The <i>Hand-Book of Bible Manners and Customs</i> by James M. Freeman is intended to be a companion piece for readers of The Bible, essentially a "dictionary of things" mentioned in the holy book.<br><br>Freeman comments that The Bible was written at a specific time and place, and thus makes reference to specific items and customs that are largely unfamiliar to the modern reader, particularly one who lives in the western world. In his introduction, the author comments, "The Bible becomes more than ever a real book when we can read it understandingly." James Freeman's goal in this handbook is thus to detail all unfamiliar references so the modern reader can begin to grasp the teachings of The Bible without wrestling with misunderstandings.<br><br>Freeman's approach is almost overwhelmingly thorough. The author goes through The Bible, book by book, verse by verse, and highlights any unfamiliar term. These terms, be they customs, objects, or cultural references, are then explained in detail. A typical entry reads like the following: <br><br>Ezekiel, XVI, 4 – Babes Salted<br>"In ancient times new-born babes were rubbed with salt in order to harden their skin, as this operation was supposed to make it dry, tight, and firm. Galen mentions the practice, and it is also referred to by Jerome in his commentary on this passage. The salt may also have been applied as an emblem of purity and incorruption."<br><br>This is only one of the nearly 900 entries that appear in this manual. Detailed indexes conclude this manual, so Bible readers perplexed by a term or reference can easily look up an explanation in this document.<br><br>This <i>Hand-Book of Bible Manners and Customs</i> is one of the most extensive companion pieces to The Bible you will ever find. If one is interested in reading The Bible and gaining a deeper understanding, there is perhaps no better text to have open alongside the holy book than this one.