The Old Testament: A Historical and Literary Introduction to the Hebrew Scriptures - Softcover

Coogan, Michael D.; Chapman, Cynthia R.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 019060865X ISBN 13: 9780190608651

Publisher: Oxford University Press, 2017

Synopsis

Lucidly written by leading biblical scholars Michael D. Coogan and Cynthia R. Chapman, this balanced, engaging, and up to date introduction to the Hebrew scriptures distills the best of current scholarship. Employing the narrative chronology of the Bible itself and the history of the ancient Near East as a framework, Coogan and Chapman cover all the books of the Hebrew Bible, along with the deuterocanonical books included in the Bible used by many Christians. They work from a primarily historical and critical methodology but also introduce students to literary analysis and other interpretive strategies.

FEATURES

* Chapter pedagogy includes chapter previews and summaries, key terms, a glossary, questions for review and discussion, and suggestions for further reading

* Two introductory chapters one on the composition of the Old Testament and one on the history and geography of the ancient Near East and how it influenced the Hebrew Bible provide students with the context necessary to analyze the biblical texts

* Strategically placed text boxes address issues that often puzzle readers of the Bible, provide models of interpretation of particular texts, and discuss their significance for Judaism and Christianity

* A strong visual program includes charts, photographs, line drawings, maps, and a color insert on Jerusalem in biblical times

A FREE 6 month subscription to Oxford Biblical Studies Online (www.oxfordbiblicalstudies.com) a $180 value is included with the purchase of every new copy of the text.

About this title

About the Author

Michael D. Coogan is Lecturer on the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible at the Harvard Divinity School and Director of Publications for the Harvard Semitic Museum. He is the author of A Brief Introduction to the Old Testament, Third Edition (2015), A Reader of Ancient Near Eastern Texts (2012), and The Old Testament: A Very Short Introduction (2008), all published by Oxford University Press.

Cynthia R. Chapman is the Adelia A.F. Johnston and Harry Thomas Frank Associate Professor of Religion at Oberlin College, where she has taught biblical studies for twelve years. She is the author of The House of the Mother: The Social Function of Maternal Kin in Biblical Hebrew Narrative and Poetry (2016) and The Gendered Language of Warfare in the Israelite-Assyrian Encounter (2004).

Review

"Michael D. Coogan's The Old Testament is a comprehensive and thoughtful introduction to the body of knowledge generated by over a century of Biblical scholarship. This book lucidly and carefully introduces undergraduate students to new ways of studying a very old book, and to the fascinating and contentious field of professional Biblical scholarship."--Vickie Larsen, University of Michigan, Flint

"This is a top-quality book in all ways: great scholarship, great graphics, and careful attention to detail."--Timothy Dwyer, Roberts Wesleyan College

"The Old Testament is an excellent book for both professors and students. Coogan is thorough in his scope and economical in his prose, making complicated issues understandable for students of various levels."--Jason Gaines, Fairfield University and Mount Holyoke College

Edition details

• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Publication date: 2017
• ISBN 10: 019060865X
• ISBN 13: 9780190608651
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 4
• Number of pages: 608