Preston Kavanagh

A group of authors led by Shaphan, King Josiah's secretary, wrote some three hundred chapters of Scripture--one-third of the Hebrew Bible. For the first time ever, we can learn the names of those who composed Joshua, Isaiah, Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Songs, Daniel, and half the Minor Prophets. (Probabilities throughout the book strongly support these findings.) Moreover, those authors together constitute Dtr, the long-sought editors of Deuteronomy through Second Kings. One of the most important discoveries of The Shaphan Group is that Huldah the prophetess signed many chapters of Hebrew Scripture. Judged from her use of coded writing, Huldah was arguably the most accomplished writer among the group's fifteen authors. She was joined by the Priestly Source and Second Isaiah (both of whom are named), as well as others--unrecognized until now--who risked their lives to shape the Hebrew Bible. The Shaphan Group offers students of whatever age, not only a book full of discoveries, but also a new way to approach Holy Scripture.

The Fifteen Authors Who Shaped the Hebrew Bible

The Shaphan Group

Simo Parpola

This short book resolves the mystery of why Jesus chose to call himself Son of Man. Far earlier, the first Son of Man--the prophet Ezekiel--had met death as a Babylonian substitute king. Professor Simo Parpola's expert exposition about Assyrian substitutes prepares readers for the sacrifice first of Ezekiel and then, far later in time, of Jesus. Ezekiel was the Suffering Servant of Isaiah chapter 53, and had perished as a substitute to redeem the lives of his rebellious countrymen. Understanding Ezekiel's fate, Jesus chose the Son of Man title to exemplify his own redemptive mission. The authors of Mark, Luke, and Matthew subsequently framed their passion accounts so as to describe the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus as a latter-day substitute king. Most of this will come as news to students of both testaments of Scripture.

Preston Kavanagh

Books

Your next favorite book is out there