Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible, Second Edition
The previous edition of this dictionary (Brill, 1995) was the first such reference work on the subject, and this second edition retains that distinction. It is an authoritative resource, an exhaustive catalog of supernatural beings whose names appear in the Bible (that is, the Hebrew Bible, the Septuagint, and the New Testament). However, some readers who turn to this work based on its title are in for a few surprises. Along with the anticipated articles on angels, Baal, cherubim, Dagon, Elohim, and Yahweh, they will also find ones on Esau, Jacob, Leah, Rachel, Moses, and Mary. Given the criteria established by the editorscandidates are those whose name contains that of a deity (Hebrew or otherwise) and humans who later achieved divine statustheir inclusion makes sense. Despite the inclusiveness of their criteria, the editors admit the inclusion of [some] deities often is more a tribute to scholarly ingenuity than an accurate picture of the religious situation in biblical times. The articles are full of transliterated ancient words, linguistic terminology, and parenthetical references that may make wading through them an investment not worth the return for general readers. Recommended for academic collections, though public librarians should evaluate what it offers against the needs of their users.Craig W. Beard, Univ. of Alabama at Birmingham Lib.Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.