The Blackwell Companion to the Hebrew Bible

This comprehensive Companion to the Hebrew Bible offers a broad overview and survey of Old Testament study. It consists of newly commissioned articles from an impressive range of top international Old Testament scholars, from the UK, Europe, Canada and the US. The history, archaeology, theology, sociology and ancient Near Eastern context of the Hebrew Bible are all given considerable attention, and by addressing questions of methodology and interpretation the Companion also introduces readers to important issues in the academic study of the Old Testament. The articles are written so as to be accessible to non–specialists whilst also of interest to scholars, since the contributors articulate their own position on their subject. The volume as a whole is introduced by an editorial overview of the discipline, providing the reader with a guide to the interconnections between individual articles. This Companion is an ideal tool for students, not just for use on one course, but over several years of study.

Contributors. Preface: The Hebrew Bible in Current Research. Part I: The Hebrew Bible in Modern Study . 1. Preparatory Issues in Approaching Biblical Texts: Antony F. Campbell, SJ. 2. Methods of Modern Literary Criticism: David Jobling. 3. Social Scientific Approaches: Charles E. Carter. Part II: Israelite and Early Jewish History . 4. Early Israel and the Rise of the Israelite Monarchy: Carol Meyers. 5. The History of Israel in the Monarchic Period: Leslie J. Hoppe. 6. Exile, Restoration, and Colony: Judah in the Persian Empire: Robert P. Carroll Part III: Archaeology of Ancient Israel and Early Judaism . 7. Archaeology and the History of Israel: William G. Dever. 8. Biblical and Syro–Palestinian Archaeology: William G. Dever. Part IV: The Religious and Social World of Ancient Israel and Early Judaism . 9. Canaan: Dennis Pardee. 10. The Household in Ancient Israel and Early Judaism: Joseph Blenkinsopp. 11. Archaeology, the Israelite Monarchy, and the Solomonic Temple: William G. Dever. 12. Schools and Literacy in Ancient Israel and Early Judaism: André Lemaire. Part V: Old Testament Theology . 13. Modern Approaches to Old Testament Theology: Henning Graf Reventlow. 14. Symmetry and Extremity in the Images of YHWH: Walter Brueggemann. 15. Theological Anthropology in the Hebrew Bible: Phyllis A. Bird. 16. The Community of God in the Hebrew Bible: R. E. Clements. 17. Old Testament Ethics: Bruce C. Birch. Part VI: The Torah . 18. Creation and Redemption in the Torah: Rolf Rendtorff. 19. Law and Narrative in the Pentateuch: Calum Carmichael. Part VII: The Prophets . 20. Former Prophets: The Deuteronomistic History: Hermann Spieckermann. 21. Latter Prophets: The Major Prophets: Klaus Koch. 22. Latter Prophets: The Minor Prophets: James L. Crenshaw. Part VIII: The Writings . 23. Narrative Texts: Chronicles, Ezra, and Nehemiah: Ralph W. Klein. 24. The Psalter: Erhard S. Gerstenberger. 25. Wisdom Literature: Katharine J. Dell. 26. Apocalyptic Literature: John J. Collins. Author Index. Scripture Index

Leo G. Perdue is President and Professor of the Hebrew Bible at Brite Divinity School, Texas Christian University. He is the author of six books including most recently Proverbs (2000), the editor of ten collections, and has published more than 40 essays and journal articles.

“A very well–balanced introduction to the main lines of academic readings of the Hebrew Bible … The result is exactly what editor Perdue claims: ‘a coherent, up–to–date introduction to the major areas of Old Testament biblical scholarship’. Recommended for all libraries; all readership levels and groups.” Choice “The very informative and comprehensive contributions are all written by internationally leading scholars. The companion is a welcome and helpful tool for modern biblical study and deserves attention from a wide range of readers.” Dr Konrad Schmid, University of Heidelberg " The volume will undoubtedly be a useful reference work, ... enabling undergraduate students in particular to orientate themselves when embarking on OT studies." Iwan Rhys Jones, The Evangelical Theological College of Wales Bryntirion "Most of us who teach Old Testament/Hebrew Bible continue to search for the perfect textbook. Might the Blackwell Companion signal an end to the quest,... The Blackwell Companion is a monumental work, produced from the labor of many at the apex of their scholarly careers." Esther E. Menn, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago