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A biblical scholar well known for his expertise in ancient Near Eastern studies, expecially Ugaritic, author Fensham places Ezra and Nehemiah against the ancient Near East environment. In his introduction, Fensham discusses the original unity of the books, as well as the problems of authorship. He then treats the historical and religious background of the books, taking special note of the development of a Jewish society in postexilic times. Text and language are next, followed by a thorough bibliography. The commentary proper, based on Fensham's own fresh translation of the biblical texts, is richly documented and displays cautious good judgement, sensible approach, willingness to consider different options, and keen insight into the religious meaning of these key Hebrew texts.
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