Men and Women of the Bible: A Readers Guide

Most who’s who Bible references are out of print, written only for younger readers, or lack the scope and readiness of information found in this remarkable new resource. The epic richness of the Bible is a source of never-ending study and interest. Archetypal protagonists from Aaron to Zephaniah continue to resonate throughout Western culture. This book profiles and contextualizes more than 100 of the most significant biblical figures from the Scriptures, Apocrypha, and New Testament, including information about their heritage, adventures and pronouncements, the periods in which they lived, later discoveries about the characters and their times, and traditions that have developed around them.

Each alphabetically organized essay entry discusses the name and etymology of the character, provides a rich synopsis of the relevant Bible story or stories, presents historical context and archeological evidence, and traces the character in later cultural works. This authoritative and invaluable research tool is perfect for students of religion and Western literature and the arts, as well as general readers of the Bible.

NANCY M. TISCHLER is Professor Emerita of English and the Humanities at Penn State University.