Edward A. Engelbrecht

Interesting in that I've never read the Apocrypha before. The books themselves are somewhat interesting, some more than others, and should be read as an interesting book of the Jewish people between testaments. Many of the stories are historical fiction.

The most interesting part of the book is the notes and the appendixes that come with the material. I found myself skipping ahead to read the notes, look at maps, and read the appendixes.

This one's a guide to the Old Testament--or Hebrew Scriptures, or Tanakh, or however you prefer to title it--with a conservative Lutheran bent. It's more in depth than Halley's Bible Handbook and a lot slicker with more charts and pictures. However, that added content also makes it a lot bigger. It definitely wasn't designed to be snatched off the shelf for a quick consultation while you have three other volumes sitting open on your desk. (I wonder if that description qualifies me for show more membership in the Society for Creative Anachronism...)
--J. show less

This Bible surprised me. It is one of the best devotional study Bibles I've ever seen. It has the usual center column notes, great notes, many by Martin Luther, and great sidebars and historical notes. But the thing I enjoy most are the prayers that accompany every short topic section in the scriptures. It makes a prayerful study and reading.

Excellent book for daily prayers.