The Hebrew Story of Abraham and Isaac (All Books by Dr. Eli Lizorkin-Eyzenberg) Paperback – May 16, 2021

This is my second book of this authors I have purchased in understanding the scriptures deeper and fuller. The ease of writing along with scriptural and language explained as to the why and how's has helped me tremendously and I thank you and hope to see more!

As a Greek Orthodox Christian, I consider Dr. Eli to be an indispensable author and teacher for both Jew and Christian. This is especially true for the latter if you are wise enough to understand how essential it is to have a solid understanding of the Hebrew language and Jewish context, if one is to understand the foundations of our faith. Once you realize that the New Testament, the primary focus of most Christians, is actually filled with hundreds of quotes from, and allusions to, the stories and prophecies of the Old Testament, you realize that understanding it is the key to understanding the New Testament.Dr. Eli Lizorkin-Eyzenberg brings together all of this in a way that leaves the student dumbfounded as to the undeniability of his exegesis of the scriptures. Once the Hebrew language and the Jewish context are laid bare, the truth just seems self-obvious, and you end up a bit amused at the machinations that people have come up with for centuries to try to reverse engineer Christianity's teachings and doctrines.The author is the head of the Israel Institute of Biblical Studies and founder of Israel Bible Center. I am taking my 14th course (30 hours each) from the former and 25th course (4-7 hours each) from the latter. So, my take on the author is not the result of a cursory exposure.UPDATE: If you read Hebrew, beware that the Hebrew text in this book is still messed up. It flows LTR instead of RTL, as all Hebrew text should. See attached image.

Great background information to understand the Bible in the right context It is written in an easily understood format. Highly recommended

As someone who studies Biblical Hebrew and seeks to understand the Bible in its original context, I found this book to be incredibly engaging and insightful. The author doesn't simply retell Abraham's story-he uncovers deep literary and theological patterns that connect Abraham to figures like Jacob, Joseph, and even to people groups throughout the biblical narrative. These connections aren't just thematic echoes; they're intentional designs woven into the Torah to reveal larger truths about covenant, identity and divine purpose.There's a section (p.61) where the author points out that these recurring patterns may reflect a broader use of narrative typology in the Torah. The idea is that these repetitions and parallels aren't just storytelling techniques-they serve a greater purpose in shaping how we understand God's unfolding work through history. The structure of the text carries just as much meaning as the words themselves.Another key point the author highlights is how translation shapes interpretation. Even small choices-like punctuation or paragraph breaks-can effect meaning. It's a reminder that understanding Scripture requires more than just knowing the words; the way the text is structured matters, too.If you're someone who loves studying the Hebrew Bible-the sacred Hebrew Scriptures that have shaped and forever impacted human history and civilization, and which form the foundation of both Jewish faith and the Christian Bible- and you're curious about the deeper structure and literary design of Scripture, this book offers a rich and thoughtful journey. And if you've ever been drawn to the story of Abraham-the prophet, the father of many nations, the friend of God-this book will help you see his life through a more authentic and textured lens.The book is intellectually stimulating yet still very readable. I'd highly recommend it to anyone who wants to move beyond surface-level Bible reading and explore the deeper patterns that shape the Hebrew Scriptures.

I was actually hoping this book would completely change the way I look at Abraham, as his other book, "The Jewish Gospel of John," did for that Gospel. But, this book was not so paradigm shifting.Still, "The Hebrew Story of Abraham and Isaac" is good for what it is. The author walks us through the stories of Abraham and Isaac, and he gives many valuable insights. Many insights require the author's expertise in history and Hebrew. For example, every translation I have read has indicated that Abraham gave 10% of everything he had to Melchizedek, but in the original Hebrew, it is ambiguous whether Abraham gave 10% to Melchizedek, or Melchizedek gave 10% of everything he had to Abraham. Other insights should be obvious, if we pay attention, but often we do not. For example, in Abraham's time and before, many other people believe in what would become known as the God of Israel. But, later in the Old Testament, most other people do not believe in Him.Ultimately this book was worth reading. But, one of the things I learned is that the way Abraham is depicted in churches today seems substantially similar to the way he was depicted it was in the past. I guess that should be comforting.

I have read a few of this author’s books and have gained a new perspective on the scriptures. He is relatively easy to follow and states his points concisely and effectively. I have a much richer under standing of scripture and hope for more books by this author in the future.

Gave me a lot of information about Abraham life and what he went through

Dr. Lizorkin has brought out excellent inside in the life of Abraham you will see how the story develops into a clear picture of Gods salvation plan as seen fulfilled in the NT. it’s a book for serious students of the Bible. New gemstones are found on every page of this book. I am a Bible teacher myself teaching from the Hebrew point of view of the Bible. I am still learning from the books written by Dr. Lizorkin is a good investment to by all his books written in series of 3 books and odours if you are really serious join his courses online.