Exodus

Propp’s two-volume commentary is probably the most encyclopedic and relentlessly original treatment of Exodus in this group. Its range is extraordinary: Hebrew philology, textual criticism, ancient Near Eastern evidence, ritual, anthropology, comparative religion, archaeology, source criticism and Jewish interpretation are all brought into play, often generating possibilities that simply do not occur in other commentaries. Propp himself identifies his treatments of the Passover, Song of the Sea and tabernacle-temple theology as major contributions, and notably gives the tabernacle material something approaching the prominence it receives in Exodus itself. His interpretation of the pierced-ear slave ritual illustrates both the strengths and risks of the commentary: an obscure law becomes a fascinating exploration of doorway symbolism, Passover, servitude and rites of passage, but several possibilities remain necessarily conjectural. Propp is therefore not always the safest guide and can be speculative or theologically reductionistic, but for serious research he is indispensable precisely because he continually expands the range of exegetical possibilities.

Propp’s work is thorough and careful. He includes comparative linguistics and attention to the Dead Sea Scrolls. [Full Review]

Extensive notes on translation and critical issues.

Strong on background to social institutions and customs. Important for new textual readings from the Dead Sea Scrolls. [Full Review]