Dictionary of the Old Testament: Pentateuch (The IVP Bible Dictionary Series) Hardcover – December 13, 2002

Dictionary of the Old Testament: Pentateuch is a great book for one who seeks to gain a broader and deeper knowledge base of the Bible. I have been using this book for 2 months a textbook for my Seminary program. The topics are approached in such detail that you come away from each reading with a new approach to preaching and studying and new foundation for your faith. I recommend this book to anyone that wants to know God more, beyond the surface and look behind the curtain to see how the Bible came to be. Look at the bible through the various contributors, consider the surrounding nations, be exposed to historical and biblical documents, and explore what other theologians have said over time that has created the platform on which we stand on concerning our understanding of the Bible.

I used this for writing papers in Penateuch courses. This book is one of my favorite resources and is so interesting to dig into the cultural, language, and theological significance of any word or topic. Sometimes I'd read it for fun because it was so fascinating (unlike a regular dictionary)!

I’m amazed at how much information is int this book. I’m ordering the complete set soon. Haven’t had time to dive in just glance. But love love love

I bought this for a class I am currently taking. Currently I am reading the section on 'Creation'. You would think this section would have a plethora of great information on the Biblical creation narrative...you would be wrong. I learned FAR more about the Egyptian account, as well as many others, than I did about the true Creation account in the OLD TESTAMENT PENTATEUCH, for which this book wrongfully took their name. Sadly, the Creation article is not unique. The authors give far greater background information to other religions than to the Bible. It has been very frustrating, as I longed to find relevant-biblical information to soak up. Pick another book.

Came within 5 days and was just like NEW!! Great buy!

I like the way it is organized. I have already used it for references. Its points were educational. I believe a hard copy rather than an E-book, would be best suited for me.

it a good book!!

In depth reading of the Old Testament Pentateuch not for everybody but if you are doing study of the Old Testament it is very useful.

The IVP (Inter-Varsity Press) Dictionary of the Old Testament is actually several individual volumes which combine to make one (massive!) dictionary resource. It comprises:* DOT Pentateuch [the first five books of the Bible]*  DOT Historical Books  [from Joshua to Nehemiah]*  DOT Wisdom, Poetry & Writings  [Psalms, Ecclesiastes, etc.)(I expect there is a DOT Prophetic Books [Isaiah, Jeremiah, etc.] planned for the near future, though I couldn't find any mention of one on the IVP website.)While this makes them expensive over all, the quality and quantity of scholarship they make available makes it worthy investment. I have bought this DOT Pentateuch and the DOT Historical Books in the last couple of years and hope to get them all eventually.Even though I emphasise that this is a series of dictionaries, each individual volume still represents a complete and comprehensive unit. A vast array of topics are covered, usually in fairly significant (but digestible) detail. One of the first, for instance, is `Agriculture' (p21) which spans the next five pages. This article is clearly subdivided into four sections (`Crops' is further subdivided): Geography, Livestock, Crops and Theology (which serves as a conclusion). Here the writer, D. W. Baker, emphasises that agriculture and agricultural imagery are used in the Pentateuch to illustrate how strongly the Israelites linked the creation and sustaining of the natural world directly to Yahweh. He ends noting that the Song of Moses (especially Deut. 32:13-14) focuses on the `literal fruits of faithfulness'.(Compare the `Agriculture and Animal Husbandry' article in my  DOT Historical Books  review on Amazon.)The uniformly clear and comfortable reading format and overall aesthetic layout also make them a single reference work. There is a continuity of articles too - at least in the absence of repetition. For instance, of the two volumes I own, the entry for `Angel of the Lord' (directing you to `Theophany', from the Greek for `god' and `to appear') only appears in the Pentateuch volume. It's easy to see this as an error of omission if you only own the Historical Books volume, but I imagine each volume would be larger and even more expensive if articles were duplicated. (Perhaps the omission of `Spirit' or `Holy Spirit', etc. from both volumes would be covered in the Wisdom or (potential) Prophetic Books volumes?)The only real criticism I have is that digital media would be more convenient in many cases. While I have always preferred books as opposed to disks (and vinyl as opposed to CDs), still the digital media so much cheaper and easier to use. I have owned  Essential IVP Reference Collection CD-ROM  (mine is version 2) for years but could never have afforded all the superb New Testament reference books which it contains. I hope that IVP will have an Essential Collection for the Old Testament too, one day.In the mean time, this is a hugely expensive series but worth every penny, which I think of as an investment, not an expense. I suppose you could say, `you get what you pay for' and paying for this title - or series - gets you supreme quality: highly recommended.EDIT:I note that the Logos Bible Software website now lists the Pentateuch and Historical Books dictionaries as 'under developement'. So someone is digitising them - or two of them, at least. ('Pre-Publication' price is lower, if you're quick...) DOT Historical BooksDOT Wisdom, Poetry & WritingsDOT Historical BooksEssential IVP Reference Collection CD-ROM

excellent summary of current theological thinking on the Pentateuch with extensive references for further study.

Hi..

Excellent book