After many years of languishing in the shadows of Biblical studies, the Septuagint has again returned to some prominence in Biblical scholarship. This work seeks to provide a basic introduction of the Septuagint for a lay or pastoral audience.

The authors explain what the Septuagint is: its likely Egyptian context; the stories of how it came about, and what may be true from them; the challenge of speaking regarding "the Septuagint" in light of the various texts, likely translators, etc. involved; its relation to the Apocrypha.

The authors then explain why the Septuagint is important: its role as a witness to the Hebrew text; its role in interpretation of the New Testament; and ultimately, how to value the Septuagint in terms of authority, canon, and inspiration.

This is a generally helpful introduction. Even though I agree with the authors about the standing of the Septuagint in terms of its apocryphal parts and its inspiration vis-a-vis the Hebrew Bible, even I felt that the authors' explanation was a bit too confessional and Reformed, and was a bit too dismissive of the weight of traditional arguments for the Septuagint. Nevertheless, for someone with little understanding of the Septuagint, this is a useful introduction.

Wonderful introduction to the LXX (Septuagint) with helpful emphasis on the practical.

The book is separated into two large sections of "What it is" and "Why it matters." It is split down the middle answering these two questions.

A strength of the book is its readability. This is a more obscure and difficult topic even for pastors and amateur theologians. But the book does a good job introducing the topic without making it too difficult. A knowledge of Greek and Hebrew is not necessary to understand the book, but it probably helps.

I think that the second half of the book was the most helpful. Too often Biblical scholars write about topics and all I can think "so what?" But this book spends an adequate amount of time answering that question in length. I left the book not just with some knowledge, but a desire to study the LXX more.

I couldn't help but compare this book to Gallagher's new book on the LXX as well. Both have similarities, but a lot of differences. Gallagher's was more focused on the translation and then scholarship surrounding the LXX. This one is much more of an introduction.

If you have read a ton about the LXX then this may or may not be the book for you. The book is much more written towards new comers. I think it is accessible for lay people. But it is more similar to a college textbook than a popular level work. I think anyone who wants to know a little more about the Septuagint, or maybe that doesn't know anything but is curious should read it.