What's it all about? -- The Pentateuch in brief -- "In the beginning": the book of Genesis -- Rescue and renewal: the book of Exodus -- On holiness and life: the book of Leviticus -- In the desert: the book of Numbers -- On memory and action: the book of Deuteronomy -- Israelite historiography -- A new land and a new people: the book of Joshua -- Seeking order amid chaos: the book of Judges -- The model convert: the book of Ruth -- God, king, and people: 1-2 Samuel -- The triumph and tragedy of monarchy: 1-2 Kings -- Rethinking Israel's history: 1-2 Chronicles -- Ezra and Nehemiah: finding life after death -- The queen of comedies: the book of Esther -- Poetic and wisdom texts -- God as defendant and plaintiff: the book of Job -- The praises and laments of Israel: the book of Psalms -- Proverbs: wisdom and order of the world -- Ecclesiastes: doubt as an order of faith -- Love in the air: the Song of Songs -- Introduction to the prophetic books -- Isaiah, the prophet of salvation -- Not just a weeping prophet: Jeremiah -- Mourning a lost world: the book of Lamentations -- Ezekiel, the prophet of the rebuilt temple -- Keeping faith in a distant land: the book of Daniel -- The twelve minor prophets -- The secondary canon -- What's it all about? -- Subject index. Subject index.
Summary:
The book known as the Old Testament is actually a collection of stories, songs, prophetic addresses, wise sayings, and other bits of literature composed over centuries and compiled for the use of worshiping communities. These texts appeared in ancient Israel, reflecting its traumas and less frequent triumphs. Far from being comfortable texts that sedate over-stimulated readers, they offer critique of the powerful for the sake of those for whom the only tool of overcoming oppression is language itself. Because of the distance in time and cultural experience, the Old Testament is often inaccessible to modern readers. This introduction bridges that distance and makes the connections across time and culture come alive. The Bible assembles a wide range of literary types because of the needs of the communities first using it as they preserved the legacy of their past, good and bad, for the sake of a viable future. Their legacy continues as relevant as ever. This introduction, then, seeks to help readers make sense of the variety and hear within it points of commonality as well. The Old Testament is a book readers look to for meaning. Christian readers, especially, have difficulty connecting with the theological meanings of the texts. Mark W. Hamilton offers an introduction that addresses theological issues directly and sensitively. Considering the massive sweep of literary types and ways of expressing ideas about God, this book offers an alternative to introductions based solely on historical or literary themes.--from inside jacket flap.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.