Genesis 1-11: A Handbook on the Hebrew Text [Paperback]

Professor Barry L. Bandstra has produced a brilliant Advance Student Edition of the important GENESIS 1-11 Chapters in the ancient classical Hebrew tongue. I am shocked by the vulgar denunciation given this book by the first reviewer here. Did he actually read Professor Bandstra's text? Since Ryssel's "De Elohistae Pentateuchici sermone" (1878), there have many many learned treatises on these first eleven chapters of Genesis.

However none of them are geared for the young savants of Hebrew philology; Bandstra's text does ground them well in this ancient tongue. This edition is a masterpiece of erudition, simple clarity & marvellous insights into the workings of the ancient tradents who produced the composites that cohere to give us a presentation of the ancient Near Eastern Mind [Egyptian (Chapters 1:1--2:4a) & Babylonian (Chapters 2:4b--3:24) doublets] as to how the world and its human culture began.

When one masters the functional Hebrew grammar of post-modern scholars such as Bandstra, you are well rewarded. What has been well said of Georg Heinrich August von Ewald (1803-1875), a Hebrew language savant, applies to Dr. Bandstra as well: he displays the noble characteristics of a grerat scholar---perfect simplicity and sincerity, intense moral earnestness, sturdy independence, and absolute fearlessness! If Professor von Ewald was the second founder of the science of the Hebrew language, Dr. Bandstra is the third.

Let me be permitted to give one example of his genius on p. 43 on his discussion of the famous debate between the two medieval Twelfth century grammarians, Abraham ben Ezra ["Ibn Ezra"] (died AD 1167) and Rashi as to how to construe the prepositional circumstantial clause in Genesis 1:1 "In a first Deity created the heavens and the Earth" he tells why the correct translation should be, "Initially" or "At commencement"...Deity created the heavens and the Earth! This is the correct philological elucidation of the text. The Hebrew "bere'shith" is an indefinite noun. Does it modify the main clause v. 2 (Ibn Ezra) or v. 3 (Rashi)? What does the grammarian Rabbi David Qimhi [Kimchi] (died ca. AD 1235) say? Buy his book and find out! To translate the Hebrew 'Elohim as "Deity" is a stroke of genius. It is, indeed, a pluralia majestatus, if I may use one of those opaque Latinized descriptions that serve to detract from a perceptive grasp of the ancient text, that captures correctly how the ancient tradents employed the term for the appellative Yahweh [YHWH or "YHVH"].

After I have studied this treatise in greater depth (I have only done a precursory rapid reading), and re-read two and three more times this splendid treatise, I will edit this review in greater detail [See my Amos review of Professor Garrett's excellent Amos text in the same series here].

By all means buy this treatise for your classical Hebrew library! You will be richly rewarded!

Respectfully,

John E.D.P. Malin
Lafayette, Louisiana

I certainly wish "Northern Disciple" gave a better reason for giving the book such low marks. Perhaps some examples would be in line. When I first looked at this series I could not Look Inside. Now I have looked at all available and I don't get it. They are what they claim to be, an analysis of the Hebrew text. Each scholar is using recent approaches, including Discourse Analysis. Each one takes a slightly different approach because that's what they do in their work and teaching. Bandstra does emphasize the structure and uses lots of tables to show how the language operates the text. I mean it is a cut and dry thing and hits appropriate points well. I did notice that there was some redundancy. For example, in treating the word 'elohim ('''''''''--sorry no Hebrew displays on Amazon) he does repeat almost verbatim the same info. I am not sure what he should have done instead other than treat it in depth once and then ignore subsequent appearances of "God" or as Bandstra renders "deity". I wondered if the word was not treated to ND's satisfaction, but that is an assumption perhaps totally unfounded. I wish, again, I could see the problem(s) with this particular volume.

When I look at treatments of the Hebrew Text, I am always wary of those who might be of the Christian cult. I saw nothing in my perusal of these (Genesis, Jonah, Ruth, Amos) that would cause me to discount them as biased. Buy them for me and I'll try using them. I give three stars only because I have not examined the entire volume.

The Baylor handbooks are very well done and very useful for those reading the text in the original language. I have the ones that are published, and will acquire new ones as they become available. Having said that, I must say that Bandstra's work on Genesis 1-11 is, for me at least, of very little value. I sent my copy back within an hour of receiving it. It is stilted, idiosyncratic, monotonously repetitive, and - really - not much help. I was looking for this book to act as companion to the Hebrew text of Genesis 1-11, among other things. Bandstra's work was a huge letdown. I do hope that Baylor replaces it quickly, because this section of text is so critical.