A very expansive and thorough introduction to the Septuagint, its study, and its place in Biblical criticism.

The book is well organized and suited for a variety of audiences. The book begins with justification for studying the Septuagint (heretofore LXX), and then explores the history of the text, its transmission, use today, and its function as a translation; the language of the LXX, attempting to ascertain the LXX text, using the LXX for OT textual criticism, the Dead Sea Scrolls and LXX studies, the LXX and the NT; the state of LXX studies, exploring previous scholars, present scholars and their work, attempts at reconstructing the history of the LXX, and concludes with considering theological developments in the Hellenistic age and how this may be manifest in the LXX. The work includes appendices describing organizations and research projects, reference works, glossary, differences in versification between English Bibles and the LXX, and symbols used in the Gottingen apparatus.

The first section of the book would be of interest to many in the general public; the rest becomes more and more scholarly in tone and best explored by those who have some understanding in the field of Biblical textual criticism, especially students. This work represents an excellent textbook to introduce the LXX and its issues.

The substance of the work is excellent and masterful in its breadth and approach. You really do leave the book recognizing the sheer complexity and difficulty, and yet necessity, of grappling with the LXX in Biblical studies.

Thoroughly commended for all those involved in the study of the Old and New Testaments.

*-galley received as part of early review program ( )

This book is the perfect first book on the subject of the Septuagint. It covers all the basic issues and history of the discipline. It's also a very nice quick review for the specialist. I recommend it before reading the older introductions by Swete or even Jellicoe (on which I cut my LXX teeth). It has real footnotes instead of endnotes. That is very helpful in linking the bibliography to the text. Of special value are the many examples which are extensively explained. Required reading for anyone studying text-criticism and history of ancient Judaism and Christianity. ( )

For many years, those who wished to learn about the Septuagint (the earliest Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible) had to rely on sources that were out-of-date, disorganized, incomplete, or hard to understand -- usually all four.

This book finally solves three of the four problems. It is modern, it is organized, and it is easy to understand (assuming you know Greek, anyway, plus have at least some knowledge of Hebrew). There is no question but that it is the best book in the field, and a good introduction to the handful of editions of the Septuagint now available.

Is it perfect? No. It doesn't supply nearly enough information about the various manuscripts; for this, students must still rely on the century-old book by Swete plus scattered information in other editions. I'd like to see more about the text-types of the manuscripts, too. Frankly, this feels like volume one of a two-volume work, with volume two ("The Materials of LXX Studies," or some such) still to be published.

But if it is not the last word, this is certainly the best word available now. Get it, and get Albert Pietersma and Benjamin G. Wright's A New English Translation of the Septuagint, -- and then start bugging publishers to produce volume II. ( )

Although this book is an introduction, it contains much information. And this is to be expected for such a fascinating, yet complex field of Septuagint studies. I commend this book eagerly. But be warned, knowledge of Greek and Hebrew is a pre-requisite for full appreciation of this material. ( )