The Rational Bible: Exodus

If you're an enthusiastic reader like me, eager to explore the depths of the biblical text, then The Rational Bible Exodus is a true gem you shouldn't miss. This remarkable book injects fresh vitality into the timeless story, leaving readers with profound insights and deep contemplation. Dr. Dennis Prager's meticulous attention to detail and his unique perspective make this commentary an invaluable resource for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the Book of Exodus.Right from the start, it becomes apparent that Dr. Prager poured his heart and soul into this work. His infectious passion for the subject matter permeates the pages, drawing readers into the ancient world of Moses and the Israelites. What sets this commentary apart is Dr. Prager's exceptional talent for conveying complex ideas in a clear and relatable manner. The Rational Bible Exodus is far from a dry and academic analysis; it unfolds as a captivating narrative, taking readers on a transformative journey through the fascinating events of Exodus.

Practical and informative

Exceptional service - book condition matched or exceeded the condition described on Amazon, it was carefully packaged, and arrived ahead of schedule. I am well pleased and would purchase from this person again.

Read 2 out of the 3 in this series. What a rich resource for understanding the Bible. Highly recommend.

(Never mind my name. It has nothing to do with this book or my review of it. It literally is my name.)This review comes from the perspective of a believing Christian.This book is very well written and can be read in a number of ways. You can read straight through to gain a deeper knowledge of the book of Exodus if that's what you're after. In doing so, you can read the Bible verses only, reading Dennis's comments only when you want to stop for insight from the perspective of my favorite Jew. The beginning is basically a topical index, giving you the gist of the major topics Dennis comments on in the chapters and the page numbers to find them. You can skim that for something that speaks to your soul instead of a straight read. For example, the first topic in the second chapter is "The preeminent role of women in Moses's life - and in the Torah." This comment is on the first verse of the chapter. He describes, preemptively, the roles of Moses's mother and sister, the midwives who defied the Pharaoh to save Moses, the Pharaoh's daughter, and on. Some of these comments are so in-depth, that they become essays and are listed as such. My favorite essay is in chapter 15. In the index, it says "Essay: Is it moral to celebrate the death of evildoers?" The essay pins the infinite worth of human souls against the horrific acts that these souls can do to each other. This is my favorite because I read it at a time in my life that I felt God open to me just how much our souls are worth and how loved each of us are even if we don't feel love for ourselves. Shortly after that, I learned of an unspeakable thing that happened to my neighbor's daughter. The contrast between worth and evil actions couldn't be more acute to me, and Dennis gives his insight on the matter here.The introduction is an informative read, telling us that while it's written from the perspective of a believing Jew, it's aimed at believing Christians as well and even to the non-believer who is open to rational thought on religious subjects. We don't even have to believe in God to believe that a grounding moral compass such as the Bible is good for society whether you actually believe in it or not. Take the Bible literally or figuratively, the teaching contained in it provide good direction.The format of the book is that he gives a verse (numbered) in bold text, left justified, followed by his comments in plain text, block indented about 3/4". Where he has the major topics listed in the index at the beginning of the book, they precede the relevant verst in large-print dark red text, making it super-easy to go from index to the text. The physical layout of the print makes it easy to separate the actual Bible verses, his comments on them, and the major topics covered easy to spot at a glance, so you can even thumb through the book quickly for whatever jups out at you.The end of the book, which he calls "Notes," is a bibliography of material he references.Out of curiosity, I've read other reviews that were critical of the book. These seem to come from people who are not verified buyers of the book and often seem to want to attack Dennis's character more than the book or from Christians who feel that this book attacks Christianity. I do not feel that Dennis attacks my religion as a Christian at all, but presents his thoughts on his own religion from a rational perspective and bears in mind that Christianity and Judaism share a lot in common. He uses this commonality to speak to others on common ground.

In my twenties, when I knew everything, was a hardcore liberal and a self proclaimed atheist (having been born and raised a Catholic), Sean Hannity brought me to conservatism. In my 30’s, I was too bogged down with my first marriage, getting a house, having a child, going through a divorce, and rebuilding my life to care much about anything else. In my 40’s, in addition to finding my loving wife, I found Dennis Prager. Mr. Prager is not a “firebrand conservative” who wants to get you all excited so that you may go out and shout others down. He is a calm, rational thinker. His mind is his weapon, his intellect is his tool, and his demeanor makes it difficult for a reasonable person to simply dismiss him, let alone dislike him. He utterly changed my debating style from “hard hitting, in your face” to “here are my facts, what do you have to say, let’s discuss it”. He is the epitome of the old saying, “you get more flies with honey than you do vinegar”.I had every intention of purchasing this book. In fact, I preordered it. I read the first chapter when he sent it to his fans, and I loved it. I purchased the kindle version for myself, and a hardcover copy for the Reverend of my church. When I saw how nice the book looked, I decided to purchase a hardcover copy for myself to proudly display in my home bookcase of “chosen books”. I have since purchased an additional copy for my best friend. I’ll likely purchase a copy for any of my family and friends who express interest in reading it. It is that profound.I attended a private Catholic school from grades 1 through 8, and I then went to a private Catholic school through high school. Simply put, I learned more from this book about Exodus than I did from all those years in school. Mr. Prager is a brilliant man, who has debated at Oxford University on several occasions. He has been studying the Bible for decades, and his wealth of knowledge is evident in the book. He goes line by line through Exodus, and offers his explaination in layman’s terms. I believe what makes this book invaluable is, Mr. Prager is not trying to convert anyone to any specific religion. One does not feel that buried within his commentary is a certain degree of political correctness out of fear of offense. His only desire is to explain the book of Exodus to you. To, as the title says, explain just how rational the Bible is, when you know it in it’s full context. I have learned so much. To say that this book has strengthened my faith is a gross understatement. Simply put, I wish he would offer his insight on the entire Bible, both Old and New Testament!In closing, who can benefit from this book? Certainly any practicing Jew or Christian. Absolutely any Jew or Christian who is struggling with their faith. Any agnostic who is truly only uncertain becasuse he/she has not read anything compelling enough for him/her to say, “I can believe that”. An atheist who is open to debate, and would like to hear a fair, learned man’s point of view. Finally, anyone would like to read something that can only be described as an excellent perspective on a section of a book over 2000 years and why it’s still a great, if not THE BEST, source of wisdom for human behavior.Bravo Mr. Prager. And from the bottom of my heart, thank you.Louis C.

Dennis Prager explica de forma sencilla en Éxodo con la autoridad de una persona que conoce el lenguaje y además consulto y discutió sus pasajes con otros expertos.Su análisis te ayuda a entender el como Dios toma el papel de tutor, llevando de la mano a su pueblo elegido y sufrido, al cual debe tenerle mucha paciencia.Una vez más se confirma a la Biblia como una fuente invaluable de sabiduría que resiste El Paso del tiempo.

Não terminei de ler ainda pois é longo e após cada nova “revelação” apresentada é necessário parar de ler para refletir sobre aquilo. Muita informação nova, mesmo para alguém que já estuda a Bíblia a muitos anos. Recomendo muito!

Denis Prager most certainly knows the Torah. The added context opens up the text, and his rational explanations are highly credible. Highly recommended! Can't wait for the next book in the series!

Being a Christian, of the more Fundamentalist variety, I have for many years searched for Old Testament Commentary from the Jewish perspective. It is after all a Book given to the Jews. This series by Dennis Prager, an extremely accomplished author, hits the mark. Schooled in the Yeshiva from a very early age and educated to a level, well, we all know the levels of education our Jewish neighbours achieve. It opens up the Book of Genesis and gives an insight more often either missed or misunderstood by others. I cannot recommend it highly enough. I have also attained a copy of his Commentary on Exodus and intend to get the next three Books of the Torah as they hit the shelves. I am blessed enough to be taught by a Jewish convert who has opened up the Word of God like no other teacher I have yet encountered. In these Last Days i believe we must take heed of our Lord's caveats not to be deceived. With what is running around these days claiming anointment from the Most High, one must guard ones salvation carefully as we are instructed to do. They also look really well on the bookshelf.

"if something I write does not make rational sene, then I have not done my job" states the author. That appealed to me, as an open-minded atheist who has always wondered how intelligent people (like my best friend) can be Christians. Well, the author fails utterly by writing about god as if his existence is a fact. It is not. It is a delusion, wishful thinking by people who cannot face the fact that the universe is at best indifferent, at worst hostile. If people get comfort from the idea that there's a big daddy in the sky who really, really cares about them, let them be comforted. If religion makes them better people, good for them.The author calls communism "evil", but what about Christianity ushering in the Dark Ages in Europe, the Spanish Inquisition, the torture and burning of "witches", Northern Ireland, not to mention the bible's deep misogyny? And he trots out the old chestnut that science is "faith". So if he got cancer, would he like to be treated by the "reason" of faith or the "faith" of science?There is nothing rational about this book at all.