The Samaritan Pentateuch—An Introduction to Its Origin, History, and Significance for Biblical Studies

Anderson (emeritus, religious studies, Michigan State U.) and Giles (biblical studies, Gannon U.) collaborate on a third study of the Samaritans, a community with ancient origins that still exists today, they say. The Samaritans recognized only the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, The Pentateuch, and in a version quite distinct from the other better known versions: the Hebrew Masoretic Text and the Greek Septuagint. They synthesize current burgeoning scholarship for the benefit of nonspecialists, tracing the history of the Samaritan Pentateuch from its origins through its most recent translations. Among their topics are textual pluriformity in the late Second Temple period, textual characteristics, the beginning of textual criticism, and translation. The Society of Biblical Literature publishes the paperbound edition; Brill publishes the hardbound. Annotation c2013 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Robert T. Anderson is professor emeritus of religious studies at Michigan State University. Terry Giles teaches biblical studies as Professor of Theology at Gannon University. They are co-authors of The Keepers: An Introduction to the History and Culture of the Samaritans and Tradition Kept: The Literature of the Samaritans (both from Hendrickson).