The Koren Tanakh of the Land of Israel: Samuel

 

This fresh English translation of Samuel has the beauty of a coffee table book with slick, thick quality paper and ample illustrations of historical and archaeological significance.

Published by Koren Publishers Jerusalem, who kindly sent me a copy to review, the book of Samuel in The Koren Tanakh of the Land of Israel is a new translation into English, accompanied by its original Jewish text. As part of a series with a consistent Orthodox worldview, the book’s photographs and illustrative artwork help us to visualize the times, place, and culture within which the book of Samuel occurred.

You’ll find more information on this unique series in the prior post on the book of Exodus. However, some things bear repeating. For example, the book opens in the opposite direction of most books produced in English. Also important to know, the “Introduction to the Series” defines the word “Tanakh” as “…an acronym composed of the Hebrew letters t n k h, referring to the fundamental collections of writing on which Judaism is based: Torah (the five books of Moses), Nevi’im (the Prophets), and Ketuvim (the Writings).”

Often called the Hebrew Bible or Old Testament by Christians and others, the Tanakh contains God-inspired texts written over many, many hundreds of years, yet it’s never antiquated! It continues to influence literature all over the world and provides a deeper understanding of the roots of Judaism and Christianity. Therefore, this book and, indeed, the whole series still under development, give us relevant biblical backgrounds and perspectives in informative sidebars, illustrations, and articles.

In this edition of Samuel, for example, an article on “Royal apologetics” introduces us to a “…genre consisting of texts that attempt to justify the rule of a sovereign in cases in which there is some question about the order of succession. The conceptual ideal of the ancient world – as it still is in most contemporary monarchies – was to have the oldest son of a king follow him on the throne. However, in many instances this general rule was breached, whether because of palace intrigue, usurpation, or infighting among the sons of one father or one or more of the mothers. The royal apology, usual written at the instigation of the ruler was meant to justify his irregular assumption of rule.” Such conditions occurred more than once in the book of Samuel.

Many of us know this one book as two volumes (First and Second Samuel), but the biblical stories and progression of the Hebrew people into the Jewish nation remain the same and continue to inform our understanding of the Bible.

Remember, for example, how young Samuel spent a night in the temple? “This narrative can be understood better within the context of the ancient Near East where, in a process called incubation, people who wanted to receive a divine message would spend a night in the temple area.”

Also in this edition, the pages “The Philistines” discuss origins of these “…neighbors and enemies of the Israelites and Judahites throughout most of the Iron Age – the era parallel to the period of the Judges and the First Temple (ca. 1200-586 BCE).”

And it’s no wonder they didn’t get along! As the text says: “The Philistines had a unique diet and culture of food preparation. For example, most Philistine sites indicate a preference for pig and dog meat….”

Also, “Current research suggests a more complex picture. Archaeological remains of the early Philistines indicate that their origins are diverse, from various areas in the Aegean, Cyprus, southern Anatolia, and even the Balkans.” Thus, “…migrants and local populations mixed, creating a hybrid material culture” with diverse gods and religious practices.

The many interesting articles throughout the book cover a variety of topics in these categories:

Archaeology
Near East
Language
Flora and Fauna
Egyptology
Mishkan – “Helps readers visualize what the Tabernacle might have looked like….”
Geography
Halakha – “Links modern Jewish law to the text that is the basis for contemporary Jewish ritual or practice. For example, II Samuel 22:51 appears in the Grace after Meals.”

A glossary defines other important words; an index helps locate specific pages on A-to-Z topics; and source credits are amply acknowledged. The page “Correspondence between Names” provides clarity too. For example, the Tanakh uses the name “Moshe,” conventionally translated as “Moses” and “Shlomo” instead of “Solomon.” The original spellings in the Hebrew language are also included.

There’s much more to see, say, and enjoy in this edition of Samuel, which I highly recommend for anyone who wants to know more about “The Making of the Monarchy” and the grounding of the Jewish nation.

 

© 2021, Reviewed by Mary Harwell Sayler, who welcomes review copies of new translations, revisions, and editions of the Bible.

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