His positions on authorship, literary coherence, historical, and religious issues are clearly drawn and reflect the history of scholarship on each of these issues. VanderKam's focus always lands on the text itself, especially on its relationship to the Hebrew Bible texts which it ‘rewrites’. He demonstrates a marvelous ability to present differing opinions judiciously and fairly: disagreements with other scholars are characterized by gentility and they always lead to a deeper understanding of the issue contested. Fascinating glimpses of the reception history of the book–Jewish and Christian--tantalize the reader. Finally, his way of proceeding provides an amazing picture of Judaism and its literature of the last two centuries BCE.”