The most extensive Bible dictionary ever created:

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The first major Bible dictionary to be published in America in 30 years

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6 volumes of approximately 1,200 pages each

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More than 6,000 entries

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More than 7,000,000 words

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Nearly 1,000 contributors -all the biggest names from around the world

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Multicultural and interdisciplinary in scope

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An unprecedented interfaith exploration of the Bible

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Illustrated throughout with easy-to-find references

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Endpaper maps of the Near Eastern world keyed to text for quick location of archaeological and biblical sites

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Extensively cross-referenced for comprehensive coverage of topics

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Easy-to-read article and chapter headings for speedy location of material

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Full bibliographic references following all major entries

Inside you’ll find:

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Exciting articles on pseudepigraphic and apocryphal texts, Nag Hammadi tractates, and individual dead Sea Scrolls-including the very latest on the most recently published sectarian Dead Sea Scrolls

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Minor entries on personal and place-names that go well beyond the one- or two-sentence descriptions found in other Bible dictionaries

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Outstanding summaries of the latest research on the historical Jesus

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Fascinating new articles discussing the growing reappraisal of early Christianity’s relationship with Judaism (was Christianity an offspring or sibling of rabbinic Judaism?)

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Many articles illustrating the literary artistry of the biblical text

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Intriguing discussions of everyday life in Bible lands-including articles that help us to understand health and disease, the role of animals and plants in the ancient ecosystem, and the demographics of human settlement in ancient Palestine

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A richness of information unequaled in the history of biblical studies

Edited by David Noel Freedman

Editorial Consultants:

Hans Dieter Betz-Greco-Roman Religin

James H. Charlesworth-Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha

Frank More Cross-Old Testament

William G. Dever-Archaeology

A.

Kirk Grayson-Mesopotamia and Assyriology

Peter Machinist-Bible and Ancient Near East

Abraham J. Malherbe-New Testament

Birger A. Pearson-Early Christianity

Jack M. Sassoon-Bible and Ancient Near East

William R. Schoedel-Early Christian Literature