Prophetic Literature of the Old Testament: Baruch

English, Greek, and Hebrew.
Based on I. Tov's thesis, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, 1973.

From the Old Testament Reading Guide

This volume of commentary on the shorter books of the Apocrypha follows the pattern of the now well established New Testament series.

From the Navarre Bible series, includes commentary on the Major Prophets, including Baruch

Part of the Sources chrétiennes series

While the canonical status of the Greek and Latin Old Testament texts commented upon within this volume has been understood differently within Protestant, Roman Catholic and Orthodox traditions, their longstanding use within the Christian churches makes them worthy of careful study and reflection. As noted in the Anglican Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion, Jerome says that the church reads them "for example of life and instruction of manners." As a result their influence extends well beyond ecclesiastical use to literature, hymnody, music and art. Their questioned authority has nevertheless affected the choice of books included here, not by a priori judgment but by the paucity of comment from which to choose. None of the early fathers dedicated commentaries to these texts as a whole. Despite the length of 1 and 2 Maccabees and the model they presented for Christian martyrdom, they were rarely cited or commented upon. The Wisdom books received the most comment and are those best represented here. In particular, readers will find ample comment here on Tobit, Wisdom of Solomon, Sirach, Baruch, the Letter of Jeremiah, the Prayer of Azariah and the Song of the Three Young Men, Susanna, and Bel and the Dragon (the latter three all found as additions to the Hebrew and Aramaic book of Daniel). Among commentators readers will find Origen, John Chrysostom, Theodoret of Cyr, Hippolytus, Jerome, Augustine, Julius Africanus, Athanasius, Palladius, Cyril of Jerusalem, Clement of Alexandria, Bede, Rabanus Maurus, Clement of Rome, Ignatius, Cassiodorus, Ambrose and others.

This work is a compact commentary on the whole Bible written by Roman Catholic scholars according to the principles of modern biblical criticism. The chapter on Baruch is written by Aloysius Fitzgerald.

Provides commentary on each book of the Bible and on such topics as biblical archaeology, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and the apocrypha of both the Old and New Testament. The chapter on Baruch is written by John J. Schmitt.

This unique resource presents the original Greek alongside seven English language translations of the Apocryphal/Deutero-canonical books. These translations were chosen because they comprise the most well-known and respected English language versions of the Apocrypha. This useful volume also serves as a reference guide: along with the translations and original Greek, The Parallel Apocrypha includes an illuminating introduction on the contents and character of the Apocrypha in the Jewish and Christian canons as well as six introductory essays highlighting the historical and cultural impact of the Apocrypha on the various communities.

An introduction to the Hebrew Prophets and the social world of which they spoke. The author examines ancient Israel's prophets chronologically, providing sketches of their historical contexts. He explains pertinent aspects of historical geography, economic conditions, and social forces that influence a prophet's life and message.

Contents: The sons of the prophets -- Prophetic leaders and the united kingdom -- Prophecy and the Syrian wars -- Amos and Hosea -- The Assyrian peril: from Tiglath-Pileser to Sargon -- The Assyrian peril: from Sargon to Sennacherib -- The prophets and the Scythians -- Vengeance and faith -- Jeremiah and the fall of Jerusalem -- The father of Judaism? -- The rise of Persia and the unknown voice -- Premature messianic hopes -- The cry for vengeance -- A call to world-wide service -- Daniel and the Maccabees -- Conclusion.

Contents: 1. Reading the Old Testament Apocrypha -- 2. Tobit: We are family -- 3. Judith: By the hand of a woman -- 4. The additions to Esther: These things have come from God -- 5. The wisdom of Solomon: Immortality, wisdom, and history -- 6. Ecclesiasticus/Sirach: Fear of the Lord -- 7. Baruch: Sin, exile, repentance, and return -- 8. The letter of Jeremiah: The folly of idolatry -- 9. The additions to Daniel: Who is the living God? -- 10. 1 Maccabees: God's dynasty -- 11. 2 Maccabees: God's temple -- 12. 1 Esdras: Rebuilding the people of God -- 13. The prayer of Manasseh: The prayer of the repentant sinner -- 14. Psalm 151: God's care for David -- 15. 3 Maccabees: Israel in crisis and the divine deliverer -- 16. 2 Esdras: Prophecies and visions of Ezra -- 17. 4 Maccabees: The sovereignty of devout reason.

Contents: Introduction: The deuterocanonical books or Apocrypha as witnesses to Judaism in the hellenistic period -- Historical works -- Deuterocanonical narratives -- Deuterocanonical prophetic books -- Deuterocanonical and postbiblical Psalms -- Deutero-canonical wisdom books.

Section IV: Ezra (II Esdras) -- II Baruch (Syriac Apocalypse of Baruch)

Contents: pt. 1: Introduction -- The Hebrew canon -- The Greek canon and the "Apocrypha" -- The "Pseudepigrapha" -- Historical summary -- Intellectual milieu -- pt. 2: The Apocrypha -- Judith -- Wisdom of Solomon -- Tobit -- Jesus Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) -- Baruch -- Letter of Jeremiah -- I Maccabees -- II Maccabees -- Additions to Esther -- Additions to Daniel. Susanna -- Prayer of Azariah and Song of the Three Young Men -- Bel and the Dragon -- Prayer of Manasseh -- III Ezra -- pt. 3: The Pseudepigrapha -- From the Hellenistic Judaism of Egypt -- From Syria -- From Palestinian Pharisaism -- From the sphere of influence of Qumran -- Qumran manuscripts -- pt. 4: Supplement. Ahikar -- Pseudo-Philo.

This book provides an entrée into the vast and fascinating field of biblical figures in extra-biblical literataure. Of particular note is Chapter 10: Baruch: his evolution from scribe to apocalyptic seer / J. Edward Wright

The acclaimed Dictionary of Scripture and Ethics (DSE), written to respond to the movement among biblical scholars and ethicists to recover the Bible for moral formation, offered needed orientation and perspective on the vital relationship between Scripture and ethics. This book-by-book survey of the Old Testament features key articles from the DSE, bringing together a stellar list of contributors to introduce students to the use of the Old Testament for moral formation. It will serve as an excellent supplementary text. The section on Baruch is written by Daniel J. Harrington.