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The Hebrew Bible

A Translation with Commentary

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The Hebrew Bible

Written by: Robert Alter
Narrated by: Edoardo Ballerini
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Buy Now for $44.54

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About this listen

A landmark event: the complete Hebrew Bible in the award-winning translation that delivers the stunning literary power of the original.

A masterpiece of deep learning and fine sensibility, Robert Alter's translation of the Hebrew Bible, now complete, reanimates one of the formative works of our culture. Capturing its brilliantly compact poetry and finely wrought, purposeful prose, Alter renews the Old Testament as a source of literary power and spiritual inspiration. From the family frictions of Genesis and King David's flawed humanity to the serene wisdom of Psalms and Job's incendiary questioning of God's ways, these magnificent works of world literature resonate with a startling immediacy. Featuring Alter's generous commentary, which quietly alerts listeners to the literary and historical dimensions of the text, this is the definitive edition of the Hebrew Bible

©2019 Robert Alter (P)2019 Recorded Books Judaism Middle East Ancient History Bible Commentary Hebrew Language Learning Messianic Bible
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The Hebrew Bible: When God was creating heaven and earth in the beginning. All you need to know. As Saint Thomas says God is the first cause of everything. Modernists either dismiss the creator God as superstitious and too old or patriarchal and offensive. As if the universe was a windup toy set in motion 13 million years ago and God is watching from far away. Alternatively, God creating heaven and earth means God creates the past the present and the future. God is the beginning middle and end. Anything less, would be a demotion or the work of a lesser God.

excellent

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This is so worth the price, especially the audio version (which is so flawlessly read by Mr. Ballerini). My wife and I listened to the Introduction to the book of Ruth and then all four chapters, as well as several of the Psalms (1, 23, 51), last night and just loved it. Robert Alter spent more than 20 years translating the entire Hebrew Bible (OT) in an effort to preserve, as much as possible, the literary qualities of the Hebrew text in an English translation. The "Introductions" to each segment of the Hebrew Bible (Torah, Prophets, Writings) as well as the "Introductions" to each book provide not only thorough overviews but also details of specific issues, such as dating. I wish the print version was not so expensive. Perhaps a paperback version is being planned. But the audio version is a bargain.

As a Hebrew language and Hebrew Bible student (M.A. from UBC in Hebrew Bible and Ancient Judaism), this is now my "go to" version of the Hebrew Bible for both devotional reflection and a great supplement to my academic research. His commentary (only in the print version) while brief is particularly focused not on doctrinal issues or theology but on literary/translation issues. This is 5 star across the board for me. Exceptionally well written and beautifully read.

Best Literary Translation of the Hebrew Bible

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I have a hard copy of Alter’s Hebrew Bible translation, & it’s worth having as well (you won’t get all of his footnotes & annotations in the audiobook, though you do get his erudite & orienting introductory essays, & Ballerini’s performance is helpfully pitched differently for Alter’s ‘voice’ & the scriptural one). But getting cover to cover (or, more accurately, cover to cover to cover to cover to cover to cover) of the Hebrew Bible isn’t easy bedside or beach reading, & I was able to get through the whole text with this recording in a series of COVID-lockdown midnight dog walks (any plague-related passages felt creepily topical). Ballerini’s performance is brilliant, & it’s especially amazing listening to him list off Levitical injunctions & Mosaic commandments if you’re a fan of The Sopranos & can remember his character waiting in an Adult Video store for news about a mafia hit he’s helping to orchestrate.

Outstanding performance of a seminal translation

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