In Jewish theological discourse, the term megilloth refers to five specific books within the third section of the Hebrew Bible. The Latin Scrolls: Selections from the Five Megilloth Translated from the Latin Vulgate provides students with the Megilloth, or selections from them, in a single volume.
As a collective whole, the Megilloth emphasize the humanity within Judaism and demonstrate the divine in common human existence. This text provides students with a different understanding of life and God than what is commonly found in other books on the Hebrew Bible. Each of the five sections examines one of the books of the Megilloth: Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, and Esther. Introductions to each section underscore main themes with the book. The text is presented side by side in both its original Latin and translated English. Each section features a conclusion that highlights contemporary takeaways, encouraging students to draw connections between the historical text and modern applications.
The Latin Scrolls is an ideal supplementary text for courses and programs in religious, Judaic, and biblical studies, especially those with emphasis on the Old Testament.
Adam Oliver Stokes, M.Div. holds degrees in religion from Duke University and Yale Divinity School. He has published on a variety of topics, including biblical studies, Mormon studies, Classical studies, and ancient American history. He is the author of From Egypt to Ohio: A Semitic Origin for the Giants of North America and Perspectives on the Old Testament: Diverse Perspectives from Ancient to Modern Times. Stokes teaches high school Latin in New Jersey and a course on the Old Testament at Saint Joseph's University.
