Since Freud, the study of dreams has typically involved inquiry into past and present emotional states. The ancients, unfamiliar with the intricate byways of the human soul revealed by modern psychology, typically saw dreams as channels of communication between human beings and external sources. Shaul Bar explores the etymology of key terms for dreams in the Hebrew Bible, presents dozens of examples of biblical dreams and visions, and categorizes them as prophetic, symbolic, or incubation. He studies biblical dreams and visions in the context of similar phenomena in the literature of neighboring cultures and analyzes the functions of dream reports in the biblical corpus. The literature of dream interpretation in Egypt and Mesopotamia informs Bar's treatment of the structure of dream accounts as conforming to the three-part model (setting, message, response) proposed for ancient Near Eastern dream accounts in A. Leo Oppenheim's classic work on dream interpretation. Symbolic dreams, whether or not God is their source, contain no divine appearance and require interpretation to be understood. While oneiro-criticism was a significant profession in ancient Near Eastern cultures, the Hebrew Bible presents only two such experts, Joseph and Daniel. Both were active in royal courts, and the success of both in interpreting the rulers' dreams served to confirm the superiority of the God of Israel. Ambivalence characterizes the attitude toward dreams and visions in prophetic literature. Joel and Job allow that they have some value. But Jeremiah, Zechariah, Isaiah, and Ecclesiates find no religious significance in them and even treat them as tools of deceit. The Talmud presents no consensus about whether dreams are a legitimate form of communication from God. Although a guild of professional interpreters existed in Jerusalem and the Talmud includes a short dream book, many Sages expressed skepticism about such alleged divine messages. Dreams also serve important functions within the literary world of the Hebrew Bible. Bar shows how Jacob's dream at Bethel serves to explain the sanctity of the place and detach it from its Canaanite context, how the dreams in the Joseph cycle show the hand of divine providence in the descent to Egypt followed by the ascent to the Promised Land, how Solomon's dream at Gibeon serves to legitimate Solomon's rule, and how Nebuchadnezzar's dreams served to emphasize once again that it is the Lord who guides universal history.

Die vorliegende neue Auflage des Gesenius'schen Woerterbuches, die funfte von meiner Hand, wird voraussichtlich die letzte sein, die ich bearbeite. Schon deswegen wird man es gewiss begreiflich finden, dall ich, nachdem ich ziemlich viel Zeit und Arbeit an dies Buch ge wendet habe, nicht gesonnen gewesen bin, durch eine vollstii. ndige Umgestaltung ein ganz neues oder gar, wie vorgeschlagen worden ist. zwei neue Bucher daraus zu machen. Eine derartige radikale Umarbeitung muss, falls sie noetig erscheinen sollte, einem kunftigen Herausgeber uber lassen werden. Ich moechte aber wegen des Interesses, das ich fur das Buch hege, die Gelegen heit benutzen, ausdrucklich hervorzuheben, dall der Gedanke, den lexikalischen Stoff auf zwei Ausgaben, ein kurzes Handbuch fur praktische Zwecke und einen umfangreichen "Thesaurus" zu verteilen, mir recht wenig zweckmassig zu sein scheint. In seiner jetzigen Form sind die letzten Auflagen des Buches ziemlich rasch, durchschnittlich nach vier bis funf Jahren, auf einander gefolgt, und es ist dadurch moeglich gewesen, fortwahrend die neueste Literatur zu berucksichtigen und die neuen Funde und Entdeckungen zu verwerten. Es liegt aber in der Natur der Sache, dass ein kurzes Handbuch von diesem uberreichen Stoffe nur einen sehr be grenzten Teil aufnehmen koennte, wahrend andererseits ein umfangreicher, auf den gelehrten Gebrauch berechneter Thesaurus, selbst wenn er nicht das ehrwurdige Alter des vortrefflichen Gesenius'schen Thesaurus von Anno 1835 zu erreichen brauchte, doch mit weit la. ngerenZwischen raumen erscheinen wurde.

ECPA Top Shelf Book Cover Award When the Israelites exclaimed, "Here are your gods!" at the sight of the golden calf, they were attempting to hold on to the God of their history while fashioning idols for their own purposes. In today's Western world, plenty of shiny false gods still hold power--idols of prosperity, nationalism, and self-interest. Christians desperately need to name and expose these idols. We must retrieve the biblical emphasis on idolatry and apply it anew in our journey of following Jesus. In "Here Are Your Gods," Old Testament scholar Christopher J. H. Wright combines a biblical study of idolatry with practical discipleship. He calls readers to consider connections between Old Testament patterns and today's culture, especially recurring temptations to trust in political power. Now as much as ever, we need a biblically informed understanding of the many ways humans make gods for themselves, the danger of idols, and how God calls us to join him in the battle against idolatry as part of his ongoing mission to be known and worshiped by all peoples.

Over twenty-five years in the making, this much-anticipated commentary promises to be the standard study of Proverbs for years to come. Written by eminent Old Testament scholar Bruce Waltke, this two-volume commentary is unquestionably the most comprehensive work on Proverbs available.

Grounded in the new literary criticism that has so strengthened biblical interpretation of late, Waltkebs commentary on Proverbs demonstrates the profound, ongoing relevance of this Old Testament book for Christian faith and life. A thorough introduction addresses such issues as text and versions, structure, authorship, and theology. The detailed commentary itself explains and elucidates Proverbs as btheological literature.b Waltkebs highly readable style -- evident even in his original translation of the Hebrew text -- makes his scholarly work accessible to teachers, pastors, Bible students, and general readers alike.

After a long and painful wait for the Jewish exiles, Ezra and Nehemiah lead their people back to the Promised Land. Despite hardships and setbacks, they would rebuild their nation in time for the arrival of its Messiah. Whenever we are tempted to doubt the promises of God these books remind us that that God is a promise-keeper that is able to redeem any situation. God inspired the Bible for a reason. He wants you read it and let it change your life. If you are willing to take this challenge seriously, then you will love Phil Moore's devotional commentaries. Their bite-sized chapters are punchy and relevant, yet crammed with fascinating scholarship. Welcome to a new way of reading the Bible. Welcome to the Straight to the Heart series.