This work is a comprehensive, advanced introduction to the five books or scrolls in the Hebrew Bible that constitute the Megilloth, a distinctive minor collection within the canon of the Hebrew Bible.

In Where is God in the Megilloth? Brittany N. Melton constructs a dialogue among Ruth, Esther, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs centred on this question, in an effort to settle the debate about whether God is present or absent in these books. Their juxtaposition in the Hebrew Bible highlights their shared theme of apparent divine absence, but, paradoxically, traces of God’s presence are unearthed as well. By examining various aspects of this theme, including the literary absence of God, divine abandonment, God-talk, allusive language, God’s providence, and divine silence, it becomes clear that the ambiguity of divine presence and absence in the Megilloth presents a significant challenge to current conceptualizations of divine presence and absence in the Hebrew Bible.

Every faith community knows the challenges of inviting new members and the next generation into its shared life, without falling into an arid traditionalism or a shallow relativism. Walter Brueggemann finds a framework for education in the structure of the Hebrew Bible canon, with its assertion of center and limit (in the Torah), of challenge (in the Prophets), and of inquiry (in the Writings). Incorporating best insights from canonical criticism, Old Testament theology, and pedagogical theory, this revised edition is introduced by Amy Erickson of Iliff School of Theology.

Where is a good starting point for reading the Bible? Five scrolls constitute the second section of the third major division of the Hebrew bible. These are the Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, Qohelet, and Esther. The Song, like the Psalms, is a key to our hearing of instruction. Ruth establishes the Moabite ancestry of David showing we must read about enemies more carefully. The music of the Lamentations moves us with four acrostic poems and a fifth poem of 22 verses of prayer to make new our days as of old. Sing the melody of Qohelet that adorns chapter 3, the time for every delight under the heavens. And party with Esther. These five books are short and represent pieces of the whole story, the Song a key, Ruth, a snippet of history, Lamentations, the tragedy of the destruction, Qohelet, the words of the shrewd, and Esther, ultimate social success (including taxes). They are like the elaborate bow on the whole unfathomable present that is the Hebrew Bible. The Five Scrolls is volume 6 of the series, The Hebrew Bible and Its Music.

This is a new release of the original 1950 edition.

In Jewish theological discourse, the term megilloth refers to five specific books within the third section of the Hebrew Bible. The Latin Scrolls: Selections from the Five Megilloth Translated from the Latin Vulgate provides students with the Megilloth, or selections from them, in a single volume. As a collective whole, the Megilloth emphasize the humanity within Judaism and demonstrate the divine in common human existence. This text provides students with a different understanding of life and God than what is commonly found in other books on the Hebrew Bible. Each of the five sections examines one of the books of the Megilloth: Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, and Esther. Introductions to each section underscore main themes with the book. The text is presented side by side in both its original Latin and translated English. Each section features a conclusion that highlights contemporary takeaways, encouraging students to draw connections between the historical text and modern applications. The Latin Scrolls is an ideal supplementary text for courses and programs in religious, Judaic, and biblical studies, especially those with emphasis on the Old Testament.

The Five Scrolls-Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, and Esther-form a vital part of the Hebrew Bible and are each read during a different Jewish holiday. These texts not only reflect the diverse experiences of love, devotion, tragedy, and triumph, but also span significant historical periods in the Land of Israel, including the era of the Judges, the reign of King Solomon, the First Temple, its destruction, and the Babylonian exile. This collection encapsulates the breadth of Israel's national experience, weaving together the nation's historical milestones with the profound personal and communal thoughts and emotions that accompany them. 2 The Israel Bible Five Scrolls includes the Hebrew text of the Bible alongside an easy-to-understand English translation, with special commentary highlighting the connection between the Jewish people and the Land of Israel. It also offers English transliteration of selected Hebrew names and verses, making it easier for readers to learn and understand Biblical Hebrew. Included with almost every lesson are high-quality color images that bring the Bible to life.