St. Jerome (347-420) has been considered the pre-eminent scriptural commentator among the Latin Church Fathers. His Commentary on Matthew, written in 398 and profoundly influential in the West, appears here for the first time in English translation. Jerome covers the entire text of Matthew's gospel by means of brief explanatory comments that clarify the text literally and historically. Although he himself resided in Palestine for forty years, Jerome often relies on Origen and Josephus for local information and traditions. His stated aim is to offer a streamlined and concise exegesis that...

This completely revised and updated edition presents texts written by medieval Christian, Muslim and Jewish travelers to the Holy Land, including:

• St. Jerome, The Pilgrimage of Holy Paula, c.382 CE
• Paula & Eustochium, Letter to Marcella on the Holy Places, 386
• Mukaddasi of Jerusalem, Description of Palestine, 985
• Diary of a Journey through Syria and Palestine, 1047
• Theoderich of WUrzburg, Guide to the Holy Land, c.1172
• Benjamin of Tudela, Description of the Holy Land, from his Itinerary, c.1173
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