This commentary examines the book of Amos as it appears in the Hebrew Bible: a collection of messages from a prophet in the 8th century BCE who warned that the Kingdom of Israel would fall because of the wrongs of its wealthy elite. Despite this warning, the book ultimately offers hope for a restored future to the survivors in Judah and Israel. The analysis traces how Amos's original message - now only faintly visible - was reshaped by later scribes after Israel=s fall, leading to the fina...

This commentary sets the ancient Jewish story of Tobit within a broad tradition-historical context, analyzing the conceptions of angels and demons it contains, as well as its notions of ancient medicine, together with its understanding of the Torah. Presented along with this is a synchronically oriented interpretation of the whole text, which shows that the narrative should ultimately be understood in terms of historical theology. It reveals how, in the days of Hellenistic rule, ancient Ju...

Exodus and Exile is a masterpiece of biblical theology, newly available in English. The capstone work of legendary Dutch teacher Karel Deurloo, the book makes a brief and accessible argument: that the themes of exodus and exile constitute the dual center of all Scripture. These events disclose the person of God, the One who is powerful to liberate and merciful to restore.The book begins with a focus on the Name of God. Over against prepackaged, default, and ambient knowled...

Comparative law of religions has developed in recent years as a new discipline at the intersection of legal and religious science, of theology and anthropology. This book presents a systematic theoretical basis for this new discipline.While law is mostly associated with the state, many religions also have their own internal law. These internal legal norms are aimed at a particular form of behaviour on the part of believers. They therefore play a particular role in conflicts arising...