Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible

David Noel Freedman (1922-2008) was a prolific, influential biblical scholar and the longtime holder of an endowed chair in Hebrew biblical studies at the University of California, San Diego.

--Walter Brueggemann "The quality of scholarship in this dictionary is superb, with contributions from the most senior scholars in the field and from some of the rising young scholars who will greatly impact the field. There is no doubt that this dictionary will take its place as the most valuable and most used among those currently available." --Joseph A. Fitzmyer, S.J. "The Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible is an outstanding one-volume companion to the Bible for every serious reader of the written Word of God. David Noel Freedman, along with a dozen well-known consulting editors and about 600 contributors, has made this dictionary an extraordinary compilation of data about the biblical books and their archaeological, geographical, and historical backgrounds. Many of the articles give good leads to further reading on the topics they discuss. Highly recommended for pastors, teachers, college and graduate students, and general readers." --Patrick D. Miller "Comprehensive and filled with rich treatments of large and important topics as well as the lesser names and places that any such book has to include, Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible is as good as one can expect from a one-volume Bible dictionary." --Elizabeth Achtemeier "The Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible sets forth a vast amount of data useful to any Bible reader. Its distinctiveness lies in its frequent supply of theological material along with its scholarly and critical information." --Peter Machinist "The Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible is a standout. It may just be the most comprehensive and wide-ranging of the one-volume dictionaries available. It more than fulfills editor David Noel Freedman's promise to provide 'a rapid-response reference work' that covers, in each of its entries, all the basic data, together with a concise, balanced, and up-to-date orientation to the issues. Indeed, a number of its articles offer authoritative, even provocative assessments by leading scholars in their fields. This is a dictionary that all serious readers of the Bible will want constantly by their side."