recommended resources for OT word study esp. preaching on Pentateuch

I am preaching through the Pentateuch, and have finished up through the Ten Commandments. As I move into the details of the Mosaic Covenant, I'm looking for a couple resources to beef up my library.

I have Scholars Gold plus IVP Reference collection, some journals, and all of the lexicons and grammars I need.

But I'm a bit frustrated in finding the help I need with some of the current study challenges, especially word studies.

What are your opinions?

Theological Lexicon of the OT?
IVP Dictionary of the Old Testament: Pentateuch?
dream on that NIDOTTE was finished? (or order the printed version?)
Or just beef up my commentaries on those books with WBC? Anyone know how helpful the JPS Torah volumes are?

Thank you for any input you can give!

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Comments

Kevin Becker

For OT word studies in seminary I used NIDOTTE and TLOT (in that order) for help. I have the print version of NIDOTTE. I would love to get it in Logos, however, Zondervan's pricing scheme leaves a lot to be desired.

For these types of word study helps I recommend these two books.

Rosie Perera

I am preaching through the Pentateuch, and have finished up through the Ten Commandments. As I move into the details of the Mosaic Covenant, I'm looking for a couple resources to beef up my library.

I have Scholars Gold plus IVP Reference collection, some journals, and all of the lexicons and grammars I need.

But I'm a bit frustrated in finding the help I need with some of the current study challenges, especially word studies.

What are your opinions?

Theological Lexicon of the OT?
IVP Dictionary of the Old Testament: Pentateuch?
dream on that NIDOTTE was finished? (or order the printed version?)
Or just beef up my commentaries on those books with WBC? Anyone know how helpful the JPS Torah volumes are?

Thank you for any input you can give!

Will try my best. First, you said you have "all of the lexicons...I need" but then said your primary challenge right now is word studies and you asked about the Theological Lexicon of the OT. So I guess you don't actually have all the lexicons you need (or want). [;)]

The TLOT is an excellent resource.

The IVP Dictionary of the Old Testament: Pentateuch is not available yet (it's in pre-pub).

NIDOTTE is also a very useful resource but can be overwhelming at times. And as you know, it's not yet in Logos format.

So it looks like TLOT would be a good next purchase for you.

What commentary sets (or volumes covering the Pentateuch) do you have already? I recently bought the JPS Tanakh commentary series and it looks good just browsing through it, but I haven't used it in depth yet. WBC would be a much bigger investment if you are considering that. (I'd never buy it in individual volumes e.g., just the Pentateuch vols.; the set is a much better deal, but it's pricey).

I taught a class on the Pentateuch & Biblical Narrative once, and a couple of the helpful books in my prep were:

Sailhamer, John. The Pentateuch as Narrative: A Biblical-Theological Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1992.
Waltke, Bruce. An Old Testament Theology. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2007.

It was a survey class, and I didn't have time to get into the level of word studies, though. Sometimes seeing the broader picture (biblical theology) can help you figure out what to do with the words, though. It's easy to get so focused on the trees that we miss the forest.

EDIT: I'd also suggest looking through Tremper Longman's Old Testament Commentary Survey (Baker Academic) -- unfortunately not yet in Logos format, though the corresponding New Testament Commentary Survey is, for recommended commentaries. You can see his recommendations for the Pentateuch volumes by typing in the individual book names into "Search Inside this Book" and clicking through to look at some sample pages. The preview pages only go up through middle of the Leviticus section, but at least you can get some ideas. Also check out www.bestcommentaries.com.

Timothy Lovegrove

Rosie, thank you very much for your reply and suggestions. I guess I wasn't considering TLOT to be in the same category as standard lexicons.

I do have Sailhamer's new The Meaning of the Pentateuch, as well as Alexander's From Paradise to the Promised Land, the NAC volumes, Keil&Delitzsch, WBC on Leviticus, and some others.

I'm still a little curious if anyone has used the JPS Tanakh volumes enough to know if they're worth the big investment? Do they deal more with exploring the rabbinical tradition or the biblical text?

Mary-Ellen

I have enjoyed having the JPS commentary set in my library. The scholarship is up-to-date and first-rate, albeit from a different point of view and a different tradition. The authors are often most interested in literary and language aspects of the text.

I recommend exploring the tables of contents and the page samples that are on the Logos product page before you make up your mind.

Rosie Perera

Rosie, thank you very much for your reply and suggestions. I guess I wasn't considering TLOT to be in the same category as standard lexicons.

I do have Sailhamer's new The Meaning of the Pentateuch, as well as Alexander's From Paradise to the Promised Land, the NAC volumes, Keil&Delitzsch, WBC on Leviticus, and some others.

I'm still a little curious if anyone has used the JPS Tanakh volumes enough to know if they're worth the big investment? Do they deal more with exploring the rabbinical tradition or the biblical text?

It sounds like you've got enough, then. There is no end to the resources you could supply yourself with. Sometimes too much information is counterproductive -- you don't actually get down to the business of studying the text because you're spending so much time reading all the lexicons and commentaries. Here's something to take to heart, from the intro to Tremper Longman's OT Commentary Survey: (from here, click "First Pages" and then the right arrow twice to get to page 17): http://www.amazon.com/Testament-Commentary-Survey-Tremper-Longman/dp/0801031230/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1262721659&sr=1-3#reader_0801031230).

Regarding JPS Tanakh volumes, though, if you still think you might want to get them, I'd send you to Amazon.com to read the user reviews and view some sample pages. They all get high ratings there:

Genesis: http://www.amazon.com/dp/0827603266
Exodus: http://www.amazon.com/dp/0827603274
Leviticus: http://www.amazon.com/dp/0827603282
Numbers: http://www.amazon.com/dp/0827603290
Deuteronomy: http://www.amazon.com/dp/0827603304

Also, someone on Amazon.com has put together a Listmania list of "Commentaries and References on the Pentateuch," each of which you can click on to see more info and reviews: http://www.amazon.com/lm/R160RM9P1AMEKB