Dr. Verbruggen releases Dutch commentary on the Book of Deuteronomy

Dr. Jan Verbruggen, Professor of Old Testament Language and Literature, has recently completed a bible commentary on Deuteronomium (“Deuteronomy”) as part of a twelve book commentary series called De Brug (“The Bridge”). Since joining the Western Seminary faculty in 2000, Verbruggen has been steadily working on this project giving it attention between his regular teaching duties as he wrote and researched the text. As a result of his personal study of the Hebrew text, Verbruggen states that Deuteronomy is clearly a book that shows a rich link between the ancient culture and the world of today. The book, he says, highlights the work and words of the servant of the Lord (Moses) while looking forward to when the Greater Servant of the Lord will appear upon the scene. Released in April by Groen, a publisher in the Netherlands, the commentary series is intended to provide a biblical resource for pastors, preaching elders and laymen. States Verbruggen, “It is a recontextualization of the Sinai covenant to the imminent new reality of dwelling in the Promised Land.”

In keeping with his passions for academic research and discovery, Verbruggen will leave on May 11th with a group of thirty Western Seminary students for a three week study in Israel. The trip will mark his first visit back to Israel since he was a volunteer at the excavation of the City of David in 1979. We congratulate Dr. Verbruggen on this significant contribution to biblical studies.