A comprehensive and profound introduction to the literature and history of the Old Testament

This title provides a comprehensive and profound introduction to the literature and history of the Old Testament. Beginning with methods and sources, this Handbook looks at the Biblical text, archaeology, other texts, and iconography. It explores varying exegetical methods, including historical criticism, canonical approach, feminist, social scientific and liberation theology. Methods in archaeology, Hebrew epigraphic and iconography are also covered. The second section is devoted to the history and religious history of Ancient Israel. Introductory matters, such as fundamental terminology and definitions, ethnic identity, ancestors and the dead, geography and time reckoning are explicated before the book moves on to a historical survey from the Iron Age (c. 1200 BCE) to the early Roman period (ending about 63 CE). The heart of the book is a detailed survey of the Hebrew canonical books, section by section and book by book. The discussion for each book includes: biblical presentation and content; problems arising from the history of literary analysis and research; the origin and growth of the writing; the theology; and notes on reception history. This book will provide students with everything they need to study the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament.

"The reader is given an overview of current scholarly views about the individual books of the Old Testament...and about current scholarly understanding of Israel’s history, religion and Old Testament theology... I will order this book for our university library, as there is material in it which should be available for students to consult." - Reviews in Religion and Theology

"The English tradition of the ‘Introduction to the Old Testament’ has tended towards the short and sweet: while this has had the advantage of rendering the volumes affordable and non-intimidating, it has also frequently resulted in the need to refer students and the interested public to more than one ‘Introduction’, each with a different approach, in order to gain an adequate sense of the discipline. Entering the scene from the much more robust Germanic tradition, the heavyweight Handbook obviates much of the need for more than one such volume and, despite its size, manages to remain affordable, for which the publishers are to be commended." - Theology

"This is not a book for beginners: there is much careful, involved, scholarly discussion; but it is an excellent presentation of both the history and the current state of the historical-critical method of biblical study." - Theological Book Review

"This is a convenient one-stop shop overview … and as such is quite a gift to the scholarly community … It will orientate the reader rapidly on topic after topic." - The Heythrop Journal