"The Hebrew Scriptures—An Introduction to Their Litera- ture and Religious Ideas," by Dr. Samuel Sandmel, Provost of Hebrew Union College-Jew- ish Institute of Religion at Cincinnati, published by Knopf, is a monumental work. Its value lies especially in the fact. emphasized by the author, that it is a book "addressed to the beginner, not the scholar," that "it is a nontechnical introduction, nontechnical in the sense that when word or terms in the biblical Hebrew are used, they are 0,, invariably plained, and an introduc- tion in the sense that it assumes little or no previous Dr. Sandmel knowledge on the part of the reader." It is of value also to indicate that Prof. Sandmel's aim in writing his book was: "To acquaint the reader who goes on to become a biblical scholar in the fullest technical sense with basic material that he will not have to unlearn." Therefore the evaluations contained in Dr. Sandmel's work on biblical literature is in no sense a substitute for the 13ible, but becomes "a tool" for biblical students. The reader is prepared for adequate biblical study by the author's proper explanations of historical antecedents, the "sub- stance and shape" that came from the pre-exilic period, and the outlines of Israel's religion that we formed by the Wilder- ness. Since all the prophetic books in the Old Testament are cov- ered in Dr. Sandmel's analysis, after an analysis of the pre- liminaries, the chronological chart with which the book com- mences gives the reader an idea of the periods in pre- Christian history covered by the author. At the very outset. there is a realistic approach to the sub- ject in Dr. Sandmel's assertion: "More people praise the Bible than read it. More read it than understand it, and more understand it than con- scientiously follow it." Because the book is limited to the Hebrew Scriptures, the reader at once is made aware of the basic contents of the Bible, which is described as a library are regarding which the author states: "The individual volumes were written by diverse men at di- verse times, and, indeed, some single volumes, such as the Book of Isaiah with its 66 chapters, are themselves the products of men living in different times. The Bible, as it is commonly understood by Christians, con- sists of two major divisions. The Old Testament, reckoned by them as the first division, is that earlier collection of books made by Jews, while the New Testa- ment, the second division, was made later by Christians, the Old and New Testaments constitut- ing for Christians one single Bible. Jews, on the other hand, do not regard the New Testa- ment as part of their Bible; when Jews speak of Bible, they mean what Christians mean by Old Testament; the term that Jews customarily use is Tanak (tah-nahk)." Because transliterations vary, the footnote at this point de- serves mentioning: The term (Tanak) is formed from the first letters of the names of the three divisions, Torah ("Revela- tion"), Neviitn ("Prophets"), and Kesuvim ("Writings"). Jews actually pronounce the word Tanach, ending with the Ger- man ch, not k. In his treatment of histori- cal data about all the books in the Hebrew Scriptures, covering the events that motivated the writings and the auguries, Dr. Sandmel provides the explanations that are so vitally needed for a proper understanding and appreciation of the Bible. its full credentials for en- trance into Scripture, espe- cially in the light of its having been ascribed to Solomon." The book, he states, was kept alive because it was the "Song of Songs," which could be expressed in English as "the Best of All Songs." He adds: "The ancient Hebrews not only considered physical love beautiful, but, as their in- clusion of Song of Songs in Scripture testifies, believed that it could be holy as well." There are, of course, exten- sive reviews of the ethical, moral and spiritual values in the numerous biblical works. For example, about Isaiah he states: "Isaiah was the first man to insist that Yahve is discerned in history and con- trols history; the message, therefore, represents a mile- stone in Hebrew thought. Since Yahve controls history, the pious should have re- course to Him rather than to Assyria or Egypt—this was Isaiah's message. Although decency and honesty were also retruired of Israel, the only policy that could and would prevail was faith in Yahve." sees Jeremiah's significant con- tribution as marking a transi tion from the old Hebrew re- ligion to Judaism: "The old Hebrew religion was inexorably bound to end in doom; no other fate could result from cumula- tive guilt. Judaism, on the the Five Books of Moses and of the Deuteronomic histories, Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Chronicles, Ezra Nehemiah, Ruth, Jonah and Esther follow the descriptions of the prophetic works. Appended to the book, which includes many maps prepared by Theodore R. Miller, are essays on Archeology and the Tanak, The Sacred Calendar and the Priesthood, The Tanak in Judaism and The Tanak in Christianity; a selected biblio- graphy and Scriptural and subject indicates. "The Hebrew Scriptures" de- serve a high rank in interpre- To Jeremiah does the author tive biblical literature and its tribute that although the author, Dr. Samuel Sandmel, prophet suffered personal frus- has rendered a distinct service trations and physical dangers to students of the Bible with it is a mark of the man's great- this impressive work. ness that, "although he had suffered so much through ob- A bargain is something you serving the failings of his fel- don't need, at a price you can't low men, yet he could point to resist. the future with hope and with Then there is his view on confidence." Want ads get quick results! Post-exilic prophecies are in- Jeremiah's role, and the author terestingly evaluate d. The Psalms are described as "the lyrical masterpiece of the Tanak." and the Book of Job as "the literary masterpiece. Sale or Lease Dr. Sandmel explains that "Service Is Important" while it is the destruction of Best Location in Area .. . Jerusalem that is lamented in the Book of Lamentations, Best Deal All-Ways "God's just wrath, not Jeru- SEE salem's fall, is the subject of Lamentations." '64 CHEVROLETS About the Song of Songs, Dr. Sandmel asserts that "in Judaism and especially in Christianity the allegorical interpretation gave the book UN 4-2300 BR 2-2470 M. LARRY STERN AT Hanley Dawson Chevrolet, Inc. 14501 W. 7 Mile Rd., 1/2 block W. of James Couzens S. HUROK, presents ISAAC STERN One of the World's Great Violinists DETROIT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA VALTER POOLE Conducting Sunday, December 1,1963, at 8:30 p.m., Ford Auditorium sponsored by the Zionist Organization of Detroit For Reservations—Phone DI 1-8540 Or write to—Balfour Concert Committee 10424 W. McNichols Road Detroit 21, Michigan 11 — THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS — Frid ay , S ept. 27, 1.963 Sandmel's Monumental 'Hebrew Scriptures' Renders Distinct Service to Bible Students