Koncocoo

Best Hebrew Bible (Old Testament)

In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day: How to Survive and Thrive When Opportunity Roars
In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day is inspired by one of the most obscure yet courageous acts recorded in Scripture, a blessed and audacious act that left no regrets: “Benaiah chased a lion down into a pit. What if the life you really want, and the future God wants for you, is hiding right now in your biggest problem, your worst failure…your greatest fear? Look in the rearview mirror long enough and you’ll see that God has purposely positioned you everywhere you’ve been—even when it seemed you’d taken a wrong turn.”. —Mark Batterson. Praise for In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day: “A thoughtful and energetic leader, Mark Batterson presses us to consider how we live out our faith in the world around us. Mark’s genuine warmth and sincerity spill over into his communication, combining an intense love for his community with a passionate desire to see them living the life God dreams for them. In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day helps us make sense of this beautiful mess we call life.” -Lindy Lowry, Editor, Outreach magazine “Mark Batterson is down-to-earth and humble—yet constantly pushes me to grow.
Reviews
"Anyone who thinks they are just average."
"A great book to encourage you to understand you potential to move forward, conquer and overcome!"
"One of my favorite books of all time."
"I've read Bible many times and don't always remember certain passages."
"Have given this book to friends and family who are beginning new life chapters."
"But we need to consider God's power in order to shrink our problems."
"Even if you don't have one right now, after reading this book you'll probably go looking for one."
"Until Mark Batterson's book, I paid no particular attention to this verse, although Samuel's description of David's Mighty Men in the same chapter is a favorite."
Find Best Price at Amazon
A Tale of Three Kings
For the many Christians who have experienced pain, loss, and heartache at the hands of other believers, this compelling story offers comfort, healing, and hope. He has written biblical fiction covering nearly the entire Bible, with titles that include the following: The Beginning, The Escape, The Birth, The Divine Romance, The Triumph, Revolution, The Silas Diary, The Titus Diary, The Timothy Diary, The Priscilla Diary, The Gaius Diary, and The Return.
Reviews
"I would like a life filled with breakthroughs, victories and peace but apparently the Man Upstairs has other plans....to which I'll submit."
"Good book that helps understand Godly leadership as reflected in the relationship between Saul, David and Absalom."
"This book challenges you and makes you think!"
"love this book could not put it down.. completely finished it in 2 days...very mind opening...makes you ask questions."
"All three tales are both inspiring, pondering, humbling, and if you allow them, life-changing."
"I really like Edwards expression of the biblical events surrounding these three kings of Israel."
"I love the way the characters are developed."
"One of the greatest books of all times."
Find Best Price at Amazon
The Works of Josephus: Complete and Unabrided
As a Jewish historian, Flavius Josephus gives the Christian a new perspective on the Bible and Jewish history. The Works of Josephus include the following: THE LIFE OF FLAVIUS JOSEPHUS, his autobiography written shortly before he died. This collection includes the Complete Works of Josephus: Life of Flavius Josephus, War of the Jew, Antiquities of the Jews, Against Apion, and Discourse to the Greeks in easy to use eBook.
Reviews
"In this mashup, note 1 in ALL the books, jump to note 1 for the first book and it's "return" link takes you to the page with the first note of the first book."
"This book was a tough read for me at the start, very dry and kinda boring."
"Much of the book is a re-telling of the history of the Jews, stuff from the Old Testament/Tanakh, which Josephus knew well from his origins as a Pharisee. In my view, though, the book is most important for a reason only briefly mentioned by other reviewers - the book answers a central question that has always struck me whenever I read about the modern history of the Jewish people and the re-establishment of the State of Israel - how did it come to pass that the Jews lost their homeland in Palestine in the first place? In this book, Flavius Josephus gives a detailed and grisly eyewitness account of the destruction of Jerusalem and the slaughter of over 1.3 million Jews (he provides the number of dead in this book), and later enslavement of tens of thousands of the survivors, by the Romans in 70 A.D. Instead, Vespasian kept Josephus imprisoned until, miraculously, Josephus's prediction came true (after Nero's suicide and a civil war with a succession of three other Roman generals claiming the throne, Vespasian emerged victorious as the new emperor). Yes, read this book, and you will come to understand that the origins of the Middle East conflict of today goes back some 2,000 years, back to the time that Jerusalam was destroyed and the Jewish people dispersed."
"My primary concerns were that the translation be accessible and that the print be large enough to read."
"I found this book very helpful in my bible studies."
"It is a good read and provides lots of insight to the life of Josephus."
"Great reference book to add depth to my Bible studies....."
"I've always loved to read his writings on things that took place during biblical times."
Find Best Price at Amazon

Best Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) Biographies

A Tale of Three Kings
For the many Christians who have experienced pain, loss, and heartache at the hands of other believers, this compelling story offers comfort, healing, and hope. He has written biblical fiction covering nearly the entire Bible, with titles that include the following: The Beginning, The Escape, The Birth, The Divine Romance, The Triumph, Revolution, The Silas Diary, The Titus Diary, The Timothy Diary, The Priscilla Diary, The Gaius Diary, and The Return.
Reviews
"I would like a life filled with breakthroughs, victories and peace but apparently the Man Upstairs has other plans....to which I'll submit."
"Good book that helps understand Godly leadership as reflected in the relationship between Saul, David and Absalom."
"This book challenges you and makes you think!"
"love this book could not put it down.. completely finished it in 2 days...very mind opening...makes you ask questions."
"All three tales are both inspiring, pondering, humbling, and if you allow them, life-changing."
"I really like Edwards expression of the biblical events surrounding these three kings of Israel."
"I love the way the characters are developed."
"One of the greatest books of all times."
Find Best Price at Amazon

Best Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) Meditations

The Mingling of Souls: God's Design for Love, Marriage, Sex, and Redemption
Matt Chandler helps navigate these issues for both singles and marrieds by revealing the process Solomon himself followed: Attraction, Courtship, Marriage ... even Arguing. Matt Chandler pastors The Village Church, a multi-campus church attended by more than 10,000 people. Matt Chandler pastors The Village Church, a multi-campus church attended by more than 10,000 people.
Reviews
"The Mingling of Souls: God's Design for Love, Marriage, Sex & Redemption - Matt Chandler with Jared C. Wilson. The scope of this book runs from the beginning to the end of a relationship. Starting with attraction, Chandler works his way through each phase of romantic relationships: attraction, dating, courtship, wedding, sex, fighting, romance, and commitment. Overall Chandler gives a balanced, Biblical, and practical take on dating, marriage, and beyond. In the chapter on marriage ("Wedding Bells") Chandler says this: "I just see no reason to agree with the worldly romantic notion that every person has just one 'soul mate' out there waiting for him or her. Chandler's distinction between dating and courtship is also extremely helpful. He spells it out this way: dating is the "get to know you" phase of the relationship, and courtship is the "let's head toward marriage" phase of the relationship. Another strong point of the book is the dealing with marriage being a representation of Christ and the Church. Chandler also does a good job of not leave things in the theoretical sphere, but also offers practical advice throughout the book."
"This book walks the reader through God’s wisdom revealed through Solomon for relationship pursuit and marital bliss."
"Absolutely loved this booked and followed it with the video study."
"Matt Chandler speaks with a candid view on dating, sex, and marriage, and doesn't shy away from the messiness or the humor."
"This was a great breakdown of the Songs that put things in perspective for me in regards to relationships."
"This book has helped me tremendously to deal with my own issues and make me willing to make this marriage work."
"I've never thought to approach the Song of Songs like Matt has in this book, the ways he interprets this mysterious book is very insightful!"
"This book is amazing!"
Find Best Price at Amazon

Best Old Testament Bible Study

The Works of Josephus: Complete and Unabrided
As a Jewish historian, Flavius Josephus gives the Christian a new perspective on the Bible and Jewish history. The Works of Josephus include the following: THE LIFE OF FLAVIUS JOSEPHUS, his autobiography written shortly before he died. This collection includes the Complete Works of Josephus: Life of Flavius Josephus, War of the Jew, Antiquities of the Jews, Against Apion, and Discourse to the Greeks in easy to use eBook.
Reviews
"In this mashup, note 1 in ALL the books, jump to note 1 for the first book and it's "return" link takes you to the page with the first note of the first book."
"This book was a tough read for me at the start, very dry and kinda boring."
"Much of the book is a re-telling of the history of the Jews, stuff from the Old Testament/Tanakh, which Josephus knew well from his origins as a Pharisee. In my view, though, the book is most important for a reason only briefly mentioned by other reviewers - the book answers a central question that has always struck me whenever I read about the modern history of the Jewish people and the re-establishment of the State of Israel - how did it come to pass that the Jews lost their homeland in Palestine in the first place? In this book, Flavius Josephus gives a detailed and grisly eyewitness account of the destruction of Jerusalem and the slaughter of over 1.3 million Jews (he provides the number of dead in this book), and later enslavement of tens of thousands of the survivors, by the Romans in 70 A.D. Instead, Vespasian kept Josephus imprisoned until, miraculously, Josephus's prediction came true (after Nero's suicide and a civil war with a succession of three other Roman generals claiming the throne, Vespasian emerged victorious as the new emperor). Yes, read this book, and you will come to understand that the origins of the Middle East conflict of today goes back some 2,000 years, back to the time that Jerusalam was destroyed and the Jewish people dispersed."
"My primary concerns were that the translation be accessible and that the print be large enough to read."
"I found this book very helpful in my bible studies."
"It is a good read and provides lots of insight to the life of Josephus."
"Great reference book to add depth to my Bible studies....."
"I've always loved to read his writings on things that took place during biblical times."
Find Best Price at Amazon

Best Jewish Sacred Writings

JPS TANAKH: The Holy Scriptures (blue): The New JPS Translation according to the Traditional Hebrew Text
Regarded throughout the English-speaking world as the standard English translation of the Holy Scriptures, the JPS TANAKH has been acclaimed by scholars, rabbis, lay leaders, Jews, and Christians alike. ( Time Magazine ) "Turns Holy Writ into fresh, understandable, contemporary language.
Reviews
"A legend contained in the Letter of Aristeas claimed that Ptolemy Philadelphus commissioned a translation to be made into Greek by six men from each of the twelve tribes of Israel, sent by the high priest in Jerusalem. Scholars generally discount the legend, but the name "Septuagint" -- from the Latin word for seventy (LXX) became the traditional name for this translation. The Dead Sea Scrolls, 20th century’s greatest archaeological find is the rediscovery of 230 texts of biblical books, which have begun to change details in the Scriptures. Eugene Ulrich, professor of Hebrew at the University of Notre Dame and chief editor of the Dead Sea biblical materials suggests that in ancient times, two or more contrasting editions of biblical books existed side by side and were all regarded as Scriptures. Back then the Old Testament was far different and concludes that there were multiple editions for the following books: Genesis, Exodus, Numbers, Joshua, Judges, 1 and 2 Kings, 1 and 2 Samuel, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Psalms and Song of Solomon. In fact the authors of this book consider the Hebrew meaning of Psalm 32 is uncertain and originated from the writings of Maskil, adherents of a Jewish tribe called the Haskalah movement. However, to understand the Hebrew Bible’s text the scholars also use Greek and Syrian translations, quotations from rabbinic manuscripts, the Samaritan Pentateuch and others such as the Dead Sea Scrolls. Numbers play an important role in Judaic ritual practices and are believed to be the means for understanding the divine. The text of Kethuvim (Writings section of Tanakh) frequently presented the translators with extraordinary difficulties for conveying in with the fullness of Hebrew, because of its ambiguities, overtones, and richness. It is the goal of authors of this book to transmit something of directness, and unique Jewish expressions of piety essential to sublimity of the sacred scriptures."
"Again it is an excellent book but I'm not sure which edition to buy if I want a little larger English Print."
"The cover is good and the print readable."
"I find the scriptures are almost exactly the same as our old testement and the christian bible has used some words with the incorrect meaning."
"Font Size is great for reading."
"Gave as a gift."
"I wanted to delve into the Torah and bought this book because it was well priced."
"You need an electron microscope to read this as it is written in 8 font."
Find Best Price at Amazon

Best Kabbalah

The Essential Zohar
The Zohar and Kabbalah have traditionally been known as the world’s most esoteric sources of spiritual knowledge, but Rav Berg has dedicated his life to making this concentrated distillation of infinite wisdom available to people of all faiths so that we may use its principles to live each day in harmony with the divine. The Zohar's biblical commentaries and rabbinical stories of apparently "surprise happenings, sudden insights, and full-blown epiphanies" are intended to help readers open themselves to similar revelations. --Michael Joseph Gross Berg, the dean and director of the Kabbalah Centre, writes accessibly about the Zohar, a free-flowing mystical commentary on the Bible, as a way people can tap into cosmic energies that are available for personal and universal salvation. Berg admits that people may be uncomfortable with the notion that we can use "whatever means... necessary to create the spiritual circuitry of our universe," especially if that explains such misdeeds as King David murdering Uriah so he could take Batsheva as his wife.
Reviews
"I did not find this very helpful or useful."
"Difficult, but worth the effort for anyone who wants to be a better person!"
"Good companion to all Hebrew Studies."
"Absolutely meet my expectations and this was a wonderful​ introduction to spiritual aspect of Judaism."
"An excellent introduction and especially for those who come from other faiths outside of Judaism."
"Personally I would have liked to have seen the author go a bit deeper in the first couple of chapters, but overall I was pleased."
Find Best Price at Amazon

Best Talmud

If All the Seas Were Ink: A Memoir
**2018 Natan Book Award Finalist**. **Finalist for the 2017 National Jewish Book Award in Women's Studies ** The Wall Street Journal: "There is humor and heartbreak in these pages...Ms. Kurshan immerses herself in the demands of daily Talmud study and allows the words of ancient scholars to transform the patterns of her own life." At the age of 27, alone in Jerusalem in the wake of a painful divorce, Ilana Kurshan joined the world’s largest book club, learning daf yomi, Hebrew for “daily page" of the Talmud, a book of rabbinic teachings spanning about 600 years and the basis for all codes of Jewish law. Both religious and secular readers will find themselves immensely moved by her personal story and the raw courage of the journey she has undertaken.” – Elaine Margolin, The Jerusalem Post. "From the moment I picked up If All the Seas Were Ink , I was not able to put it down...Highly recommended...No background in Talmud is needed to appreciate Kurshan’s intriguing story. "There is humor and heartbreak in these pages...Ms. Kurshan immerses herself in the demands of daily Talmud study and allows the words of ancient scholars to transform the patterns of her own life." … Kurshan’s memoir gives us insightful contemporary readings of talmudic passages while demonstrating how life can accrue added richness when set against the backdrop of the Talmud.” ―Sarah Rindner, Jewish Review of Books. “Clever and witty… Kurshan is a fabulous writer; her clarity and simplicity propel you along almost unaware that you’re reading…So engrossing I hardly could put it down.” ―Neal Gendler, American Jewish World. "Delightful...The most enjoyable feature of the book is the brilliant and creative integration of the daily Talmudic folio Kurshan studies with experiences of her life." ― Kirkus Reviews "The splendidly written book is made all the more compelling by Kurshan’s willingness to share her vulnerabilities. " Kurshan committed herself to the Daf Yomi...she reports on how this daily discipline brought humor and wisdom and insight into her life." ―Rebecca Newberger Goldstein, author of Plato at the Googleplex: Why Philosophy Won't Go Away"If All the Seas Were Ink is such a moving memoir. Kurshan's portrait of everyday life in Jerusalem enriches her recounting of connecting to centuries of intellectual curiosity and conversing with bygone generations. ―Susan Isaacs, author of Long Time No See" In this deeply personal and often hilarious story, Kurshan shows us how the Talmud’s thousands of strange and demanding pages become a conversation about how best to live one's life in an imperfect world. "When a woman as incredibly well-read as Ilana Kurshan commits herself to studying the Talmud daily for seven-and-a-half years, the results are mind-expanding, both for her and for readers of If All the Seas Were Ink. "An intimate and eloquent portrait of a young woman’s passionate loves and fears… Kurshan writes as a woman of (as she puts it) ‘Dickensonian sensibilities:’ clinging to her privacy while exposing her vulnerability, seeking the resonances between her mind, soul and body, and revealing an acutely sensitive intelligence, a wry self-awareness, and an active sense of the absurd. ". She has worked in literary publishing both in New York and in Jerusalem, as a translator and foreign rights agent and as the books editor of Lilith magazine.
Reviews
"Lovely journey of the soul and heart."
"Stupendous and insightful."
"Beautifully written. Inspiring."
"The author is an ardent bibliophile who lyrically expresses her love of language, appreciates the commentaries of the Jewish sages (even when she disagrees with them), and longs for a meaningful and spiritual existence. In addition, she weighs in on the debates among various scholars concerning such topics as the Holy Days, matrimony, the rituals that took place in the First and Second Temples, property disputes, the Jewish calendar, and prayer. As a coda to this engrossing memoir, Ilana Kurshan might have used Frost's famous lines to describe her odyssey: "I took the [road] less traveled by/ And that has made all the difference.""
"Kurshan mixes her personal story with 1500+ year old talmudic wisdom, without losing either her narrative or context of the Talmud."
"This project takes 7 1/2 years and during those years we follow her life from the beginning low through new joys and surprising twists and turns in her life always accompanied by her learning in the Talmud."
"Ilana Kurshan has written a spellbinding book."
"Ilana has done it and it is compelling reading, intellectual, heart-warming, learned, wise, and even humorous at times."
Find Best Price at Amazon