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Introductions, annotations, and a selection of handpicked digitized books for online reading. These titles were chosen to enhance the study of the ancient historical and cultural context of the Bible.

English Translation of Syriac NT by James Murdock

English Translation of Syriac NT by James Murdock

Aramaic language is much closer to Hebrew than Greek. And since a version of Aramaic was widely spoken in Israel in the first century CE many feel that its valuable to consider the NT message in Syriac to see the nuance of meaning. The presumption is that much more in

New Testament in Syriac Language

New Testament in Syriac Language

Today, New Testament exists in many languages. But New Testament in Syrian Aramaic (Syriac) is a very ancient translation. Some Syrian Aramaic manuscripts even predate the copies of the Koine Greek New Testament used as a base of the original texts of the New Testament. Aramaic was widely spoken in

The Dead Sea Scrolls Translated by Florentino Garcia Martinez

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The Dead Sea Scrolls Translated by Florentino Garcia Martinez

One of the world's foremost experts on the Dead Sea Scrolls provides an authoritative English translation of the two hundred longest and most important nonbiblical Dead Sea Scrolls found at Qumran. This book is also supplied with introductory information about the history, discovery, and publication of each manuscript. The author

Soncino Midrash Rabbah: Genesis 1

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Soncino Midrash Rabbah: Genesis 1

Midrash Rabbah is a homeletic, ethical, and moral commentary on the Torah expounded by the Rabbis during Talmudic times. The Midrash represents the essence of Judaism, its ethical standards, and its insight into the human heart in a unique literary form. For centuries the Midrash Rabbah commentaries nourished the Jewish

Soncino Midrash Rabbah: Genesis 2

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Soncino Midrash Rabbah: Genesis 2

Midrash Rabbah is a homeletic, ethical, and moral commentary on the Torah expounded by the Rabbis during Talmudic times. The Midrash represents the essence of Judaism, its ethical standards, and its insight into the human heart in a unique literary form. For centuries the Midrash Rabbah commentaries nourished the Jewish

Soncino Midrash Rabbah: Exodus

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Soncino Midrash Rabbah: Exodus

Midrash Rabbah is a homeletic, ethical, and moral commentary on the Torah expounded by the Rabbis during Talmudic times. The Midrash represents the essence of Judaism, its ethical standards, and its insight into the human heart in a unique literary form. For centuries the Midrash Rabbah commentaries nourished the Jewish

Soncino Midrash Rabbah: Leviticus

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Soncino Midrash Rabbah: Leviticus

Midrash Rabbah is a homeletic, ethical, and moral commentary on the Torah expounded by the Rabbis during Talmudic times. The Midrash represents the essence of Judaism, its ethical standards, and its insight into the human heart in a unique literary form. For centuries the Midrash Rabbah commentaries nourished the Jewish

Soncino Midrash Rabbah: Numbers 1

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Soncino Midrash Rabbah: Numbers 1

Midrash Rabbah is a homeletic, ethical, and moral commentary on the Torah expounded by the Rabbis during Talmudic times. The Midrash represents the essence of Judaism, its ethical standards, and its insight into the human heart in a unique literary form. For centuries the Midrash Rabbah commentaries nourished the Jewish

Soncino Midrash Rabbah: Numbers 2

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Soncino Midrash Rabbah: Numbers 2

Midrash Rabbah is a homeletic, ethical, and moral commentary on the Torah expounded by the Rabbis during Talmudic times. The Midrash represents the essence of Judaism, its ethical standards, and its insight into the human heart in a unique literary form. For centuries the Midrash Rabbah commentaries nourished the Jewish

Soncino Midrash Rabbah: Deuteronomy

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Soncino Midrash Rabbah: Deuteronomy

Midrash Rabbah is a homeletic, ethical, and moral commentary on the Torah expounded by the Rabbis during Talmudic times. The Midrash represents the essence of Judaism, its ethical standards, and its insight into the human heart in a unique literary form. For centuries the Midrash Rabbah commentaries nourished the Jewish

Judaism of the Second Temple Period (Vol. 1) by David Flusser

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Judaism of the Second Temple Period (Vol. 1) by David Flusser

Dr. David Flusser was a prolific scholar of the Dead Sea Scrolls, and his contributions to research in Jewish apocalypticism, and apocalyptic literature are considerable. With this English translation of many of his essays, Prof. Flusser's insights are now available to a wider audience than ever before. In this volume,

The Jewish Gospels by Daniel Boyarin

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The Jewish Gospels by Daniel Boyarin

One of the books I often recommend is "The Jewish Gospels" by Daniel Boyarin. A short but provocative book written by an eloquent and erudite professor who taught at Hebrew University, Yale, Harvard, Yeshiva University and now at Berkley. The book presents a cogent academic take on the Jewish nature

Pirke De-Rabbi Eliezer

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Pirke De-Rabbi Eliezer

Pirke De-Rabbi Eliezer is an ancient Jewish commentary on various passages of the Torah. This book is attributed to Rabbi Eliezer ben Hyrcanus, who lived in the 1st century CE. Yet most scholars do not see a direct connection between the contents of this volume and the early sage. Ascribing

Borderlines by Daniel Boyarin

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Borderlines by Daniel Boyarin

This book by Prof. Daniel Boyarin explores the popular topic of the parting of ways between Christianity and Judaism. Only instead of tracing the historical circumstances of how the Synagogue and Church slowly drifted apart, he proposes a completely different outlook on how it really happened. I was deeply intrigued

Stone and Dung, Oil and Spit by Jodi Magness

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Stone and Dung, Oil and Spit by Jodi Magness

Jodi Magness is a Distinguished Professor of Early Judaism at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. This book is cleverly subtitled "Jewish daily life in the time of Jesus" to afford it a broader Christian readership. The

From the Maccabees to the Mishna by Shaye Cohen

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From the Maccabees to the Mishna by Shaye Cohen

Shaye J. D. Cohen is a Professor of Hebrew Literature and Philosophy in the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations at Harvard University. He is a well-known historian who also holds rabbinic ordination from the Jewish Theological Seminary. This book (link here) is one of my favorites. If you

Essential Judaism by George Robinson

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Essential Judaism by George Robinson

What happens at a synagogue service? What are the rules for keeping kosher? How do I light the Hanukah candles? What is in the Hebrew Bible? What do the Jewish holidays signify? I frequently get a lot of questions about Jewish culture and life, both ancient and modern, practical and

The Five Books of Moses by Robert Alter

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The Five Books of Moses by Robert Alter

Early on in my study of Hebrew literature, I discovered the works of Robert Alter. His focus on the literary features of ancient Hebrew and its unique poteism, its powerful semiotic nature captivated me. Then I ran across his English translations of the Torah and they have enhanced my study

Short Stories by Jesus by Amy-Jill Levine

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Short Stories by Jesus by Amy-Jill Levine

Amy-Jill Levine is well-known as the general editor for The Jewish Annotated New Testament. In this short book, she interweaves history and spiritual analysis to explore Jesus’ most popular teaching parables, exposing their misinterpretations and making them lively and relevant for modern readers. Jesus was a skilled storyteller and perceptive

The Second Book of Enoch

The Second Book of Enoch

The Second Book of Enoch is an extrabiblical book from around 1st century BCE to 1 century CE. It is also known as the "Book of Secrets". Original Translation by William Richard Morfill improved and edited by Pinchas Shir.

The First Book of Enoch

The First Book of Enoch

This extrabiblical Jewish book originated in 3rd or 2nd century BCE. It is also known as the "Book of Watchers". Though it is attributed to biblical Enoch from Genesis its date is significantly later. Original Translation by George Hendy Schodde improved and edited by Pinchas Shir.

The Wisdom of Ben Sira

The Wisdom of Ben Sira

This extrabiblical Jewish book was written in Hebrew around 2 Century BCE. The work is also known as "Ecclesiasticus" and as "Wisdom of Yeshua son of Eleazar son of Sira". Original English translation by Sir Lancelot Charles Lee Brenton, 1851, edited and improved by Pinchas Shir.

The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs

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The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs

The Testaments of The Twelve Patriarchs is an extrabiblical Jewish book from 2 Century CE. Original English translation by Robert Henry Charles, 1917. The book reports the final words and wisdom of the twelve sons of Jacob, spoken as final charges prior to their deaths.

The Book of Jubilees

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The Book of Jubilees

Jubilees is an extrabiblical Jewish book from 2 Century BCE. Original English translation by George Henry Schodde, 1988. It is an ancient retelling of well-known Genesis stories chronologically structured in multiples of seven and adding up to 49, hence the name.