The term "Mikra" is frequently used interchangeably with "Bible" and "Holy Scripture." Nevertheless the term carries more freight, for it means "the way in which the text has always been and ought to be recited and understood by those who have been closely connected with the texts." The many scholars, all specialists in their fields, who contribute to this expansive volume elucidate the many translations and interpretations of the texts from the formation of the canon, through the Greek and Aramaic translations, the Samaritans, the Rabbis, the New Testament writers, the Latin translations, and the early Christian fathers.
From published reviews of the hardcover edition of Mikra: Text, Translation, Reading and Interpretation of the Hebrew Bible in Ancient Judaism and Early Christianity
"A vast amount of important information and useful knowledge has been brought together in this large (but not unreasonably priced) tome. I envy the person who can truly say that he or she has nothing to learn from it. But I doubt whether such a person will easily be found." —The Studia Philonica
"This important work must be commended most heartily. The range of articles is impressive, from 'Writing in ancient Israel and Early Judaism' to 'Old Testament Interpretation in the Writings of the Church Fathers' and the twenty chapters cover the canon, cycles of reading in the synagogue, the ancient versions (Septuagint, Samaritan Targum, Jewish Aramaic translations, Peshitta and Latin translations) and interpretation, authority and use at Qumran and in the apocrypha, Philo, Josephus, and other Hellenistic Jewish authors, rabbinic literature, the Samaritan tradition, Gnostic literature, and the early church.
"The general theme which controls the approach is 'how did the biblical books develop into Mikra, and how could this unique text give rise to such a wealth of interpretations. . . . This will be one of the standard works of reference, which all decent libraries should possess." —The Expository Times
"In its range of coverage the volume breaks some new ground, for no other work of this nature offers anything really comparable. . . . Not the least important feature of this volume is the fact that it embraces both Jewish and Christian tradition, thus emphasizing the importance of studying these two traditions together, rather than in isolation, as has all too often been the case in the past. As one might expect from such a distinguished team of scholars, the quality of the contributions is generally high, and some are outstanding. . . . All in all, this may be judged an eminently successful and useful volume." —Oxford Journals: Journal of Seminary Studies
Martin J. Mulder was born in Ter Aar, The Netherlands, in 1923. He studied theology at the Free University of Amsterdam and Semitic Languages at Leiden University. He was professor of Semitic Languages at the Free University of Amsterdam (1970-1979) and professor of Old Testament at Leiden University (1979-1989), and also director of the Peshitta Institute of the same university. He published a large number of studies on Israelite Religion, the Old Testament and the Ancient Versions, and on Hebrew and Aramaic. Martin Mulder died in 1994.
Harry Sysling was born in Voorst, The Netherlands, in 1947. He studied theology and Semitic Languages at the Free University of Amsterdam and received his PhD in 1991 from the University of Leiden. He lectured in Rabbinic Hebrew at Leiden University, and worked as a translator for the New Dutch Bible Translation. He is presently engaged in research on targumic studies at the Theological University of Kampen. He has published principally in the area of Hebrew and Aramaic.
