The Right Chorale

“This book is testimony to the appreciable intellectual breadth and depth of the author and no less testimony to his substantive contribution to the field of biblical studies. Owing to its content (especially the helpful introductions to each part) and fine editorial management, this collection of essays coheres remarkably well as a book. The work is devoid of typographical errors as well as inconsistencies of style. It is an impressive collection and a tour de force in support of those things for which Levinson is well known.”

—J. Glen Taylor, Review of Biblical Literature, 2009

“I read it [Chapter 2] through twice now, and I am amazed at how well it highlights (in my mind, at least) the distinction between the simplistic results of a surface reading of the text with the weighty implications pulled out from a deep reading and analysis. Much of what we think we “know” about the Bible falls in that first category – simplistic reading that more often than not is plain misreading. Levinson attempts to combat typical misreadings of Gen 3 by focusing on the paradoxical and complex relationship between humanity’s lack of knowledge and their freedom to choose to obey or disobey God’s command. . . . I recommend reading all of it for any of you working on Genesis interpretation and how it characterizes God and his methods for disseminating knowledge. . .”

—Douglas Mangum, Biblia Hebraica: A Blog about the Hebrew Bible; http://bibliahebraica.blogspot.com (2009)

“L’ouvrage de Bernard M. Levinson, spécialiste du droit biblique et professeur à l’Université du Minnesota, regroupe une série de douze articles parus entre 1990 et 2006 et tourne aussi autour du thème de la loi. . . .[O]n tient là ce qui se fait de mieux en matière d’interprétation de la législation hébraïque et d’etude sur les phénomenes de réécriture et d’exégèse intra-biblique.” [This work by Bernard M. Levinson, specialist in biblical law and professor at the University of Minnesota, collects together a series of twelve articles published between 1990 and 2006, all concerning (biblical) law . . . (It) offers the best in the field of interpretation of Hebrew legislation and in the study of inner-biblical exegesis and the phenomenon of rewriting.]

—Didier Luciani, Vies consacrées 81 (2009): 229

“This collection of essays is a testimony to Levinson’s methodological brilliance and broad perspective as a bridge-builder between the various factions of Hebrew Bible scholarship.”

—Dr. Armin Lange, Journal of Ancient Judaism 1 (2010): 122

“Chapters 5-8 contain four of Levinson’s most important recent essays on specific legal texts. . . . Each of these is a masterful illustration of the meticulous and uncompromising philology, exegetical common sense, and healthy skepticism for which Levinson is justly renowned. They also demonstrate the sort of results that may be achieved by the truly expert use of Near Eastern texts, the ancient versions and the rabbinic exegetical tradition, as opposed to the arbitrary and impressionistic theories that abound when these tools are employed by those less skilled in their use.

“Levinson is perhaps at his most penetrating and his most compelling in the final four chapters of the book, each of which contains his detailed and rigorous critique of the work of a scholar whose approach, while innovative, exhibits serious shortcomings. . . . No biblical scholar active today carries out the arduous and delicate task of refuting untenable suggestions as responsibly as Levinson, and we are all in his debt for doing the indispensable work that many are reluctant to do. Levinson is unsurpassed in his awareness of the potential detriment to future research that methodologically problematic approaches, even idiosyncratic or transparently tendentious ones, are liable to cause if they go uncriticized and unchecked. Never dismissive, he piercingly but respectfully addresses the faulty logic, inadequate philology, historical omissions, and problematic assumptions of scholars. Proceeding point by point, he patiently adduces the relevant evidence and supplies the needed corrective.”

—Baruch J. Schwartz, AJS Review 33 (2009): 393–96

“The collection as a whole triumphantly vindicates the significance of biblical law, the essential function of diachronic analysis (source and redaction criticism, and historical contextualization) in interpretation, and, especially in the last section, the established positions of the critical tradition in the succession of Wellhausen. The footnotes and bibliography are a superb resource for the study of biblical law. And the publishers have produced a beautiful volume worthily complementing a fine text.”

—Walter J. Houston, Journal of Semitic Studies 55 (2010): 311–12

“El volumen, pese a su carácter riguroso y preciso, está redactado con claridad y fluidez, en constante diálogo con los diversos autores; las notas son abundantes y muy documentadas. Por su contenido y por su método, este libro será de gran interés para estudiosos de la hermenéutica biblica y de legislaciones antiguas comparadas.”

—Rafael Vicent, Salesianum 72:2 (2010): 369–70

“One striking characteristic is Levinson’s attentiveness not only to what his colleagues say, but also to their own use of other scholarship. Levinson reads other scholarship no less carefully than he seeks to read the biblical text. In this reviewer’s opinion the standard of scholarly discussion about biblical law has, in recent years, far exceeded most other areas of research in Old Testament for its precision and methodological sophistication. Levinson has been at the forefront of these developments. This collection sets the bar for future scholarship very high. It should be read widely, not only by those interested in matters of biblical law and legal hermeneutics.”

—Nathan MacDonald, Vetus Testamentum 61 (2011): 538

“. . . this is a rich compendium of work that at once represents a comprehensive response to the issues it addresses and anticipates Levinson’s future contribution to the endeavor of biblical interpretation.”

—Megan Warner, Australian Biblical Review 59 (2011); http://www.fbs.org.au/reviews/levinson59.html

". . . Levinson’s updated contributions to areas on which he has been working for over two decades helpfully identify central (and perennial) issues in the interpretation of biblical law, notably the interrelation of synchronic and diachronic methods and the nature of the biblical text. His work is well documented, avails itself of a wide variety of ancient and modern sources, and typically includes critical interaction with differing viewpoints. The volume contains a sizeable bibliography and indexes of Scripture, other ancient sources, authors, key words and phrases, and subjects, making this important resource easy to use."

—Daniel C. Timmer, Studies in Religion 40 (2011): 392–393