REL 2010: Old Testament Literature
- Sacred Texts
- Concordances
- Bible Dictionaries
- Bible Commentaries
- Encyclopedias
- Library Catalogs (to locate books, journal titles, etc.)
- Databases and Article Indexes
- Subject Guide to Religion
- Citing Religion Sources Using MLA
If you need further research assistance, go to the Reference Desk, use one of the Ask a Librarian services.
Sacred Texts
Bibles
ASU REF BS185-BS192
ASU MAIN STACKS BS125-BS197
A variety of translations of the Bible are available within these call number ranges.
The New Oxford Annotated Bible with the Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books , edited by Michael D. Coogan. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2001 3rd ed.
ASU REF BS191.5.A1 2001 .N49
An ecumenical Bible translation. The NRSV is the most widely used modern English version among English-speaking biblical scholars.
Tanakh = The Holy Scriptures: the New JPS Translation According to the Traditional Hebrew Text Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, 1988
ASU REF BS895 .J4 1988
The Tanakh is the Hebrew Bible, the quintessential sacred text. The first five books of this comprise the Torah (or Pentateuch), the core sacred writings of the ancient Jews, traditionally written by Moses under divine inspiration. The second part is the Nevi'im which is composed of the Former Prophets (Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings) and the Latter Prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and the 12 minor prophets). The third part is the Ketuvim ("the writings").
Concordances
Bible Concordances
ASU REF BS425
A Bible concordance is an index to the Bible. A variety of concordances are available in the ASU reference section under this beginning call number.
The NRSV Concordance Unabridged: Including the Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books , by John R. Kohlenberger III. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 1991.
ASU REF BS425 .K645 1991
Lists the place where a given word occurs in the Bible. Corresponds to the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible.
Bible Dictionaries
This section lists only a few selected major dictionaries. A variety of other Bible dictionaries can be found by browsing the BS440-BS492 sections of the ASU reference collection.
The Anchor Bible Dictionary , edited by David Noel Freedman. New York: Doubleday, 1992.
ASU REF BS440 .A54 1992 v. 1-6
This six volume set offers an up-to-date and comprehensive treatment of biblical subjects and scholarship. This is also available on CD-ROM. Ask at the reference desk, they will give you the CD-ROM and you can use it on one of the computers in the study rooms.
Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible , edited by David Noel Freedman. Grand Rapids, Mich.: W.B. Eerdmans, 2000.
ASU REF BS440 .E44 2000
Written by nearly 600 respected authorities in the field of biblical scholarship. This single volume set has about 5,000 entries.
Harper's Bible Dictionary , by Madeleine S. Miller and J. Lane Miller. New York: Harper & Row, 1973. 8th ed.
ASU REF BS440 .M52 1973
A classic one-volume Bible dictionary. Includes many illustrations.
The Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible; an Illustrated Encyclopedia Identifying and Explaining All Proper Names and Significant Terms and Subjects in the Holy Scriptures, including the Aprocrypha, with Attention to Archaeological Discoveries and Researches into the Life and Faith of Ancient Times , edited by George Arthur Buttrick. New York: Abingdon Press, 1962, 1976.
ASU REF BS440 .I63 v. 1-4 and Suppl.
Features more than 7500 entries with full length articles on each book of the Bible, the Apocrypha and other extra-canonical books, including the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Gnostic manuscripts; and on great theological concepts and doctrines of the Bible. Includes pronunciations, Hebrew or Greek origin, derivatives, variant spellings, identification, and occurrences.
New International Dictionary of Old Testament Theology & Exegesis , edited by Willem A. VanGemeren. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 1997.
ASU REF BS440 .N438 1997 v. 1-5
Intended for serious Old Testament and exegetical study. Volume one includes a Guide to Old Testament Theology and Exegesis; volumes one-four contain three thousand lexical and topical entries; volume four has a topical dictionary (in English); volume five has indexes (in English).
Theological Dictionary of the Old Testament , edited by G. Johannes Botterweck and Helmer Ringgren. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1974-.
ASU REF BS440 .B5713 v. 1-11 (not completed)
A major, multivolume reference work in which the key Hebrew and Aramaic words of the Old Testament are discussed in depth. Hebrew words have been transliterated, and meanings of foreign words are provided.
Unger's Bible Dictionary , by Merrill Frederick Unger. Chicago: Moody Press, 1963. 3d ed.
ASU REF BS440 .U5 1963
A single volume that defines names of persons, places and objects in the Bible.
Bible Commentaries
This section lists only a few selected major commentaries. A variety of other Bible commentaries can be found by browsing the BS440-BS492 sections of the ASU reference collection.
The Anchor Bible , general editors William Foxwell Albright and David Noel Freedman. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, 1964-.
ASU REF BS192.2.A1 1964 .G3
With approximately eighty volumes in this set, this commentary is an extraordinary international and interfaith effort by the world's finest Biblical scholars. Volumes are continually being updated.
The Broadman Bible Commentary , edited by Clifton J. Allen. Nashville, Broadman Press, 1969-72.
ASU REF BS491.2 .B67 v. 1-12
At the time of publication, Broadman Press was the general book publishing arm of the Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. The selected text was the Revised Standard Version with the aim of providing a balanced combination of exegesis and exposition.
The Interpreter's Bible: the Holy Scriptures in the King James and Revised Standard Versions with General Articles and Introduction, Exegesis, Exposition for Each Book of the Bible , edited by George Arthur Buttrick. New York, Abingdon-Cokesbury Press, 1952-.
ASU REF BS491.2 .I55 v.1-12
This twelve volume set seeks to provide an introduction to Scripture and the individual books, exegesis of the text, and relevant exposition.
The New Interpreter's Bible: General Articles & Introduction, Commentary, & Reflections for Each Book of the Bible, including the Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books , editorial convener, Leander E. Keck. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1994-2002.
ASU REF BS491.2 .N484 1994 v. 1-12
The New Interpreter's Bible is considered a standard in contemporary Biblical scholarship. This updated version of the 1952 Interpreter's Bible uses NIV and NRSV translations and covers the entire Bible including the Apocryphal books.
The Torah: a Modern Commentary , commentaries by W. Gunther Plaut, Bernard J. Bamberger. New York: Union of American Hebrew Congregations, 1981.
ASU REF BS1225.3 .P55 1981
Includes original Hebrew text and the Jewish Publication Society's English translation of the Pentateuch and of the Haftaroth. Note: It is suggested that patrons go to the main stacks and browse the shelves for related commentaries and criticisms (BS1223-BS1225).
Encyclopedias
Dictionary of Judaism in the Biblical Period : 450 B.C.E. to 600 C.E. , edited by Jacob Neusner and William Scott.
New York: Macmillan Library Reference, 1996.
ASU REF BM50 .D525 1996
Over 3,300 entries that define concepts, religious practices, theological terms, persons, places, and essential vocabulary from the writings of Judaism, ranging from the time of the Pentateuch's final formation until the close of the Babylonian Talmud.
Encyclopaedia Judaica . New York: Macmillan 1972-.
ASU REF DS102.8 .E496 v. 1-16
Approximately 25,000 scholarly articles in this sixteen-volume encyclopedia cover all aspects of Jewish life and knowledge. Lengthy bibliographies accompany most of the articles.
The Encyclopedia of Judaism , edited by Jacob Neusner, Alan J. Avery-Peck, William Scott Green. New York: Continuum, 1999.
ASU Main Stacks BM50 .E63 1999 v. 1-3
This three volume set focuses in a comprehensive way upon Judaism the religion, presenting accounts of the history, literature, practices and beliefs, theology and philosophy. Signed essay length articles with bibliographies.
The New Encyclopedia Of Judaism , edited by Geoffrey Wigoder; coeditors, Fred Skolnik and Shmuel Himelstein. New York: New York University Press, 2002.
ASU REF BM50 .E63 2002
This one-volume encyclopedia has brief articles covering a broad range of Jewish religion topics from the Reform, Conservative, and Orthodox movements.
The Encyclopedia of Religion , editor in chief Mircea Eliade. New York: Macmillan, 1987.
ASU REF BL31 .E46 1987 v. 1-16
A sixteen volume set with signed articles covering the theoretical, practical and sociological aspects of religion. Use the index (volume 16) to find specific topics; look under "Hebrew Scriptures" to find several relevant entries.
The Oxford Dictionary of the Jewish Religion , edited by R.J. Zwi Werblowsky, Geoffrey Wigoder. New York: Oxford University Press, 1997.
ASU REF BM50 .O94 1997
Designed to be a scholarly, accessible reference to the whole of Jewish religion. The entries are signed articles with bibliographic references.
Reader's Guide to Judaism , edited by Michael Terry. Chicago: Fitzroy Dearborn, 2000.
ASU REF BM50 .R43 2000
Each entry consists of an essay preceded by a bibliographic headnote listing what the individual contributor deems to be the most valuable English-language works on the subject.
Library Catalogs
(To Locate Books, Journal Titles and Other Materials)
Library Catalog
The Library Catalog will provide location and call number information for books, government publications, audiovisual materials, and periodical titles available at Appalachian State University, the University of North Carolina at Asheville, and Western Carolina University. Most books and periodicals owned by UNC-Asheville and Western Carolina University can be borrowed using the ABC-Express van service, at no charge, and received in 1-2 days.
Hint: The Library of Congress Subject Headings for topics related to Old Testament topics follow this pattern: Bible o t genesis |
WorldCat , 11th Century - to date (updated daily)
Available on & off campus
WorldCat is a catalog of over 40 million books, serials, audiovisual media, maps, archives/manuscripts, scores, and computer files from 17,000 libraries around the world. WorldCat is not an index to journal articles. Books are available through interlibrary loan ; however, the ILL (interlibrary loan) feature through Worldcat does not currently work in Internet Explorer. Once you have set up your account in Illiad, open up another browser such as Firefox or Netscape Navigator to order books through Worldcat.
Databases & Article Indexes
(To find articles)
ATLA Religion , FirstSearch, 1949-present (updated semi-annually)
Available on & off campus | about
Contains citations to scholarly books, international journals, dissertations, and book reviews on theology and the practice of all world religions.
Anthropological Literature , 19th Century-present (updated monthly)
Available on and off campus | about
Indexes articles and essays on anthropology and archaeology, including art history, demography, economics, psychology, and religious studies.
Arts and Humanities Search , FirstSearch, 1980-present (updated weekly)
Available on & off campus | about
Provides indexing to more than 1,300 arts and humanities journals and selected articles from 5,800 more social science and science journals. More than 1.4 million records include bibliographic citations.
Other General Article Indexes
Academic Search Premier , 1984 - to date; Full Text : 1990 - to date (updated daily)
Available on & off campus | about
Provides full text for 1,250 magazines and journals and citations with abstracts to nearly 3,000 titles. Over 1,600 titles are peer-reviewed.
Citing Religion Sources Using MLA
Saint Paul Seminary School of Divinity "How to do a Bibliography" (PDF File)
http://www.stthomas.edu/libraries/ireland/guides/basic/how_to/bibliography.pdf
Cite the Anchor Bible Commentary like a book in a series:
Fitzmyer, Joseph A. The Gospel According to Luke (I-IX): Introduction, Translation, and Notes . The Anchor
Bible 28. Garden City: Doubleday, 1981.