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Rating: 
Summary: Low quality book with higher quality content
Review: Do you get what you pay for when you purchase one of the cheaper dictionaries? Yes and no. The book itself reminds you from the moment you open it that it was cheap: the paper is not the best quality around; the book creaks and groans as you page through it (just how long will it be before the spine cracks and breaks?); the quality of the photos is, in general, nothing short of abominable (in the 1960's and 1970's they would have been acceptable).
The dictionary entries are good, if you like conservative biblical scholarship. Reference to various (modern) translations of the bible makes it quite a useful book. But one essential ingredient of a good scholarly work is missing: a bibliography. Of the three dictionaries I know (Eerdmans, HarperCollins and this one from Holman), the Holman is the only one totally lacking any kind of bibliography. For the lay-user maybe not a problem. For an academic user a great problem. I would advise academic users to consider either the Eerdmans or the HarperCollins publications.
For the lay-user this is a useful publication at a good price. For academic users this might be handy to have as a second dictionary but it is, thanks to its lack of a bibliography, unsuitable as a sole work of reference.
Rating: 
Summary: The Best Bible Dictionary I Have Seen!
Review: The staff at Holman Bible Publishers have produced a high-quality, well-written dictionary with an easy-to-read format! Most of the subjects have comprehensive information such as: Bible verse(s) reference, origin, how the subject relates to other Bible subjects and other pertinent info. Throughout the book are colorful and attractive photos of certain topics (usually geography, buildings, towns, and artifacts of biblical times). The book is divided into such sections as: 1) charts of biblical time lines, 2) scale reconstructions of biblical artifacts (temples, tabernacles, etc.), 3) maps of the biblical lands, 4) Bible backgrounds and culture, and 5) doctrines and ethics. All in all, a highly recommend read and excellent resource for the pastor, teacher, or student!
Rating: 
Summary: More than Meets the Eye
Review: This little gem has more than meets the eye. Granted, it is a conservative (but not lacking in information) approach, but avoids the liberal academic pitfalls so often found in their literature (critical analysis etc). This is a user friendly book, thick in size and content is generous. Most of all it comes across trustworthy and reliable, not full of conjecture. A quiet authoritive spiritual treatment without the heavy-handness to go with it. I have used one for years after using many others of the same genre and I prefer Holman's for overall satisfaction after reading it.
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