Written BY Preachers and Teachers FOR Preachers and Teachers The Preacher's Commentary, Complete 35-Volume Set: Genesis–Revelation offers pastors, teachers, and Bible study leaders clear and compelling insights into the entire Bible that will equip them to understand, apply, and teach the truth in God's Word. Each volume is written by one of today's top scholars, and includes: Innovative ideas for preaching and teaching God's Word Vibrant paragraph-by-paragraph exposition Impelling real-life illustrations Insightful and relevant contemporary application An introduction, which reveals the author's approach A full outline of the biblical book being covered Scripture passages (using the New King James Version) and explanations Covering the entire Bible and combining fresh insights with readable exposition and relatable examples, The Preacher's Commentary will help you minister to others and see their lives transformed through the power of God's Word. Whether preacher, teacher, or Bible study leader--if you're a communicator, The Preacher's Commentary will help you share God's Word more effectively with others. Volumes and authors include: Genesis by D. Stuart Briscoe Exodus by Maxie D. Dunnam Leviticus by Gary W. Demarest Numbers by James Philip Deuteronomy by John C. Maxwell Joshua by John A. Huffman, Jr. Judges & Ruth by David Jackman 1 & 2 Samuel by Kenneth L. Chafin 1 & 2 Kings by Russell H. Dilday 1 & 2 Chronicles by Leslie C. Allen Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther by Mark D. Roberts Job by David L. McKenna Psalms 1-72 by Donald M. Williams Psalms 73-150 by Donald M. Williams Proverbs by David A. Hubbard Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon by David A. Hubbard Isaiah 1-39 by David L. McKenna Isaiah 40-66 by David L. McKenna Jeremiah & Lamentations by John Guest Ezekiel by Douglas Stuart Daniel by Sinclair B. Ferguson Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, and Jonah by Lloyd J. Ogilvie Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi by Walter C. Kaiser, Jr. Matthew by Myron S. Augsburger Mark by David L. McKenna Luke by Bruce Larson John by Roger L. Fredrikson Acts by Lloyd J. Ogilvie Romans by D. Stuart Briscoe 1 & 2 Corinthians by Kenneth L. Chafin Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon by Maxie D. Dunnam 1 & 2 Thessalonians, 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus by Gary W. Demarest Hebrews by Louis H. Evans, Jr. James, 1 & 2 Peter, and Jude by Paul A. Cedar 1, 2 & 3 John, and Revelation by Earl F. Palmer

In this thoughtful and penetrating study, Sara Raup Johnson investigates the creation of historical fictions in a wide range of Hellenistic Jewish texts. Surveying so-called Jewish novels, including the Letter of Aristeas, 2 Maccabees, Esther, Daniel, Judith, Tobit, Josephus's account of Alexander's visit to Jerusalem and of the Tobiads, Artapanus, and Joseph and Aseneth, she demonstrates that the use of historical fiction in these texts does not constitute a uniform genre. Instead it cuts across all boundaries of language, provenance, genre, and even purpose. Johnson argues that each author uses historical fiction to construct a particular model of Hellenistic Jewish identity through the reinvention of the past. The models of identity differ, but all seek to explore relations between Jews and the wider non-Jewish world. The author goes on to present a focal in-depth analysis of one text, Third Maccabees. Maintaining that this is a late Hellenistic, not a Roman, work Johnson traces important themes in Third Maccabees within a broader literary context. She evaluates the evidence for the authorship, audience, and purpose of the work and analyzes the historicity of the persecution described in the narrative. Illustrating how the author reinvents history in order to construct his own model for life in the diaspora, Johnson weighs the attitudes and stances, from defiance to assimilation, of this crucial period.