Bible Review

The New Jewish Publication Society translation of this verse, “See, I place you in the role of God to Pharaoh,” is particularly infelicitous.

The translation is my own. According to Islamic belief, Arabic is the only proper language for the Qur’an since this was the form in which it was revealed to Muhammad. All translations are considered interpretations. As the name al-Qur’an (The Recitation) suggests, the text is meant to be spoken, not read. The Arabic form of the text makes masterful use of rhyme, meter and imagery—much of which is lost in translations.

On the sacrifice story in ancient tradition, see Theodore H. Feder and Hershel Shanks, “Iphigenia and Isaac,” AO 05:03 (available at www.biblereview.org under Keep Reading); and Robin M. Jensen, “The Binding of Isaac: How Jews and Christians See Differently,” BR 09:05.

See R. David Freedman, “Woman, a Power Equal to Man,” BAR 09:01.

See Steven Holloway, “Mad to See the Monuments,” BR 17:06.

Although a majority of scholars place the final redaction of the Book of Daniel in the late 160s B.C.E., Daniel’s fictional setting is the Babylonian and Persian courts. Hence Daniel could be included in the Hebrew Bible.

For other theories, see Carey A. Moore, “Judith: The Case of the Pious Killer,” BR 06:01.

See Rachel B.K. Sabua, “The Hidden Hand of God,” BR 08:01.

See Michael Heltzer, “The Book of Esther: Where Does Fiction Start and History End?” BR 08:01; Carey A. Moore, “Eight Questions Most Frequently Asked About the Book of Esther,” BR 03:01; and Sidnie White Crawford, “Has Every Book of the Bible Been Found Among the Dead Sea Scrolls?” BR 12:05.