Thursday, May 10, 2007

Judaic Resource

I commented a few days ago on the usefulness of John Gill's commentary for understanding matters of Jewish custom and belief. I just found another resource which I've used in the library but is now online -- the 1906 edition of the 12-volume Jewish Encyclopedia.

Obviously there are places where the encyclopedia treats New Testament history as legend, for example the accounts of the births of John the Baptist and of Jesus, but there is a wealth of other information which is purely historical or relevant to the Old Testament. At the moment I'm preparing to preach on the trials of Jesus in Matthew 26:57-68, so information on the workings of the Sanhedrin and the two high priests Annas and Joseph Caiaphas is helpful.

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