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

by Coogan, Michael D.

• ISBN13: 9780195139105
• ISBN10: 0195139100
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2005-12-01
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

Lucidly written by a leading biblical scholar, this balanced, engaging,and up-to date introduction to the Hebrew scriptures distills the best ofcurrent scholarship. Employing the narrative chronology of the Bible itself andthe history of the ancient Near East as a framework, author Michael Coogancovers all the books of the Hebrew Bible, along with the deuterocanonical booksincluded in the Bible used by many Christians. He treats every book of the canonwith careful attention to its historical context, its particular genre, and itsdistinctive features. Dealing in detail with ancient Near Eastern sources andarchaeological data, Coogan works from a primarily historical and criticalmethodology but also introduces readers to literary analysis and otherinterpretive strategies, especially current ones. The Old Testament: A Historical and Literary Introduction to the HebrewScriptures is enhanced by a glossary, timelines, photos, illustrations, maps,and a four-color insert on Jerusalem in biblical times. Strategically placedboxes address issues that often puzzle readers of the Bible, provide models ofinterpretation of particular texts, and discuss their significance for Judaismand Christianity. Each chapter includes key terms, questions for review anddiscussion, and suggestions for further reading. Providing a non-denominationaland non-doctrinal treatment, The Old Testament is accessible to students of allbackgrounds. It offers a unique and captivating introduction to the Hebrewscriptures themselves and to how they have been--and can be--interpreted.

Table of Contents

Preface	xvii
Abbreviations	xix
Credits	xx
Part One Cosmic Origins
Creations Genesis 1--3	3	(18)
The Book of Genesis	3	(1)
Genesis 1 and the Sabbath	3	(7)
Box 1.1 Chapter and Verse	4	(2)
Box 1.2 Genesis and Science	6	(2)
Box 1.3 The Sabbath in Jewish and Christian Tradition	8	(2)
The Second Account of Creation (Gen 2.4b--3.24)	10	(7)
Box 1.4 Myth and the Bible	11	(1)
Box 1.5 The Garden of Eden	12	(1)
Box 1.6 ``God'' and ``the Lord (God)''	13	(4)
Retrospect and Prospect	17	(4)
Box 1.7 Adam and Eve in Jewish and Christian Tradition	18	(3)
The Formation of the Pentateuch	21	(10)
The Traditional View	21	(1)
The Development of Modern Interpretation	22	(1)
A Summary of the Documentary Hypothesis	23	(4)
Challenges to the Documentary Hypothesis	27	(1)
The Formation of the Pentateuch	28	(1)
Other Strategies for Interpreting the Pentateuch	28	(1)
Retrospect and Prospect	29	(2)
Primeval History Genesis 4--11	31	(14)
J (the Yahwist Source)	31	(5)
Box 3.1 Cain and Abel	32	(1)
Box 3.2 Noah's Drunkenness	33	(1)
Box 3.3 The Sons of God	34	(1)
Box 3.4 The Tower of Babel	35	(1)
P (the Priestly Source)	36	(3)
Box 3.5 The Table of Nations	36	(2)
Box 3.6 Enoch	38	(1)
The Flood	39	(2)
Retrospect and Prospect	41	(4)
Part Two National Origins
The Promised Land: Geography, History, and Ideology	45	(18)
Geography	45	(9)
History	54	(5)
Box 4.1 Timeline	55	(4)
Ideology	59	(2)
Box 4.2 The Land of Israel in Jewish and Christian Tradition	60	(1)
Retrospect and Prospect	61	(2)
The Ancestors of Israel Genesis 12--50	63	(22)
The Nature of the Narratives	63	(1)
Source Criticism	64	(5)
Box 5.1 Abram and Abraham, Sarai and Sarah	65	(3)
Box 5.2 The Binding of Isaac	68	(1)
Form Criticism	69	(4)
Box 5.3 Circumcision	70	(3)
Ancient Near Eastern Parallels	73	(2)
Box 5.4 The Ugaritic Texts	74	(1)
The Joseph Narrative	75	(1)
The Ancestors of Israel	76	(3)
Box 5.5 Abraham, Father of Believers	76	(3)
History and the Ancestors of Israel	79	(2)
The Religion of the Ancestors	81	(1)
Retrospect and Prospect	82	(3)
Escape from Egypt Exodus 1--15	85	(20)
The Book of Exodus	85	(1)
Exodus 1--15	86	(10)
Box 6.1 Hebrew and Hebrews	86	(2)
Box 6.2 Legends of Rescue	88	(1)
Box 6.3 The Divine Name Yahweh	89	(2)
Box 6.4 The Hardening of the Pharaoh's Heart	91	(3)
Box 6.5 The Development of the Passover Celebration	94	(2)
The Exodus and History	96	(5)
The Exodus and the History of Religions	101	(2)
Retrospect and Prospect	103	(2)
From Egypt to Sinai Exodus 16--24	105	(15)
Itineraries	105	(1)
Incidents on the Journey	105	(2)
Box 7.1 Manna	106	(1)
At Sinai	107	(1)
Excursus on Covenant	107	(7)
Box 7.2 The Location of Sinai	108	(3)
Box 7.3 Excerpt from a Hittite Suzerainty Treaty	111	(3)
The Ten Commandments	114	(3)
The Ratification of the Covenant	117	(1)
Retrospect and Prospect	117	(3)
Box 7.4 The Status and Numbering of the Ten Commandments	118	(2)
Law and Ritual Exodus 20.22--23.33 and 25--40	120	(18)
Law in the Ancient Near East	120	(2)
Box 8.1 Excerpt from the Code of Hammurapi	122	(1)
The Covenant Code (Ex 20.22--23.33)	122	(3)
The Ark, the Tabernacle, and the Priestly Vestments and Ordination	125	(5)
Box 8.2 ``An Eye for an Eye''	126	(4)
The Golden Calf	130	(3)
Box 8.3 Forty Days and Forty Nights	131	(2)
The Ritual Decalogue	133	(3)
Box 8.4 An Ancient Hebrew Agricultural Calendar	135	(1)
Sequel	136	(1)
Retrospect and Prospect	136	(2)
Ritual and Holiness Leviticus	138	(15)
The Book of Leviticus	138	(1)
Sacrifices (Lev 1--7)	139	(3)
The Consecration Ceremonies and Their Aftermath (Lev 8--10)	142	(1)
Purity and Impurity (Lev 11--15)	142	(2)
The Day of Atonement	144	(1)
The Holiness Code	145	(4)
Box 9.1 Anointing	148	(1)
Box 9.2 Capital Punishment	149	(1)
Excursus on Women in Israelite Ritual and Law	149	(1)
The Ethics of Leviticus	150	(1)
Retrospect and Prospect	151	(2)
In the Wilderness Numbers	153	(20)
The Book of Numbers	153	(1)
Preparations for the Journey	153	(2)
Law, Ritual, and Purity	155	(3)
The Chronology and Geography of the Wanderings	158	(1)
Rebellions in the Wilderness	159	(7)
Box 10.1 The Rebellions of the Israelites in Christian and Muslim Scriptures	160	(2)
Box 10.2 Miriam	162	(1)
Box 10.3 The Amalekites	163	(3)
Opposition on the Journey	166	(4)
Box 10.4 Excerpt from the Deir Alla Texts	169	(1)
Preparations for the Entry into the Land	170	(1)
Retrospect and Prospect	171	(2)
The End of the Journey to the Promised Land Deuteronomy	173	(18)
The Book of Deuteronomy	173	(7)
Box 11.1 The Shema	176	(4)
The Origins of Deuteronomy	180	(3)
Box 11.2 Parallel Curses in the Treaties of Esarhaddon and in Deuteronomy	182	(1)
The Deuteronomic School	183	(1)
Excursus on the Character and Personality of Moses	183	(6)
Box 11.3 The Meanings of ``Torah''	184	(5)
Retrospect and Prospect	189	(2)
Joshua and the Conquest of the Land of Canaan Joshua	191	(20)
The Former Prophets	191	(1)
The Deuteronomistic History	191	(2)
The Book of Joshua	193	(15)
Box 12.1 Parallels between Deuteronomy 27 and Joshua 8	200	(4)
Box 12.2 Shechem in Biblical Tradition	204	(4)
Box 12.3 Circumcision a Second Time?	208	(1)
Retrospect and Prospect	208	(3)
The Emergence of Israel in the Land of Canaan Judges and Ruth	211	(20)
The Book of Judges	211	(10)
Box 13.1 The Moabites and the Ammonites	215	(1)
Box 13.2 The Song of Deborah	216	(4)
Box 13.3 The Philistines	220	(1)
History and the Israelite Confederation	221	(5)
The Book of Ruth	226	(1)
Retrospect and Prospect	227	(4)
Part Three Kings and Prophets
The Establishment of the Monarchy 1 Samuel	231	(17)
The Book(s) of Samuel	231	(1)
1 Samuel	232	(7)
Box 14.1 Samuel in Other Traditions	236	(1)
Box 14.2 Positive Assessments of Saul	237	(2)
History	239	(7)
Retrospect and Prospect	246	(2)
The Reign of David 2 Samuel, 1 Kings 1--2, and Psalm 132	248	(18)
2 Samuel	248	(14)
Box 15.1 David's Compositions	250	(7)
Box 15.2 Jerusalem	257	(5)
Retrospect and Prospect	262	(4)
Box 15.3 Psalm 132	263	(3)
The Reign of Solomon 1 Kings 1--11 and Psalm 89	266	(41)
The Books of Kings	266	(1)
1 Kings 1--11	266	(11)
Box 16.1 Solomon in Later Tradition	270	(6)
Box 16.2 The ``Royal Psalms''	276	(1)
Excursus: The Ideology of the Davidic Monarchy	277	(7)
Box 16.3 The Psalms of Zion	279	(5)
Box 16.4 The Royal Ideology in Later Traditions	284	(1)
Retrospect and Prospect	284	(3)
The Divided Kingdoms of Israel and Judah from the Late Tenth to the Early Eighth Centuries BCE
1 Kings 12--2 Kings 14	287	(7)
History	287	(3)
Box 17.1 Chronology of Kings of Israel and Judah Late Tenth to Mid-Eighth Centuries BCE	290	(4)
Institutions and Society	294	(3)
Excursus on Prophecy	297	(6)
Box 17.2 Prophets in Later Traditions	299	(4)
The Legends of Elijah and Elisha	303	(3)
Box 17.3 Elijah in Later Tradition	305	(1)
Retrospect and Prospect	306	(1)
The Northern Kingdom of Israel in the Eighth Century BCE 2 Kings 14--17, Amos, and Hosea	307	(20)
History	307	(3)
Box 18.1 Chronology of the Eighth Century BCE	308	(2)
Prophetic Books and ``Classical'' Prophecy	310	(1)
Amos	311	(7)
Box 18.2 The Day of the Lord	316	(2)
Hosea	318	(7)
Box 18.3 Prophetic Attacks on Rituals	319	(1)
Box 18.4 Marriage in Ancient Israel	320	(2)
Box 18.5 God as Parent: Father or Mother?	322	(3)
Retrospect and Prospect	325	(2)
The Kingdom of Judah in the Eighth and Early Seventh Centuries BCE 2 Kings 15--20, 2 Chronicles 29--32, Isaiah 1--39, and Micah	327	(22)
History	327	(1)
Box 19.1 Chronology of the Eighth and Seventh Centuries BCE	328	(1)
The Reign of Hezekiah	328	(2)
Isaiah	330	(6)
Box 19.2 Isaiah in Later Tradition	334	(2)
The Siege of Jerusalem in 734 BCE	336	(3)
Box 19.3 The Identity of Immanuel	337	(1)
Box 19.4 Sennacherib's Third Campaign (701 BCE) according to the Assyrian Annals	338	(1)
The Assyrian Invasion of Judah in 701 BCE	339	(7)
Box 19.5 Hezekiah's Tunnel	344	(2)
Micah	346	(1)
Box 19.6 The King from Bethlehem	347	(1)
Retrospect and Prospect	347	(2)
Judah in the Seventh Century BCE: The End of Assyrian Domination 2 Kings 21--23, 2 Chronicles 33--35, Zephaniah, Nahum, and the Prayer of Manasseh	349	(10)
History	349	(2)
Box 20.1 Chronology of the Seventh Century BCE	351	(1)
The Reign of Manasseh	351	(2)
Box 20.2 Ashurbanipal's Library	352	(1)
The Reign of Josiah	353	(2)
The Book of Zephaniah	355	(2)
Box 20.3 Megiddo and Armageddon	356	(1)
The Book of Nahum	357	(1)
Retrospect and Prospect	357	(2)
The Fall of Jerusalem 2 Kings 23.31--25.30, 2 Chronicles 36, Habakkuk, Jeremiah, and the Letter of Jeremiah	359	(22)
History	359	(6)
Box 21.1 Chronology of the Late Seventh and Early Sixth Centuries BCE	360	(2)
Box 21.2 Throne Names of Kings of Judah	362	(3)
The Book of Habakkuk	365	(1)
Jeremiah	366	(10)
Box 21.3 Jeremiah in Postbiblical Tradition	369	(2)
Box 21.4 Parallels between Psalms and Jeremiah's Confessions	371	(5)
Box 21.5 Jeremiah and the History of Bookmaking	376	(1)
Retrospect and Prospect	376	(5)
Part Four Exile and Return
After the Fall: Jews in Judah and Babylon Lamentations, Psalm 137, Obadiah, and Ezekiel	381	(20)
History	381	(1)
The Book of Lamentations	382	(2)
Box 22.1 Acrostic Poems	383	(1)
The Jews in Babylonia	384	(1)
Box 22.2 Nebuchadrezzar's Wonders	384	(1)
Psalm 137	385	(1)
Obadiah	386	(1)
Ezekiel	386	(13)
Box 22.3 Yahweh as Violent Spouse	391	(5)
Box 22.4 Leadership in the Restored Community	396	(1)
Box 22.5 Gog of Magog	397	(2)
Retrospect and Prospect	399	(2)
Return from Exile Ezra 1--2 and Isaiah 34--35 and 40--55	401	(18)
History	401	(4)
Box 23.1 Chronology of the Sixth Century BCE	402	(3)
The Priestly Source of the Pentateuch	405	(2)
The Exilic Edition of the Deuteronomistic History	407	(1)
Isaiah 40--55	408	(6)
Box 23.2 The Development of Monotheism	413	(1)
Box 23.3 Female Images of God	414	(1)
Retrospect and Prospect	414	(5)
Part Five Reconstruction and Consolidation
The Early Restoration Ezra 3--6, 1 Esdras, Haggai, Zechariah 1--8, and Isaiah 56--66	419	(11)
History	419	(2)
Ezra 3--6	421	(2)
Box 24.1 Aramaic	422	(1)
Box 24.2 The Books of Esdras	423	(1)
The Book of Haggai	423	(1)
Zechariah 1--8	424	(3)
Isaiah 56--66	427	(1)
Retrospect and Prospect	428	(2)
Judah in the Fifth Century BCE Ezra 7--10, Nehemiah, Isaiah 24--27, Zechariah 9--14, Joel, Malachi, and 2 Esdras	430	(16)
History	430	(1)
Box 25.1 Chronology of the Late Sixth to the Late Fourth Centuries BCE	431	(1)
The Books of Ezra and Nehemiah	431	(5)
Box 25.2 The Elephantine Papyri	434	(2)
Apocalyptic Literature	436	(2)
The ``Isaiah Apocalypse'' (Isa 24--27)	438	(1)
Zechariah 9--14	439	(2)
The Book of Joel	441	(1)
The Book of Malachi	441	(2)
Box 25.3 Second Esdras	443	(1)
Retrospect and Prospect	443	(3)
History Rewritten 1--2 Chronicles	446	(10)
The Books of Chronicles	446	(8)
Box 26.1 Samaria and the Samaritans	450	(1)
Box 26.2 Arrangement of the Genealogies of the Sons of Jacob (the Tribes of Israel)	451	(1)
Box 26.3 Comparison of 2 Samuel 24.1--9 and 1 Chronicles 21.1--7	452	(2)
Retrospect and Prospect	454	(2)
The Consolidation of Traditions Psalms and Proverbs	456	(23)
The Book of Psalms	456	(10)
Box 27.1 Parallelism	461	(1)
Box 27.2 The Forms of the Psalms	462	(1)
Box 27.3 Form-critical Analysis of Psalm 3	463	(3)
Excursus on Music in Ancient Israel	466	(2)
Wisdom Literature	468	(4)
Box 27.4 Ahiqar and Proverbs	471	(1)
The Book of Proverbs	472	(3)
Retrospect and Prospect	475	(4)
Part Six Controversy and Challenge
Dissidents and Lovers Job, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Solomon	479	(20)
The Book of Job	479	(11)
Box 28.1 The Satan	483	(3)
Box 28.2 ``I Know That My Redeemer Liveth''	486	(1)
Box 28.3 Behemoth and Leviathan	487	(2)
Box 28.4 Job's Wife and Daughters	489	(1)
Box 28.5 Job in Later Tradition	489	(1)
The Book of Ecclesiastes	490	(2)
Excursus on the Development of Beliefs in Life after Death in Ancient Israel	492	(3)
The Song of Solomon	495	(2)
Retrospect and Prospect	497	(2)
Encounters with the Greeks 1--2 Maccabees, Baruch, Sirach, the Wisdom of Solomon, and 4 Maccabees	499	(26)
History	499	(8)
Box 29.1 Tables of Rulers	502	(5)
1 Maccabees	507	(3)
Box 29.2 The Dead Sea Scrolls	508	(1)
Box 29.3 Hanukkah	509	(1)
2 Maccabees	510	(1)
Baruch	511	(1)
The Wisdom of Jesus, Son of Sirach (also known as Ben Sira and Ecclesiasticus)	512	(6)
Box 29.4 Different Views of Immortality in the Hebrew and Greek Texts of Ben Sira	515	(3)
The Wisdom of Solomon	518	(4)
Box 29.5 Contrasts in the Divine Treatment of the Egyptians and the Israelites during the Exodus	522	(1)
Retrospect and Prospect	522	(3)
Box 29.6 4 Maccabees	523	(2)
Heroes Under Foreign Rulers Jonah, Esther, Additions to Esther, Judith, Tobit, 3 Maccabees, Daniel, and Additions to Daniel	525	(20)
The Book of Jonah	525	(2)
The Book of Esther	527	(3)
Box 30.1 The Festival of Purim	529	(1)
The Book of Judith	530	(3)
Box 30.2 Widows	532	(1)
The Book of Tobit	533	(3)
Box 30.3 Angels and Demons	534	(2)
3 Maccabees	536	(1)
The Book of Daniel	536	(7)
Box 30.4 ``Son of Man''	541	(1)
Box 30.5 Outline of the Visions of Successive Kingdoms in the Book of Daniel	542	(1)
Retrospect and Prospect	543	(2)
Appendix: The Canons of the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament	545	(5)
Chronology	550	(8)
General Bibliography	558	(2)
Glossary	560	(6)
Index	566