Handbook on the Historical Books
Digital Verbum Edition
Overview
From the tumbling walls of Jericho to a Jewish girl who became the queen of Persia, the historical books of the Bible are intriguing and unquestionably fascinating. In this companion volume to his Handbook on the Pentateuch, veteran Old Testament professor Victor Hamilton demonstrates the significance of the messages contained in these biblical books. To do so, Hamilton carefully examines content, structure, and theology using rhetorical criticism, inductive Bible study techniques, published scholarship, archaeological data, word studies, and text-critical evidence. Hamilton details the events and implications of each book chapter by chapter, providing useful commentary on overarching themes and the connections and parallels between Old Testament texts. Using theological and literary analysis, this comprehensive introduction examines historical issues, attempting to uncover and discover their thrust and theological messages. For those who wish to do additional research, each chapter is appended with a bibliography.
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- Discusses various historical issues and arguments
- Examines content, structure, and theology using rhetorical criticism
- Includes an extensive bibliography and subject indexes
Top Highlights
“While some commentators (e.g., Sasson) downplay any theological significance here, most (e.g., Hals, Hubbard) find in 2:3 a major contribution to one of the book’s key theological emphases, and that is its emphasis on the hidden, yet providential, hand of God that directs the movement of a Moabite widow.” (Pages 193–194)
“The passage is about Ruth and her commitment to a future with her mother-in-law rather than to a future with a husband. Trible (1978: 173) has noted that in many respects Ruth’s leap of faith is greater than even Abraham’s in Genesis. Unlike Abraham, Ruth breaks with her past and her home, and heads west to a new land without being told by God to do so, and without any promise of blessing from God such as Abraham received (cf. Gen. 12:1–3).” (Page 192)
“So there are three different ways in which the Israelites take the land from the Canaanites: (1) expulsion (garash), (2) eviction (yarash), and (3) annihilation (kharam).” (Page 35)
“The books of First and Second Kings cover the period of history from the reign of Solomon (970–930 b.c.) to the fall of Jerusalem and the deportation of the Judean exiles to Babylon (587/86 b.c.), that is, about four centuries of biblical history.” (Page 379)
“The placement of Ruth between Judges and Samuel (by the way, the Christian canon also divides one book, Samuel, into two, First and Second Samuel) reinforces its role in legitimating the kingship of David.” (Page 188)
[An] excellent introduction. . . . The book is an important addition to the literature on the Old Testament historical books. Hamilton has clearly done his homework and has packaged his findings in good prose and a coherent, readable style.
—Eugene H. Merrill, distinguished professor of Old Testament studies, Dallas Theological Seminary, in Bibliotheca Sacra
Professor Hamilton has provided college students and anyone else serious about studying the historiographic books of the Old Testament with an excellent introduction. His careful attention to style and message bring these ancient writings to life.
—Daniel I. Block, Gunther H. Knoedler Professor of Old Testament, Wheaton College
Victor P. Hamilton (PhD, Brandeis University), now retired, was a professor of Bible and theology at Asbury University in Wilmore, Kentucky, for more than 35 years. He is the author of a two-volume commentary on Genesis and the Handbook on the Pentateuch.
Reviews
5 ratings
Darren Bradley
4/8/2021
Whyndell Grizzard
9/3/2014
Vamberto Marinho de Arruda Junior
4/28/2014
Helder Cardin
4/23/2014
Neil
4/22/2014
