Biblical Text Takes on New Meaning in Author's Commentary

Book takes a section by section look at themes in the book of Ezra.

Longwood, FL (PRWEB) January 20, 2008 -- Together with its antecedent, Nehemiah, the book of Ezra in the Old Testament records the fulfillment of God's promise to restore His chosen people, the Jews, to their own land after years of being held captive by the Babylonians. Seventy years after their capture, King Cyrus of Persia conquered Babylon and decreed that all Jews could return to their homeland; not long after this, the Jews began work on their altar, offered sacrifices, and laid a new foundation for the temple, signifying that worship had been brought back to Jerusalem. The first in a series of three books comprising the Loken Expositional Commentary, Israel P. Loken's Ezra ($14.99, paperback, 978-1-60477-442-9) takes a section-by-section look at the biblical text to gain a deeper understanding of some of the book's important and historically relevant themes. Transliterated from the original Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic text, the book is designed for both the serious scholar and layperson alike.

Says Loken, "I hope readers will gain a deeper understanding of the book of Esther. The study of the Scriptures can transform lives. The reader will become a better leader as he studies the life of one of the great leaders of the Bible."

As a college professor for more than 10 years--both at College of Biblical Studies and Dallas Theological Seminary--the Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, native has taught through the entire Bible more than 10 times, and this has yielded a plethora of new insights with each additional reading. "My goals in life are to teach God's Word on the college level and write commentaries," Loken says, noting that "I am living my dream!"

Xulon Press (http://xulonpress.com), a part of Salem Communications Corporation, is the world's largest Christian publisher, with more than 4,000 titles published to date. Retailers may order Ezra through Ingram Book Company and/or Spring Arbor Book Distributors. Salem Communications is the country's leading Christian communications company with interests in radio, Internet, and magazine publishing.

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