A comprehensive and accessible guide to the Hebrew BibleThis book brings together some of the world's most exciting scholars from across a variety of disciplines to provide a concise and accessible guide to the Hebrew Bible. It covers every major genre of book in the Old Testament together with in-depth discussions of major themes such as human nature, covenant, creation, ethics, ritual and purity, sacred space, and monotheism. This authoritative overview sets each book within its historical and cultural context in the ancient Near East, paying special attention to its sociological setting. It provides new insights into the reception of the books and the different ways they have been studied, from historical-critical enquiry to modern advocacy approaches such as feminism and liberation theology. It also includes a guide to biblical translations and textual criticism and helpful suggestions for further reading.Featuring contributions from experts with backgrounds in the Jewish and Christian faith traditions as well as secular scholars in the humanities and social sciences, The Hebrew Bible is the perfect starting place for anyone seeking a user-friendly introduction to the Old Testament, and an invaluable reference book for students and teachers.

Introduction ixJohn Barton
List of Contributors xi
Part I. The Hebrew Bible in Its Historical and Social Context 1
1. The Hebrew Bible and the Old Testament 3
John Barton
2. The Historical Framework 24
Biblical and Scholarly Portrayals of the Past
Francesca Stavrakopoulou
3. The Social and Cultural History of Ancient Israel 54
Katherine Southwood
4. Israel in the Context of the Ancient Near East 86
Anthony J. Frendo
Part II. Major Genres of Biblical Literature 107
5. The Narrative Books of the Hebrew Bible 109
Thomas Römer
6. The Prophetic Literature 133
R. G. Kratz
7. Legal Texts 160
Assnat Bartor
8. The Wisdom Literature 183
Jennie Grillo
9. The Psalms and Poems of the Hebrew Bible 206
Susan Gillingham
Part III. Major Religious Themes 237
10. Monotheism 239
Benjamin D. Sommer
11. Creation 271
God and World
Hermann Spieckermann
12. The Human Condition 293
Hilary Marlow
13. God's Covenants with Humanity and Israel 312
Dominik Markl
14. Ethics 338
C. L. Crouch
15. Religious Space and Structures 356
Stephen C. Russell
16. Ritual 378
Diet, Purity, and Sacrifice
Seth D. Kunin
Part IV. The Study and Reception of the Hebrew Bible 403
17. Reception of the Old Testament 405
Alison Gray
18. Historical-Critical Inquiry 431
Christoph Bultmann
19. Literary Approaches 455
David Jasper
20. Theological Approaches to the Old Testament 481
R.W.L. Moberly
21. Political and Advocacy Approaches 507
Eryl W. Davies
22. Textual Criticism and Biblical Translation 532
Carmel McCarthy
23. To Map or Not to Map? 556
A Biblical Dilemma
Adrian Curtis
Index of Scripture 575
Index of Modern Authors 589
Index of Subjects 596