Introducing the Old Testament: A Historical, Literary, and Theological Survey
Digital Verbum Edition
Overview
This lively, engaging introduction to the Old Testament is critical yet faith-friendly, lavishly illustrated, and accompanied by a variety of pedagogical aids. It serves as the Old Testament counterpart to Mark Allan Powell’s successful Introducing the New Testament.
Introducing the Old Testament presents disputed and controversial issues fairly, neither dictating conclusions nor privileging skepticism over faith-based perspectives. The full-color interior is illustrated with photographs and fine art and includes sidebars, maps, a glossary, and further reading suggestions.
- Includes sidebars, maps, a glossary, and further reading suggestions
- Illustrated with photographs and fine art
- Presents disputed and controversial issues fairly, neither dictating conclusions nor privileging skepticism over faith-based perspectives
This rich multidimensional study will be the state-of-the-art introduction to the Old Testament for some time to come. In addition to a book-by-book introduction, this valuable resource by these two accomplished scholars includes much useful information concerning ancient Near Eastern history, geography, and cultural context and concerning alternative theological interpretations, canon, and studies of personalities. This information-packed book is made even more attractive by insightful artwork and witty links to contemporary life. The authors note that one does not 'read' a library but 'study' it. That is what they do with the library of the Old Testament: they study it. And they invite the reader to study it with them as they guide, instruct, and persuade.
—Walter Brueggemann, Columbia Theological Seminary (emeritus)
In this impressive volume, Jacobson and Chan have sought to present readers with something that is 'beautiful, well organized, and easy to use.' They (and Baker Academic) have succeeded admirably on all of these fronts and yet still more: here is an engagement of the Old Testament that pays equal attention to its theological, literary, and historical depths, that is accompanied by numerous readerly helps, and that is handsomely illustrated and spiritedly written to boot. I predict this introduction, unlike so many others presently on the market, will have a very long shelf life, with enduring usefulness in a wide range of classroom settings.
—Brent A. Strawn, D. Moody Smith Distinguished Professor of Old Testament and professor of law, Duke University
Jacobson and Chan have produced an attractive and accessible textbook that is well-grounded in contemporary scholarship. They are evenhanded and irenic in their approach, offering balanced discussions of major issues in Old Testament interpretation. Moreover, they accomplish this with a light and humorous touch. Students will appreciate this text!
—David N. DeJong, assistant professor of biblical studies, Hope College