The Rational Bible: Exodus by Dennis Prager

Wonderful commentary. I learn something new every time I read it! It has helped me to understand the Bible so much better already. My only issue is that as we were reading through it, we discovered that one page had been ripped out, hence I removed one star. Sadly we have already had the book for a while and the return window has long passed. I would love to get a replacement, but if that is not possible, it would be great if I could at least know what was written on pages 265 and 266.

As an evangelical Christian, I neglected to thoroughly understand the Torah. I decided to correct my lack of understanding after listening to Mr. Prager discuss "The Rational Bible."I just completed "Exodus. God, Slavery, and Freedom." Mr. Prager's commentary enriched my understanding of the Book of Exodus and the significance of the events described therein. My copy is highlighted, annotated, scribbled in, and, I took copious notes. I will be passing it on to my daughter. It is a wonderful commentary. I needed it from a Jew's perspective, and I got it. For evangelicals, I recommend accompanying your study with a good Christian translation of Exodus.I understand why Mr. Prager released "Exodus," first.Now, on to Genesis.Dennis Prager has done a good thing preparing this commentary and I commend him. People of all faiths can benefit from learning about the events which changed humanity.

I just recently received my set (it was on backorder) and the first book on Genesis is amazing! I am learning so much especially with Dennis Prager explanations and commentary! Highly recommend the series!

I am so excited about all of these books! I have only had them a few days. I will behappy to review in several months.

Beautiful book. Excellent commentary

Excellent quality and price!! Super impressed

To really understand the Bible, The Rational Bible : Exodus , makes it easy, and explains every verse and gives logical reason why certain words are used. There may be other books that do the same thing but I doubt that they do as good of a job. To give this book only 5 stars not a fair rating.

Lovely fact based, filled to the brim look at the Book of Exodus. Highly recommend.

The Dennis Prager Rational Series Bible collection is a must read for one who wants to understand more about Judeo- Christian values, fundamental to Western civilization, the foundation of The United States of America. The comments that explain the history and meaning of the verses make understanding the Bible much easier and adaptable to our lives . This book is outstanding , it makes learning fun. Thank you Dennis Prager.

Love it

Excellently written and sheds some different perspectives than I have seen before.

The Exodus is probably the most important story in Judaism, and certainly among the most important stories in Christianity as well. But while Prager writes for audiences of all faiths, his perspective is certainly the Jewish one. Prager’s argument (or at least one of his arguments) is that though the Torah (or the Bible at large) was written for specific people at a specific point in history, its relevance has not faded in modernity. Therefore, much of his commentary is aimed at translating certain verses in such a way as to render them comprehensible to modern ears or to applying the teachings of Exodus to modern situations. In those goals he succeeds admirably.Obviously, readers will come at this book from a variety of perspectives. There are certain passages atheists will struggle to understand even despite Prager’s best attempts to explain (atheists might argue explain away) some of the difficult passages. Christians will notice a lack of commentary pointing toward what they believe are foreshadowings of the New Testament. And though Prager’s Jewish commentary will feel most comfortable to the Jewish people, different movements within Judaism might agree or disagree on a variety of points.But where the book really shines, despite not quite succeeding in being all things to all people, is in rendering the text more approachable to modern readers. I’ve read Exodus before. I’ve read the entire Bible, of course. But even though the story is quite familiar to me, Prager nevertheless provided countless new insights that helped me to understand both much of the wisdom contained in the ancient text and why it is considered such a central element in Jewish culture.Long essays explain the Ten Commandments in great detail, and I think are a real highlight of this volume. Going back to the original Hebrew as necessary, Prager explains why he thinks those ten laws are so foundational to morality, as well as how many people—including many religious people—have misunderstood their meaning and misapplied their guidance.One might criticize the book for repetitiveness, but that’s not entirely Prager’s fault. Biblical texts themselves are often repetitive. Even still, Prager himself does repeat some of the same points multiple times. A few of these can be forgiven as repetition for emphasis, but in some cases, I think he added the same commentary to multiple verses simply because he had similar thoughts about each verse. If one wants to read this commentary as a reference book, that’s good; that way, the commentary is present at each verse whenever one might look it up. But if one wants to read it straight through, as I did, some of the repeated passages just felt extraneous.Nevertheless, I found this quite a useful book, and I’ll be first in line to get Prager’s commentary on Leviticus whenever it is released.

He is a great researcher and master of the Hebrew language and Jewish culture.very insightful and in depth.

Dennis Prager's *The Rational Bible* has ignited meaningful discussions about morality in the modern world, highlighting the relevance of biblical teachings in addressing today's moral and ethical dilemmas. Prager presents the Bible as a rational, practical guide, asserting that its principles offer clarity and direction in an increasingly secular society.One of the significant contributions of Prager's work is its ability to bridge the divide between religious and secular audiences. His rationalist approach appeals to those who might not typically engage with religious texts, fostering broader conversations about the foundation of morality and the influence of divine principles on ethical behavior.Moreover, Prager's commentary underscores the moral distinctions introduced by the Torah, such as the separation between good and evil, life and death, and sacred and profane. These distinctions challenge contemporary perspectives that often blur such lines, positioning his work at the center of debates on the necessity of objective morality.The hardcover editions of *The Rational Bible* are also highly regarded for their quality and presentation. With durable binding, clear print, and a polished appearance, they are well-suited for long-term use and study.

The eighth weekly biblical portion, Tetzavveh (Exodus 27:20-30:10), deals primarily with the sanctuary, later called temple and still later synagogue, and priests who functioned in the first two types of buildings that no longer exist. Priests are not prominent in synagogues today but are given honors and functions. While the sanctuary and temples no longer exist and priests have a considerably reduced role in synagogues, we can learn much from these ancient items that are relevant today. I will give examples from a non-Orthodox Jewish thinker.Dennis PragerMaimonides wrote that the truth is the truth no matter what its source. Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook, the first Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of British Mandatory Palestine (1865-1935), wrote similarly that we can learn much even from atheists.Dennis Prager (born 1948), an American conservative radio talk show host and writer, is a good example. He was trained in his youth as an Orthodox Jew but abandoned Orthodoxy. He states he maintains many traditional Jewish practices and is religious.He wrote many books, including a series called “The Rational Bible.” I find much in them interesting, but I differ from him because he takes Bible stories literally and is usually convinced that the events really happened. I see many events as parables and read many statements as metaphors, hyperbole, and poetry.I disagree, for example, with the following: He asks, "Who was the most tragic figure in the Bible?" He answers, "God, because of God’s disappointment in humans." He feels that God has emotions. I do not think that God has emotions.True, the Torah mentions that God becomes angry at times. But this is not done to reveal a fact about God but to frighten people who find it hard, if not impossible, to reason into thinking they will be punished if they misbehave with fierce divine anger and be prompted to act appropriately. The pagan Plato calls this a “Noble Lie.” The Jew Maimonides named it “Essential Truths.” The Muslim ibn Tofayl wrote about it in his philosophical novel “Hay ibn Yakdan.” It is one of my favorite books. Everyone should read it.Another example of Prager’s statements that I disagree with is his reply to the question: Why did God kill animals in the flood? He wrote animals were created for human use, and since only one family remained after the flood, there was no need for so many animals.I agree with Maimonides in his Guide for the Perplexed 2:48 that the Torah ascribes natural events to God not because God performed the acts that were natural and caused by the forces of nature but because God is the ultimate cause since He created or formed the laws of nature.I also agree with Maimonides, who wrote that animals have feelings, so why would God hurt innocent animals? I see the flood as a natural event; most likely, not all animals died, and fish weren’t killed. It is even possible that the flood only struck a small area.Having said this, I still think Prager has much to offer. He raises good questions, and many of his explanations are good.The following are his ideas about the buildings constructed for God and the priests who functioned in them.He gives four reasons why it is wrong to say the Torah is filled with immorality because, among other of its teachings, animal sacrifices are immoral. First, Maimonides taught that God did not desire animal sacrifices. The ancient Israelites accepted the primitive notion of their pagan neighbors that God needed sacrifices, and the sacrifices of animals showed their love for God. The ancients even sacrificed their children.Maimonides stressed that the Torah dislikes sacrifices and allows them only as concessions. Since the ancient Israelites felt so strongly that sacrifices were necessary, had the Torah prohibited them, they would have rejected the entire Torah.Prager wisely adds that sacrificing children has not changed. We still send young men and women to war and on suicide missions.Second, the majority of humanity that eats animal flesh has no legitimate or even logical reason to oppose animal sacrifices on moral grounds. They are eating animals without any consideration of the living being killed to satisfy their lusts and stomachs.While being forced to allow the killings, the Torah took the murders and eating exceptionally seriously. The animals sacrificed were not subjected to the cruelties existing in modern slaughtering and the brutalities of how the animals are farmed.Third, sacrifices were imbued with sanctity and given noble goals, such as atoning for destructive past behaviors and bringing people closer to God. The Hebrew word for sacrifice is korban, which literally means bringing one close (to God).Fourth, sacrifice teaches that nothing worthwhile comes without sacrifice. Parents sacrifice a great deal for their children, spouses sacrifice for their marriage, friends sacrifice to maintain the friendship, and people desiring to improve their lives sacrifice years of fun and leisure to learn and improve th...

Dennis Prager did a good job in his commentary series.

As a Christian I am fascinated with the Jewish perspective

very thoughtful. Powerful message

The book provides an in-depth analysis of the second book of the Bible. Dennis Prager, a rabbi, has written an easy-to-read and comprehensive guide to Exodus that goes verse by verse. The author states in his introduction that he has written the book for anyone who wants to know this pivotal chapter in the Bible better. I found the book insightful and interesting.

Great read.

Dennis makes it so easy and enjoyable. Having his thoughts and a variety of scholarly opinions woven at relevant parts throughout the book made it much easier to understand and provided a lot more history and context.

Great commentary with a layout I wish more theologians would utilize. I love that he starts the book by talking to three different groups Jews, Christians and Non-religious; it’s great to see the time put in to acknowledge his audience.

Dennis Prager writes clearly and explains profound ideas in an easy to understand manner. All his books are a treasure.

Adds value to study of Exodus even for Christians who have been exposed to Scripture for years. The Old Testament is not replaced by the New Testament, rather it is the foundation of all that we believe. Necessary for all who teach and preach the Gospel of Jesus.I have no doubt that it is foundational for observing or seeking Jews as well.

I appreciated how Dennis Prager emphasized how the Torah differed from the pagan religions of the time and how it has changed the world for the better. If followed it would bring about the peace on earth we have so far been denied. I highly recommend all volumes of the Rational Bible. It is well worth the time spent reading them.

A special thanks to the author for opening my eyes to so many wonderful truths found in the Torah. I loved this commentary.