The bible has a lot more to offer than face value.
Unfortunately, the King James version doesn’t offer much in the way of
commentary or explanation. Illustrated Bible Survey does a brilliant job at
explaining the events of the bible and the morals they contain, using
contemporary photos of the bible lands.
When studying the scriptures, it pays to note how a massive
change occurs after the book of Exodus. Where the Israelites were once
advancing constantly, they now appear to “take things easier.” The reason is
that since they were no longer enslaved, but at the same time not preoccupied with
conquering, they had more time to dwell on their purpose in life. In the
chapter on Deuteronomy, it describes Moses as moving away from the adulation of
the Lord’s miracles to the obligations of the people. The three books after
Exodus are not in the chronological order like Genesis and Exodus. They focus
more on philosophy.
Maps, photos, and archeological evidence are all part of
this book, which should make it more attractive to young readers. It’s a great
thing to read, for both children and adults who want to study the sacred texts
in greater depth. However, it is lacking somewhat. The Hebrew commentary by
Rabbi Shlomo Yitzhak (aka Rashi) has a bit more in the way of explanation, such
as the reason the Lord allowed Joseph to be sold into slavery (I’m not going to
reveal that one here.) One of the problems with this book is the size, which is
quite large. In the next edition, it might do better as two volumes, one each
for the Old and New Testament.
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