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The Rational Bible #3
The Rational Bible: Deuteronomy
Is the Bible, the most influential book in world history, still relevant?
Why do people dismiss it as being irrelevant, irrational, immoral, or all of these things?
This explanation of the Book of Deuteronomy, the fifth book of the Bible, will demonstrate how it remains profoundly relevant—both to the great issues of our day and to each individual life.
Do you doubt the existence of God because you think believing in God is irrational? This book will cause you to reexamine your doubts.
The title of this commentary is The Rational Bible because its approach is entirely reason-based. The reader is never asked to accept anything on faith alone. In Dennis Prager’s words, “If something I write is not rational, I have not done my job.”
The Rational Bible is the fruit of Prager’s forty years of teaching to people of every faith and no faith at all. On virtually every page, you will discover how the text relates to the contemporary world in general and to you on a personal level.
His to change your mind—and, as a result, to change your life.
Why do people dismiss it as being irrelevant, irrational, immoral, or all of these things?
This explanation of the Book of Deuteronomy, the fifth book of the Bible, will demonstrate how it remains profoundly relevant—both to the great issues of our day and to each individual life.
Do you doubt the existence of God because you think believing in God is irrational? This book will cause you to reexamine your doubts.
The title of this commentary is The Rational Bible because its approach is entirely reason-based. The reader is never asked to accept anything on faith alone. In Dennis Prager’s words, “If something I write is not rational, I have not done my job.”
The Rational Bible is the fruit of Prager’s forty years of teaching to people of every faith and no faith at all. On virtually every page, you will discover how the text relates to the contemporary world in general and to you on a personal level.
His to change your mind—and, as a result, to change your life.
500 pages, Hardcover
Published October 11, 2022
274 people are currently reading
1858 people want to read
About the author
Dennis Prager
48 books468 followersDennis Prager is a best-selling author, columnist and nationally syndicated radio talk show host based in Los Angeles and heard on 150 stations across the country.
A Fellow at Columbia University’s School of International Affairs, where he did graduate work at the Middle East and Russian Institutes, he was appointed by President Ronald Reagan to the U.S. Delegation to the Vienna Review Conference on the Helsinki Accords, and by President George W. Bush to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council. He holds an honorary doctorate of law from Pepperdine University.
A highly sought-after speaker and frequent cable news show guest, Dennis has lectured all over the world. His New York Times best-selling books include Think a Second Time, Happiness is a Serious Problem and Still the Best Hope: Why American Values Must Triumph. His newest book is The Ten Commandments: Still the Best Moral Code.
A Fellow at Columbia University’s School of International Affairs, where he did graduate work at the Middle East and Russian Institutes, he was appointed by President Ronald Reagan to the U.S. Delegation to the Vienna Review Conference on the Helsinki Accords, and by President George W. Bush to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council. He holds an honorary doctorate of law from Pepperdine University.
A highly sought-after speaker and frequent cable news show guest, Dennis has lectured all over the world. His New York Times best-selling books include Think a Second Time, Happiness is a Serious Problem and Still the Best Hope: Why American Values Must Triumph. His newest book is The Ten Commandments: Still the Best Moral Code.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
November 21, 2022
Dennis Prager might be a talk show host. He might even be a controversy, but for me he's a mentor. I subscribed to and even paid for his podcast for a good 10 years. I let my subscription elapse, if only because I don’t have the heart for the political soap opera these days. But if I did, Dennis Prager would be my guy. Hearing his voice as I read this commentary on Deuteronomy made me wistful. It reminded me of good times. Not a bad commentary, either.
April 24, 2025
Fantastic end to my study of the Torah.
May 26, 2023
Initially, I was pretty excited to read this book, having appreciated some of the authors work and insights about various matters. As I continued reading, I ultimately found much of the material pedantic and disappointing in some respects. Many verses are either ignored or point to material found in other books by the author so, by implication, you’ve got to buy a whole lot more to get the entire picture. I found that annoying since the book is not cheap. That being said, there were a few helpful insights from a Jewish perspective that still made the book worth my time.
November 30, 2022
Due to a lifelong Sunday School attendance that led to a daily Bible reading habit, I have read the first five books of the Bible many times over. I was so encouraged and delighted to read this series. Exodus and Genesis were wonderful, rational, educational, and encouraging. Deuteronomy is more of the same and I am excited to read the rest! It has given me a fresh perspective and I feel that anyone could benefit from and find enrichment in Mr. Prager's writing.
January 15, 2024
Prager is one of my very favorite radio talk-show hosts and a great all around commentator on current events whether spoken or written. However, this is the third of his Rational Bible commentaries I have read, and I can declare that they are very good and almost great. His style of commentary is drawn from four primary sources: first, his knowledge of Jewish Bible interpretation dating back over two thousand years; this is a an extremely important source for interpreting any book of the Bible. The second source is Prager's own innate, articulate sense of wisdom about the meaning of a biblical text; and he would tell you that his wisdom comes from the study of the God's Word itself, particularly this Torah (Pentateuch). Thirdly, Dennis Prager has decades of experience in communicating truth and wisdom to audiences of all sizes all over the world. This experience by itself has enabled him to write very well and go straight to the heart of the matter. And fourth, Prager has an almost uncanny ability to apply what is written in God's Word to contemporary situations and worldwide human needs. This makes much in his commentaries so useful by modern preachers of God's Word.
However, having said this, I was disappointed with Genesis, because though much was said, and much wisdom offered, I felt something more was missing; and I mean something more about the meaning of the first great work of the Bible. This is not because I am a Christian, and Prager is a Jew. I would not expect any Jewish author to produce a commentary that touched on Christian ideas and themes, though in fact some have. Genesis was a good commentary by Dennis Prager. But It was a GREAT commentary by Claus Westermann and Nahum Sarna, the latter of whom is a longtime Jewish scholar.
And, I found Exodus by D. Prager even more disappointing because this writer did not even seem to catch the main thrust of that great Bible book, namely that it is because God rescued His people that He has the sole right to instruct them in great detail how they should worship Him.
And now here is Deuteronomy. It is in my opinion the best of the three so far, because the fifth book of the Torah has so much to offer for a hurting, hungry, and sinful world today, and because Prager is perhaps the best at this time to explain and offer the best that Deuteronomy contains.
Prager's manner of exposing the scriptures is not always line by line; rather, he latches onto the really big ideas of scripture and pauses there for a meaningful time. So his commentaries are filled with essays on the subjects introduced by the ancient (Hebrew) language of the text under study.
This is where Dennis Prager truly shines, and I'm not sure why, but I notice it more in Deuteronomy. Having said that, I believe what he writes here about "The Ten Statements" (Commandments) should be read with his commentary on Exodus 20:1-17.
When I turn to a Bible commentary I look for a historical critical approach to the text. I believe that the modern reader has nothing to fear by asking questions about sources, authors, dates, and provenances. For instance, it bothers me not at all that Moses is not the author of everything in the Torah. I have for most of the years of my life never believed that he was; and yet this has in no way diminished the power and truthfulness of ANYTHING in the Torah or in the Bible itself. However Dennis Prayer believes that Moses is the sole author, and he is entirely uninterested in text- or historical-critical matters.
That's what makes The Rational Bible a different kind of commentary. And I agree with Prager that the divine truth found in the scriptures, well exposed and interpreted, is timeless. It is useful and valuable in any age, and perhaps most of all now in ours.
LBC
However, having said this, I was disappointed with Genesis, because though much was said, and much wisdom offered, I felt something more was missing; and I mean something more about the meaning of the first great work of the Bible. This is not because I am a Christian, and Prager is a Jew. I would not expect any Jewish author to produce a commentary that touched on Christian ideas and themes, though in fact some have. Genesis was a good commentary by Dennis Prager. But It was a GREAT commentary by Claus Westermann and Nahum Sarna, the latter of whom is a longtime Jewish scholar.
And, I found Exodus by D. Prager even more disappointing because this writer did not even seem to catch the main thrust of that great Bible book, namely that it is because God rescued His people that He has the sole right to instruct them in great detail how they should worship Him.
And now here is Deuteronomy. It is in my opinion the best of the three so far, because the fifth book of the Torah has so much to offer for a hurting, hungry, and sinful world today, and because Prager is perhaps the best at this time to explain and offer the best that Deuteronomy contains.
Prager's manner of exposing the scriptures is not always line by line; rather, he latches onto the really big ideas of scripture and pauses there for a meaningful time. So his commentaries are filled with essays on the subjects introduced by the ancient (Hebrew) language of the text under study.
This is where Dennis Prager truly shines, and I'm not sure why, but I notice it more in Deuteronomy. Having said that, I believe what he writes here about "The Ten Statements" (Commandments) should be read with his commentary on Exodus 20:1-17.
When I turn to a Bible commentary I look for a historical critical approach to the text. I believe that the modern reader has nothing to fear by asking questions about sources, authors, dates, and provenances. For instance, it bothers me not at all that Moses is not the author of everything in the Torah. I have for most of the years of my life never believed that he was; and yet this has in no way diminished the power and truthfulness of ANYTHING in the Torah or in the Bible itself. However Dennis Prayer believes that Moses is the sole author, and he is entirely uninterested in text- or historical-critical matters.
That's what makes The Rational Bible a different kind of commentary. And I agree with Prager that the divine truth found in the scriptures, well exposed and interpreted, is timeless. It is useful and valuable in any age, and perhaps most of all now in ours.
LBC
October 4, 2025
This was the last of the books in this series I read (so far, at least; we still await the hopeful eventual publication of Leviticus). That I stuck with the series all the way through ought itself to indicate that I found it good, high quality, and useful. And indeed I have thought that about the entire series, this last volume included. Most of my thoughts here, in fact, mirror the exact same things I’ve said about the other volumes.
Among those thoughts were an appreciation for the line by line explanation of even some of the most difficult verses, gladness at the opportunity to read Prager’s Jewish perspective on the first five books of the Bible which is almost but not entirely the same as the Christian perspective I grew up learning about, and admiration for the way the author applied ancient Biblical wisdom to modern-day social issues in several places. The main thing I’ve criticized throughout the series has been the repetitiveness of the work. Because the Bible sometimes repeats and then because I read these commentaries straight through, I did find myself feeling that certain passages were fairly redundant because the same ideas kept coming up. The only other minor criticism I think some readers would perhaps object to in the series as a whole has been that I felt like Christian readers might feel like Prager’s Jewish read of the Bible omits certain details important to their own theology.
Well, most of my thoughts here in Deuteronomy have been the same, but with some extra plusses and minuses added. On the topic of Christian commentary, I actually have a lot of respect for Prager because he did, in this volume, include brief discussions of several points of Christian theology even though these are not his own beliefs. That helps make the book a lot more useful for readers who either are Christians themselves or who are looking for a more complete and universal commentary. However, though I didn’t find this book any more repetitive than the other volumes, having read it shortly after the others, I found the repetitiveness started to get to me just a smidge more.
That said, though not the absolute deepest discussion of the meaning and implications of the Mosaic Law in the world, this is easily among the best for balancing completeness with accessibility to a wide range of readers. Indeed, I think Prager’s commentary here on the Ten Commandments (or the Ten Statements) might even surpass his already-strong commentary on the same in the Exodus book, and it’s well worth reading even just for that alone.
Highly recommended for anyone setting out to study the Jewish or Christian scriptures.
Among those thoughts were an appreciation for the line by line explanation of even some of the most difficult verses, gladness at the opportunity to read Prager’s Jewish perspective on the first five books of the Bible which is almost but not entirely the same as the Christian perspective I grew up learning about, and admiration for the way the author applied ancient Biblical wisdom to modern-day social issues in several places. The main thing I’ve criticized throughout the series has been the repetitiveness of the work. Because the Bible sometimes repeats and then because I read these commentaries straight through, I did find myself feeling that certain passages were fairly redundant because the same ideas kept coming up. The only other minor criticism I think some readers would perhaps object to in the series as a whole has been that I felt like Christian readers might feel like Prager’s Jewish read of the Bible omits certain details important to their own theology.
Well, most of my thoughts here in Deuteronomy have been the same, but with some extra plusses and minuses added. On the topic of Christian commentary, I actually have a lot of respect for Prager because he did, in this volume, include brief discussions of several points of Christian theology even though these are not his own beliefs. That helps make the book a lot more useful for readers who either are Christians themselves or who are looking for a more complete and universal commentary. However, though I didn’t find this book any more repetitive than the other volumes, having read it shortly after the others, I found the repetitiveness started to get to me just a smidge more.
That said, though not the absolute deepest discussion of the meaning and implications of the Mosaic Law in the world, this is easily among the best for balancing completeness with accessibility to a wide range of readers. Indeed, I think Prager’s commentary here on the Ten Commandments (or the Ten Statements) might even surpass his already-strong commentary on the same in the Exodus book, and it’s well worth reading even just for that alone.
Highly recommended for anyone setting out to study the Jewish or Christian scriptures.
March 9, 2023
This is the third book in this series that I've read and I look forward to reading the next books in the series as well. That is my clearest recommendation. I find these books as a valuable resource, as they provide clear insights on comparative rabbinical perspectives throughout history and plain explanations of the Hebrew into English and the context of those particular words. That such a rich tradition can be stated so concisely is actually quite impressive.
However, Deuteronomy is by its nature a less narrative driven book than Genesis or Exodus. Prager gives a full disclaimer for this at the beginning of the book. It is the review and instructions Moses is giving to the Israelite before they enter the promised land, as he cannot go into the land himself. Necessarily this means it is heavily referencing other commentaries in this series to provide the context. For this reason some lay readers may consider this book a better reference book to be used as needed, than as a good general read for them.
Lastly, I'd say that I am a Christian and I thoroughly enjoyed this and the other two commentaries I've read. Denis Prager is a clear friend to the Christian religion, despite not practicing it or being convinced by it himself. This means that there are sections in these commentaries that reference the comparative religious interpretations. It also means there are times where he is frank about his disagreements with Christian interpretations. I appreciated this frankness, as it helps me understand his viewpoint better where I disagree with him. I would encourage Christians not to avoid these commentaries for fear of these differing interpretations. Our faith began by arguing these points. I'd look to those theological and historic writings to better educate you if you are uncomfortable with these points being made. In other words, don't let that fear stop you from reading these commentaries. Do let it start you on a deeper reading into your own faith.
However, Deuteronomy is by its nature a less narrative driven book than Genesis or Exodus. Prager gives a full disclaimer for this at the beginning of the book. It is the review and instructions Moses is giving to the Israelite before they enter the promised land, as he cannot go into the land himself. Necessarily this means it is heavily referencing other commentaries in this series to provide the context. For this reason some lay readers may consider this book a better reference book to be used as needed, than as a good general read for them.
Lastly, I'd say that I am a Christian and I thoroughly enjoyed this and the other two commentaries I've read. Denis Prager is a clear friend to the Christian religion, despite not practicing it or being convinced by it himself. This means that there are sections in these commentaries that reference the comparative religious interpretations. It also means there are times where he is frank about his disagreements with Christian interpretations. I appreciated this frankness, as it helps me understand his viewpoint better where I disagree with him. I would encourage Christians not to avoid these commentaries for fear of these differing interpretations. Our faith began by arguing these points. I'd look to those theological and historic writings to better educate you if you are uncomfortable with these points being made. In other words, don't let that fear stop you from reading these commentaries. Do let it start you on a deeper reading into your own faith.
April 7, 2025
Finished Dennis Prager’s DEUTERONOMY: GOD, BLESSINGS, AND CURSES. As with the other RATIONAL BIBLE commentaries (GENESIS, EXODUS), DEUTERONOMY is written for those of various faith traditions (and to the agnostic as well). The purpose of DEUTERONOMY (which means “the second law,” or “God’s Teachings 2.0” after Exodus) is to show the reasonableness of God’s teachings revealed to Moses (or as C.S. Lewis might point out, the Deuteronomic moral laws and instructions are the basis for human reasoning). The focus, then, of Prager’s comments on the text (the Jewish Publication Society’s translation) is the teaching of wisdom. He writes concerning Deut. 34:9 (“Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands upon him”): “Again, the Torah, as the rest of the Bible, emphasizes wisdom as the most important trait in a leader. Indeed, there is no more important trait in any person. Without wisdom, good intentions and even kindness and courage are ultimately of little use. In fact, good intentions without wisdom more often than not lead to evil” (p. 509).
Prager is not an apologist for God’s existence, but he repeatedly points out moral guidelines that he argues could not have been man-made; only the moral God of Israel told his people to love him, to be grateful, and that obedience to his commandments was for their benefit, not his. Regarding the Sh’ma—"Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone” (Deut. 6:4)—Prager writes: The importance of one God cannot be overstated. It means that there is one universal moral standard, and it means that all humans are equal—because we are all created in the image of the one God” (p. 113).
DEUTERONOMY is readable (it avoids academic technical analysis), challenging, and enlightening. I endorse it as a valuable tool in understanding the entire Bible.
Prager is not an apologist for God’s existence, but he repeatedly points out moral guidelines that he argues could not have been man-made; only the moral God of Israel told his people to love him, to be grateful, and that obedience to his commandments was for their benefit, not his. Regarding the Sh’ma—"Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone” (Deut. 6:4)—Prager writes: The importance of one God cannot be overstated. It means that there is one universal moral standard, and it means that all humans are equal—because we are all created in the image of the one God” (p. 113).
DEUTERONOMY is readable (it avoids academic technical analysis), challenging, and enlightening. I endorse it as a valuable tool in understanding the entire Bible.
March 28, 2024
I’ve enjoyed the rational bible series. Dennis does a great job of brining concise reasoning to biblical passages.
A few takeaways:
- goal of sabbath is to proclaim God as creator
- no atheist is as effective at making atheists as are religious people who commit evil
- greatest advertisement for God is good religious people
- Moses was a “very humble” man
- “Woe to those who kiss calves; they will sacrifice people”. We are to care for animals but not to revere them over people. Dennis pays extra to purchase “free-range” eggs
- the association with death, particularly killing, is the common denominator of non-kosher animals
- it is considered an embarrassment to the Jewish community if a poor Jew were forced to rely on the government rather than fellow Jews
- accused individuals were innocent until proven guilty
- a soldier could not have sex with a foreign women unless she was given a month to lament, was able to clean herself, and become his wife.
- if a fellow citizen has lost something, you shall not ignore it or turn your eye.
- animals of different sizes shouldn’t share the same yoke
- the very fact that the Torah commands us to love God means it does not happen naturally
- Moses song was to be memorized by the people. How would America look today if Americans continually read the constitution?
- Moses is described as “the man of God”
- Moses blesses the tribes before God caused him to die.
- God himself buried Moses signifying his love
A few takeaways:
- goal of sabbath is to proclaim God as creator
- no atheist is as effective at making atheists as are religious people who commit evil
- greatest advertisement for God is good religious people
- Moses was a “very humble” man
- “Woe to those who kiss calves; they will sacrifice people”. We are to care for animals but not to revere them over people. Dennis pays extra to purchase “free-range” eggs
- the association with death, particularly killing, is the common denominator of non-kosher animals
- it is considered an embarrassment to the Jewish community if a poor Jew were forced to rely on the government rather than fellow Jews
- accused individuals were innocent until proven guilty
- a soldier could not have sex with a foreign women unless she was given a month to lament, was able to clean herself, and become his wife.
- if a fellow citizen has lost something, you shall not ignore it or turn your eye.
- animals of different sizes shouldn’t share the same yoke
- the very fact that the Torah commands us to love God means it does not happen naturally
- Moses song was to be memorized by the people. How would America look today if Americans continually read the constitution?
- Moses is described as “the man of God”
- Moses blesses the tribes before God caused him to die.
- God himself buried Moses signifying his love
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 15, 2025
This was the third Rational Bible that I have now read of this series, starting with Genesis and then Exodus. I enjoyed this one only slightly less just because I thought there was quite a bit of repetition from the earlier two books. But you learn by repetition and those points are extremely important that he does repeat throughout his analysis of Deuteronomy. In the beginning of this book, he goes into again why he does these commentaries, why Exodus was volume 1, and how to read the commentary, etc. Deuteronomy is important in that it was from Moses, addressing the Israelites before they took possession of Canaan or the Promised Land. Besides restating the 10 Commandments it goes into so much detail of other laws that for today's world seems archaic and trivial if not downright confusing. But Dennis has a way of taking the original Hebrew language along with various authoritative sources to give his best interpretation of why the law or statement was given and what implications does it have for us today. Again, I took many notes in my Bible and have enjoyed going back to the Torah to find applications for my own life moving forward in my spiritual journey.
July 18, 2024
This is the third of Prager's Rational Bible series. Given how dry much of the Old Testament is to many readers, what makes this exceptional is that the author helps us to really engage with the text. Prager's pragmatic but learned discourse helps us to see how this book has impacted the Jewish people, Christianity, and the Western World. It also helps us personalize it so that we see the importance of living what we are reading rather than just consuming it.
The author is conservative and some of his interpretations are clearly slanted that way but he is honest enough to show us when he is extrapolating something from scripture and when it is clearly stated. The distinction lets us know when we consider something opinion and choose for ourselves whether we agree or if we need to seriously examine what we think in light of what God says. For disciples of Jesus this is important because Prager looks at some things differently than Christ does.
This is a really good read for someone looking to "dig deep" into this pivotal book of the Old Testament.
The author is conservative and some of his interpretations are clearly slanted that way but he is honest enough to show us when he is extrapolating something from scripture and when it is clearly stated. The distinction lets us know when we consider something opinion and choose for ourselves whether we agree or if we need to seriously examine what we think in light of what God says. For disciples of Jesus this is important because Prager looks at some things differently than Christ does.
This is a really good read for someone looking to "dig deep" into this pivotal book of the Old Testament.
June 18, 2023
Good insight
As usual, I found Mr. Prager's commentary very insightful. I loved getting insight on the original Hebrew meanings and on how Jews view certain laws and interpret specific Scripture. It also opened my eyes to certain things I didn't even think about.
While some of his commentary made me feel lile "Really?" Such as the one where he says God didn't give reasons for "kosher" diet, but he does it out of Faith. I'm like....well, God didn't spell it out but with a little research into those meats, it's pretty obvious God was doing it for our health lol
But again, love that it made me question and discuss and learn. Some sections did bore me but, hey, doesn't take away from what I got out of it so still gave it 4 stars 😊
As usual, I found Mr. Prager's commentary very insightful. I loved getting insight on the original Hebrew meanings and on how Jews view certain laws and interpret specific Scripture. It also opened my eyes to certain things I didn't even think about.
While some of his commentary made me feel lile "Really?" Such as the one where he says God didn't give reasons for "kosher" diet, but he does it out of Faith. I'm like....well, God didn't spell it out but with a little research into those meats, it's pretty obvious God was doing it for our health lol
But again, love that it made me question and discuss and learn. Some sections did bore me but, hey, doesn't take away from what I got out of it so still gave it 4 stars 😊
November 7, 2023
I have been familiar with Dennis Prager's work as a radio host, a columnist, and with Prager U.
While I had heard of the Rational Bible Series, I was not aware of Mr. Prager's depth of scholarship.
My biggest takeaway from this book, as the author says, is the "otherness" of the Torah.
The Torah's worldview was totally different from anything the late Bronze Age world had seen.
Whether we realize it or not, this work from so long ago still underpins much of our society.
Making Deuteronomy fresh, applicable, and readable is a wonderful achievement.
No matter where you may be in your spiritual journey, or if you have not yet started a spiritual journey , you may well find that this book (and the series) will provide rich food for both thought and growth.
While I had heard of the Rational Bible Series, I was not aware of Mr. Prager's depth of scholarship.
My biggest takeaway from this book, as the author says, is the "otherness" of the Torah.
The Torah's worldview was totally different from anything the late Bronze Age world had seen.
Whether we realize it or not, this work from so long ago still underpins much of our society.
Making Deuteronomy fresh, applicable, and readable is a wonderful achievement.
No matter where you may be in your spiritual journey, or if you have not yet started a spiritual journey , you may well find that this book (and the series) will provide rich food for both thought and growth.
December 23, 2023
I found this as educational as Mr. Prager's books on Genesis and Exodus. Wonderfully presented in a fashion that can help you learn the overall picture of the book as well as information that helps you put it in context with the people and the time it happens. As a Christian this material isn't meant for just Jewish people, it's a great listen for overall learning. Thanks to Mr Parks naration skills it's very easy to stay engaged.
August 23, 2024
The third book of the Bible sort of restates Genesis and Exodus with a bit of Moses' commentary thrown in. Apparently it was the most quoted book of the Bible while the founders were creating the Declaration of Independence. Prager does a great job of illuminating each line of the book, as well as its place in the larger work that is the Bible. He also puts the whole in historical context, and is not afraid to admit when he is just expressing an opinion. This work is without compare.
November 22, 2022
I have read the Genesis and Exodus books in this series. This is another great addition to the series. I've learned so much from Dennis Prager's explanation of the bible text. There is so much I never knew or even though of before. I recommend this series to anyone who wants to learn more about the Torah.
March 21, 2024
Excellent resource and companion for reading the Bible. Gives explanations and perspectives that are hard to understand when reading most versions of the Holy Bible. Thank you Dennis for this labor of love and all the time and energy you have put into these 3 books of the Torah. I look forward to Numbers when it comes out in November 2024.
April 3, 2024
Dennis Prager’s commentaries on the books of the Torah (this one Deuteronomy) not only expertly explain the meaning of the books, but their relevancy to our modern life.
I also find it ironic that there are those who claim the modern day Israel is some sort of colonizer, when in fact the Jews have deep historical roots in the region for 3,000 years as represented in the Bible.
I also find it ironic that there are those who claim the modern day Israel is some sort of colonizer, when in fact the Jews have deep historical roots in the region for 3,000 years as represented in the Bible.
April 24, 2025
This is mostly about the laws that were given to the Jews through Moses before they were to enter the Holy Land. I didn't think this was nearly as interesting as his first two books on Genisis and Exodus. They were both very enlightening. A lot of those laws don't apply anymore but yet some are right on. Actually a hard book to try to explain.
May 21, 2023
Excellent commentary on Deuteronomy. Learned some things about Jewish beliefs that I didn't realize before. Lots of applications of God's character shown in Deuteronomy and the commentary applies those character traits to current issues.
July 23, 2023
This is the book that sets out the rules by which the Israelites are expected to live, their covenant with God, as explained to them by Moses just before they enter the promised land. The author's commentary is invaluable in making these words meaningful and relevant to modern readers.
November 22, 2022
Gratifying
I appreciate the insight and wisdom of this
treatise. I can't wait for the next book. This book has value for all.
I appreciate the insight and wisdom of this
treatise. I can't wait for the next book. This book has value for all.
December 2, 2022
A great book for digging deeper into the book of Deuteronomy.
February 24, 2023
Explains and makes clear what is in the Old Testaments first 5 books, which are also the Jewish Torah. This book will do nothing but strengthen your faith
May 24, 2023
Mr. Prager continues to produce excellent commentary on Torah that, when combined with reading Scripture and other well-written commentaries, enhances my Biblical studies.
June 18, 2023
Love his explanations of the Bible. He makes things so clear.
July 12, 2023
My husband and I read this together and found it to be as consistently great as the other Torah commentaries by Prager. Thought provoking and timeless.
September 24, 2023
Inciteful as always
January 2, 2024
This commentary is from a Jewish perspective but it has lots of insights into the reasons behind many of the mosaic and ceremonial laws in ancient Israel.
January 18, 2024
You will absolutely LOVE this book!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews