Este livro conduz o leitor por um profundo estudo do livro do Êxodo, usando como guia o próprio texto bíblico e as diretrizes da própria Igreja Católica para sua interpretação. Cada página traz várias observações e oferece novos esclarecimentos e comentários dos renomados professores Scott Hahn e Curtis Mitch, especialistas em estudo bíblico, além de algumas interpretações feitas pelos Padres da Igreja, há muito consagradas. Essas notas de estudo ajudam a tornar explícito aquilo que o autor do livro do Êxodo frequentemente fica pressuposto, além de fornecerem também preciosas informações históricas, culturais, geográficas e teológicas, pertinentes ao Velho Testamento.
Neste estudo ainda incluem-se quadros, ensaios sobre determinados tópicos e estudos específicos sobre determinadas palavras; há em cada páginas uma seção de referências facilmente utilizável e, para cada capítulo, são propostas algumas questões para aprofundar o entendimento pessoal da santa Palavra de Deus. Há ainda um ensaio introdutório que abarca questões de autenticidade, data, destinatários, estrutura e temas do livro do Êxodo, além de um esquema de sua estrutura e diversos mapas.
Scott Hahn is a renowned Catholic theologian, apologist, speaker, and bestselling author whose work has had a profound impact on contemporary biblical theology and Catholic thought. A former Presbyterian minister, Hahn converted to Catholicism in 1986 after an intense personal and theological journey, which he details in his popular book Rome Sweet Home, co-written with his wife, Kimberly Hahn. Their story of conversion has inspired countless readers around the world and remains a landmark in modern Catholic apologetics. Hahn holds the Father Michael Scanlan Chair of Biblical Theology and the New Evangelization at the Franciscan University of Steubenville, where he has taught since 1990. He is also the founder and president of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting biblical literacy among the laity and biblical fluency among clergy. Through the Center, Hahn leads a wide range of initiatives, including publications, pilgrimages, Bible studies, and the scholarly journal Letter and Spirit. Educated at Grove City College (B.A.), Gordon–Conwell Theological Seminary (M.Div.), and Marquette University (Ph.D. in Systematic Theology), Hahn brings a deep academic foundation to his work. His dissertation, Kinship by Covenant, was later published by Yale University Press and received praise for its theological insight and scholarly rigor. Throughout his career, Hahn has emphasized the covenant as the key to understanding salvation history, showing how the biblical narrative reveals a divine plan that unites all of humanity into God's family. His works explore themes such as the Eucharist, the role of Mary, the sacraments, and the authority of the Church, often drawing on the writings of the early Church Fathers to bridge the ancient faith with modern understanding. He is the author or editor of over forty books, including The Lamb’s Supper, Hail, Holy Queen, First Comes Love, Letter and Spirit, Swear to God, Reasons to Believe, The Creed, The Fourth Cup, and Holy Is His Name. Many of his books have become staples in Catholic households, study groups, and seminaries. In addition to his writing, Hahn is a highly sought-after speaker, having delivered thousands of lectures across the United States and abroad. He appears regularly on EWTN and has collaborated with Lighthouse Catholic Media to bring his teachings to an even broader audience. Scott Hahn lives in Ohio with his wife Kimberly. They have six children and numerous grandchildren. Together, the Hahns continue to lead efforts in evangelization and Catholic education, embodying a lifelong commitment to deepening faith and understanding through Scripture and tradition.
Last year, I did a pretty thorough read-through and study of Genesis. I then started a read-through of Exodus following a similar reading plan: (1) the Ignatius study Bible (reviewed here); (2) the Exodus portion of the Navarre Pentateuch commentary; (3) the Exodus book in the Brazos Commentary Series (reviewed separately); and (4) the Exodus section in Robert Alter's "The Five Books of Moses" translation and commentary.
I've been picking through this a little at a time, but as Harvey poured down Biblical amounts of rain and destruction, I got into an Old Testament mood and was motivated to finally wrap this up. So here are some brief comments:
(1) As I said with the Genesis Ignatius Study Bible, I would strongly recommend the Exodus edition as the single best resource for a Catholic seeking to read scripture. The commentary is pointed, concise, and explanatory of key words or phrases. It provides just enough detail to let you read through the material on your own while still clarifying a lot of the "huh?" moments. In some cases, this brevity results in a somewhat-superficial treatment of much larger theological or historical issues, but I think it strikes the right balance for a casual reading of scripture. In my reading, I always went through this material first.
(2) I don't have a separate review of the Navarre Pentateuch, because it covers the first five books, and so finishing Exodus means I'm only halfway through it so far. But as I said when I reviewed the Genesis Ignatius book, the Navarre "level of generality tends to be higher and directed more toward material for reflection than specific teachings or clarifications. As a result, where the Ignatius commentary facilitates the direct reading of scripture, the Navarre commentary works better as a supplement to that reading."
(3) When I read Genesis, I also used Robert Alter's stand-alone Genesis translation and commentary. It is a translation from the Jewish perspective by an expert in ancient Hebrew, who focuses on preserving the literary quality of the original language and has commentary extensively focused on language (rather than theological) issues. I loved it so much that I picked up a copy of his larger "The Five Books of Moses," which includes the Genesis translation I'd already read plus the remaining four books of the Pentateuch. As with the Navarre Exodus, no separate review because I'm only halfway through the book. But pleased to say that at least the Exodus translation/commentary lived up to the high bar set by the Genesis one. Strongly recommended.
I will not go into detail here about the format of the book (see my review of "Genesis" in this series for that). But I do want to point out several items of interest specific to this volume on the book of Exodus. Maps of Moses' flight/return to Egypt and the exodus from Egypt with the subsequent wandering are very helpful. An illustration of the plan of the Tabernacle makes true the saying that a picture is worth a thousand words. A chart tying the plagues on Egypt to "the gods of Egypt" (i.e., showing how God is bringing judgment on those "gods") brings an interesting dimension to these episodes. And the two topical essays, on the date of the Exodus and the multiplication of legal laws after the golden-calf incident, are fascinating. In fact, a happy addition relevant to the latter essay is a three page section at the end of the commentary quoting some Church Fathers and Aquinas regarding the matter. I hope the authors will consider including more of the Fathers and Doctors in future volumes as well.
I was glad to see six blank pages at the end of the volume for note-taking during Bible study. One very minor quibble: For some reason the cover design was changed a bit from what it was on the "Genesis" volume; still similar but they don't quite match up.
As expected, Hahn and Mitch hit another one out of the park with this latest release. A must have for a serious study of Exodus, but valuable to all readers who want to have a better understanding of this exciting and challenging second book of the Pentateuch.