One of the leading specialists in the history of Jewish interpretation of the Bible has here applied himself to the broader matter of Jewish hermeneutic and how it is employed in the theology, mythology and theosophy of Judaism...A sound and useful corrective to those with a narrower notion of Jewish exegesis. -- S. C. Reif * Society for Old Testament Study [ UK] * Professor Fishbane has been for some years at the forefront of a new wave of American scholars writing on Jewish biblical exegesis, whose primary concern is literary and theological rather than historical or philological. This collection of 11 unconnected essays presents his approach in general terms and illustrates it with examples chosen from a range of rabbinic and post-rabbinic sources...The book addresses major topics in Jewish religion, and the exegetical approach illuminates them in a distinctive and thought-provoking way. -- N. R. M. de Lange * Journal of Theological Studies * This is a beautiful and sensitive book, giving insight into the ethos and inner life of Jewish exegesis in the rabbinical tradition. It can make much customary academic exegesis seem impoverished and even perfunctory! We get a sense of the literary-cum-spiritual depth of this work, developed over so many centuries. It now offers interesting similarities with the recent literary-critical methods of the Western academy's scriptural work. The presupposition is that 'Jewish thought and theology arise in the thickness of exegesis and are carried by its forms'. This collection of essays makes an enriching book that has much to contribute to any instructed student with an imagination ready for kindling. -- -Leslie Houlden * Theological Book Review [ UK] *
