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The Hebrew Bible: A Translation with Commentary - Printable Version

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The Hebrew Bible: A Translation with Commentary - tampaguy - 02-04-2019

Has anyone read or had any experience with "The Hebrew Bible: A Translation with Commentary" by Robert Alter? It seems like a reasonably priced set online. Any better options in the same price range?


RE: The Hebrew Bible: A Translation with Commentary - tampaguy - 02-04-2019

It occurs to me this may have been better in the "Hangout" forum, feel free to move is so. Thanks!


RE: The Hebrew Bible: A Translation with Commentary - nili - 02-04-2019

(02-04-2019, 04:29 PM)tampaguy Wrote: Has anyone read or had any experience with "The Hebrew Bible: A Translation with Commentary" by Robert Alter? It seems like a reasonably priced set online. Any better options in the same price range?

It is excellent as is his Psalms, and his The Wisdom Books -- with its exceptional commentary on Job -- is, if anything, even better.

If you're seriously interested in Torah I would strongly recommend picking up both the Robert Alter and and the Everett Fox translation and commentary.


RE: The Hebrew Bible: A Translation with Commentary - tampaguy - 02-05-2019

(02-04-2019, 10:29 PM)nili Wrote:
(02-04-2019, 04:29 PM)tampaguy Wrote: Has anyone read or had any experience with "The Hebrew Bible: A Translation with Commentary" by Robert Alter? It seems like a reasonably priced set online. Any better options in the same price range?

It is excellent as is his Psalms, and his The Wisdom Books -- with its exceptional commentary on Job -- is, if anything, even better.

If you're seriously interested in Torah I would strongly recommend picking up both the Robert Alter and and the Everett Fox translation and commentary.

Thank you! My birthday is coming up, I think I will ask for these. Interestingly, someone else recommended the Everett Fox translation and commentary as well, I might have to pick one of those up too.


RE: The Hebrew Bible: A Translation with Commentary - nili - 02-05-2019

(02-05-2019, 01:57 PM)tampaguy Wrote:
(02-04-2019, 10:29 PM)nili Wrote:
(02-04-2019, 04:29 PM)tampaguy Wrote: Has anyone read or had any experience with "The Hebrew Bible: A Translation with Commentary" by Robert Alter? It seems like a reasonably priced set online. Any better options in the same price range?

It is excellent as is his Psalms, and his The Wisdom Books -- with its exceptional commentary on Job -- is, if anything, even better.

If you're seriously interested in Torah I would strongly recommend picking up both the Robert Alter and and the Everett Fox translation and commentary.

Thank you! My birthday is coming up, I think I will ask for these. Interestingly, someone else recommended the Everett Fox translation and commentary as well, I might have to pick one of those up too.

Choosing between Alter and Fox is really an impossible choice (altho Alter might be a somewhat richer source of commentary). I'm referencing both almost constantly.

Good luck and happy birthday!

L'shalom.


RE: The Hebrew Bible: A Translation with Commentary - tampaguy - 02-05-2019

(02-05-2019, 04:47 PM)nili Wrote: Choosing between Alter and Fox is really an impossible choice (altho Alter might be a somewhat richer source of commentary). I'm referencing both almost constantly.

Good luck and happy birthday!

L'shalom.

Thanks! I just ordered two Everett Fox editions, excited to get them in.


RE: The Hebrew Bible: A Translation with Commentary - nili - 02-05-2019

(02-05-2019, 07:09 PM)tampaguy Wrote:
(02-05-2019, 04:47 PM)nili Wrote: Choosing between Alter and Fox is really an impossible choice (altho Alter might be a somewhat richer source of commentary). I'm referencing both almost constantly.

Good luck and happy birthday!

L'shalom.

Thanks! I just ordered two Everett Fox editions, excited to get them in.

Let me know how you like it.


RE: The Hebrew Bible: A Translation with Commentary - tampaguy - 03-07-2019

Just to update I have been reading from these two volumes regularly and really am enjoying Fox's translation. Definitely a worthy addition to any collection of scriptures.


RE: The Hebrew Bible: A Translation with Commentary - nili - 03-07-2019

(03-07-2019, 04:29 PM)tampaguy Wrote: Just to update I have been reading from these two volumes regularly and really am enjoying Fox's translation. Definitely a worthy addition to any collection of scriptures.

I'm really pleased that you found them to be of value.

I had the opportunity of meeting Fox at a Scholar-in-Residence event. It was interesting to hear him talk about how he would sometimes struggle for weeks on how to best translate some particular verse. I also recall a somewhat humorous exchange when I asked him when he might start working on a translation of Isaiah. He simply looked at me (reproachfully?) and said: "Isaiah is really hard."

Enjoy.