Comments on: Piper: Sailhamer’s The Meaning of the Pentateuch Will Rock Your World

By: Quotes to Note 12: Sailhamer on Interpretating the OT « Fundamentally Reformed

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:15:00 +0000

[...] Now that I’ve seen the intro, I know I want this book! And I wanted it before I saw John Piper’s high praise for the book. [...]

By: Chris F

Chris F — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 06:14:52 +0000

Something else, he is a canonical theologian.

By: Chris Fauerso

Chris Fauerso — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 02:16:49 +0000

Sailhamer does not read into the texts, rather he finds where Scripture uses Scripture. He demonstrates very well how the prophets as well as new testament authors were reading and interpreting scripture.

By: In Light of the Gospel » Blog Archive » The Meaning of the Pentateuch Will Rock Your World

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:01:58 +0000

[...] Justin Taylor also pointed out Piper recently tweeted this while reading the book: “I feel like a greedy miser over a chest of gold.” You can check out the book here, as well as read some sample pages. [...]

By: Susan

Susan — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 17:27:13 +0000

My list of potential book-buys keeps getting longer and longer

By: casey

casey — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 11:56:35 +0000

Just read the 50 pg. introduction and couldn’t put it down. I’m not sure what I think about his conclusions but I guess I’de have to read the whole book to make a good judgment. Certainly some of his support in the intro was convincing…but some I ned to read the rest of the book to decide.

I guess the think that is most striking to me about his position is that he would interpret the purpose of the Pentateuch in a way diametrically opposed to classical Judaism in many ways…at least as far as I understand it.

That would be, Classical Judaism sees the Pentateuch extolling the Law as wonderful and the point to encourage Jews to follow it as closely as possible fo their covenantal reltionship with God. Sailhammer’s view, though, is that the canonical Pentateuch (which could be subtlely different from the original Mosaic Pentateuch in important ways), shows that most of the Mosaic Law is a failure and undesirable in terms of basing a covenantal relationship with God on. I have never thought of it from Sailhammer’s way before and really want to dive into this.

Sometimes I wonder, though, if we Protestant scholars try to read too much into the text…try to make connections and see parallels that aren’t necessarily there. I can’t accuse Sailhammer of that without considering his arguments and evidence though.

By: mikeintexas

mikeintexas — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 07:50:32 +0000

Well its 2 am and i have been reading the first 49 sample pages for the last 3 1/2 hours and i can only say wow! You’re rite brother Piper – a book full of treasure! Really helping me put many Biblical fragments in my mind together. What an amazing book the Bible is! How great is the leading of the Spirit! Of the 49 pages i have read so far i have 20 pages of notes. Sweet!

By: Andrew

Andrew — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 23:29:54 +0000

Not bashing…know nothing of Sailhamer…just a question. What is his theological framework for the bible as a whole …covenant, dispensational, progressive dispensational, “new covenant”, or something else? Thanks.

By: Jonathan P

Jonathan P — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:56:59 +0000

Rachael,
Haha:) Sorry about that! The original was not my ‘intention.’ And it’s my fault, not your comment exegesis!

By: Brad Williams

Brad Williams — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:30:12 +0000

Oh man, I had no idea that this was coming out. I have read “The Pentateuch as Narrative” a bunch. The pages are falling out. I also had Dr. Sailhamer for Hebrew and some exegesis classes. Best professor I ever had…and I had some great professors.

My only problem with this is that, if everyone gets a copy, they will know where I stole everything from.

By: Chris M

Chris M — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:14:18 +0000

Sailhamer is an incredible teacher, but an even better thinker. Who else puts up the Pentateuch on his office walls to find verbal connections and trace seams of thought.

I am still waiting for the purported volume two of his work. I had “Meaning” on pre-order since this summer. His discussion on Ex 19 is great in there and man oh man the connections he finds.

Garrett, how you doing man. Its hilarious to see you on the web… how is ole DC

By: Rachael Starke

Rachael Starke — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:08:16 +0000

Oh my goodness!!! That’s my original home town – I’ve been in that museum many times.

By: Dan Phillips

Dan Phillips — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:52:15 +0000

That would be The Code of Sailhamabi, Paul?

(c;

By: paul sailhamer

paul sailhamer — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:33:52 +0000

The original is in the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, Australia. It is currently on a special tour of Museums in the States.

By: Garrett Conner

Garrett Conner — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:07:18 +0000

Sailhamer is crucial to the OT theology discussion.

Finally someone who employs a fundamental sola-scriptura approach!

His books are treasures.

By: Rachael Starke

Rachael Starke — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:06:26 +0000

Jonathan –

I had to click to that story right away because the way your comment read, I thought it meant that they had gotten together to buy him the original!!! Was trying to figure out the math on how many seminary students it would take to buy a multi-million dollar painting… :) Does anyone know where the original lives?

By: Dan Phillips

Dan Phillips — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:31:42 +0000

I had me some Hebrew with Sailhamer. Terrific teacher.

By: Jonathan P

Jonathan P — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:17:16 +0000

Justin,

Yes!

Some former Sailhamer students will start blogging through the book around Thanksgiving.

Andy Witt also gives the cool story about the group of students who went in and got Dr. Sailhamer the Rembrandt painting on the cover of the book.

You can check it out at Andy’s blog>
http://www.andywittonline.com/?p=351

By: Mike Francis

Mike Francis — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:01:27 +0000

Amen! Dan Reid first introduced me to this book way back in the early 90′s and I’ve loved it ever since. Can’t wait to see this new work.

By: Tim V-B

Tim V-B — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:16:18 +0000

I’ve not read this book but I’d always recommend Sailhamer. His one-volume commentary on the Pentateuch, “The Pentateuch as Narrative” is excellent for the way he ignores all the boring issues of how such-and-such relates to what Prof. So-and-so says about ancient Mesopotamia, and focuses instead on the text and story. A preacher’s treasure-trove which will leave you looking forward to preaching each passage!