Reading the Old Testament: An Introduction (2nd ed.)
Digital Verbum Edition
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Overview
Reading the Old Testament was recognized as a classic introductory text almost from its first appearance in 1984. Without diminishing its famed clarity and theological depth, two prominent scholars, Richard Clifford and Daniel Harrington, have brought the book into the twenty-first century, revising and updating the text for a new generation of readers. Dive into this clear and comprehensive introduction to the Old Testament and be equipped for better study. The text is designed to guide students through the text and its problems, enrich their understanding of the individual biblical books, and explore the way the Bible came to be written. Boadt gives special attention to recent archeological discoveries in the Middle East and how these affect our understanding of the Old Testament. Reading the Old Testament offers a rich discussion of the way Israel’s religious experience was translated into written records, with thorough treatment of the Exile and the post-exilic periods—crucial times in the formation of the Old Testament. The book also contains numerous maps, charts, and drawings.
Top Highlights
“Jewish tradition recognizes three divisions: the Law, the Prophets, and the Writings.” (Page 4)
“Pentateuch. Genesis describes a prehistory of God’s call and preparation of a people from creation through the time of the patriarchs. Exodus portrays the mighty deeds of the deliverance of Israel from Egypt and of God’s giving of the covenant and the laws. Leviticus describes the obligations of that covenant, while Numbers adds more laws, and continues the story of Israel’s time in the desert. Deuteronomy, written as a speech of Moses, serves to deepen and sum up the meaning of the covenant for Israel later on in its history.” (Page 9)
“A brief sketch based on Wellhausen’s work will show the proposed development in which the early and mostly oral traditions of Israel were gradually written down, preserved in four written documents, and then combined to make one Pentateuch.” (Page 74)
“Each book must be read in the context of the whole collection of sacred writings, and be seen as part of an ever-growing faith.” (Page 2)
“critic to make a change in the Hebrew text of the Bible in order to improve the reading is called ‘emendation” (Page 54)
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