Opening the Old Testament

"Colleagues who have been teaching introductory Hebrew Bible should know that there is now a truly creative and absolutely reader-friendly introductory textbook on the market."
–Kristin de Troyer, Claremont School of Theology

"This is a very successful attempt to 'open' the Old Testament for the reader with no specialist knowledge. By concentrating on selected passages in detail, Katharine Dell introduces the major themes and genres of the Bible in an accessible way, and then provides the background information needed to understand the bigger picture. An invaluable guide for anyone puzzled or intrigued by the Old Testament."
–John Barton, University of Oxford

Katharine Dell (Author)

9781405125000, Wiley

Hardback, published 1 February 2008

240 pages
24.1 x 19.7 x 2.3 cm, 0.617 kg

"A traditional, pious Christian will find in this book encouragement to open the Old Testament.... A reader will learn that the Old Testament is more diverse (and perhaps more interesting) than he or she may have expected." (Expository Times, March 2009)

This succinct and innovative book shows readers how to read and appreciate the Old Testament: as history, as literature or as theology. Offering an ideal ‘taster’ of Old Testament themes and issues, the book encourages students to explore various forms of interpretation and develop a lively interaction with the texts.

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• Ideal for those with little experience and knowledge of the Old Testament who need an introduction to how to read it, and why it is still relevant to our world today
  
• Integrates key themes and approaches in Old Testament scholarship, including theological, literary, and historical interpretations
  
• Written from a predominantly Christian perspective, covering issues relating to the nature of the Old Testament, its authority, and contemporary relevance.

List of Figures.

List of Maps.

Subject Areas: Religion & beliefs [HR]