Summary

Engaging and accessible to students from all backgrounds, A Brief Introduction to the Old Testament: The Hebrew Bible in Its Context is an updated, concise, and more pedagogical version of Michael D. Coogan's best-selling The Old Testament: A Historical and Literary Introduction to the Hebrew Scriptures (OUP, 2005). Focuses on Historical Content while also Addressing Other Interpretive Approaches Retaining the historical and literary perspective of the longer text, this concise edition is enhanced by two new introductory chapters that provide students with the context necessary to analyze the biblical texts--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. Relying on internal evidence, scholarly consensus, and current research, Coogan deals in detail with ancient Near Eastern sources and archaeological data. He works from a primarily historical and critical methodology but also introduces students to literary analysis and other interpretive strategies. Offering the most balanced and comprehensive introduction available, Coogan examines all the books of the Hebrew Bible and also considers additional writings from the ancient Near East. The Apocryphal / Deuterocanonical books are included in an appendix. A Brief Introduction to the Old Testament: The Hebrew Bible in Its Context is enhanced by: * Chapter introductions connecting each chapter to the preceding material and previewing the material to come * Chapter summaries that highlight key points and link each chapter to the rest of the book * Important terms, boldfaced at their first appearance and defined in a glossary of more than 100 words * Numerous strategically placed text boxes--some new to this concise edition--that offer interesting and useful supplementary information * Timelines, photos, illustrations, maps, and a four-color insert on Jerusalem in biblical times * Review questions, suggestions for further reading, annotated bibliographies at the end of each chapter, and a general bibliography * An Instructor's Manual (in both print and CD formats) and a Companion Website at www.oup.com/us/coogan that contains resources for both students and instructors Providing a nondenominational and nondoctrinal treatment, A Brief Introduction to the Old Testament offers a unique and captivating introduction to the Hebrew scriptures themselves and to how they have been--and can be--interpreted.

Preface
Abbreviations
Credits
Introductory
What is the Old Testament?
Chapter and Verse
The Jewish Canon
The Christian Canons
The Canons of the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament
A Look Back and Ahead
The Promised Land: Geography, History, and ImportanceGeographyHistory
TimelineImportanceA Look Back and Ahead
Cosmic Origins
Creations Genesis 1-3
The Book of Genesis
Genesis 1 and the Sabbath
Genesis and Science
The Sabbath in Jewish and Christian Tradition
The Second Account of Creation (Gen 2.4b-3.24)
The Garden of Eden
Adam and Eve in Jewish and Christian Tradition
A Look Back and Ahead
The Formation of the Pentateuch, and the Primeval History Genesis 4-11
The Traditional View
The Development of Modern Interpretation
A Summary of the Documentary Hypothesis
Challenges to the Documentary Hypothesis
Other Strategies for Interpreting the Pentateuch J (the Yahwist Source)
Cain and Abel
Noah's Drunkenness
The Sons of God
The Tower of BabelP (the Priestly Source)
The Table of Nations
The FloodA Look Back and Ahead
National Origins
The Ancestors of Israel Genesis 12-25
The Nature of the Narratives
Source Criticism
Abram and Abraham, Sarai and Sarah
The Binding of Isaac
Form Criticism
Circumcision
Ancient Near Eastern Parallels
The Ugaritic Texts
The Joseph Narrative
The Ancestors of Israel
Abraham, Father of Believers
History and the Ancestors of Israel
The Religion of the Ancestors
A Look Back and Ahead
Escape from Egypt Exodus 1-15
The Book of Exodus
Exodus 1-15
Legends of Rescue
The Divine Name Yahweh
The Hardening of the Pharaoh's Heart
The Development of the Passover Celebration
The Exodus and History
The Exodus and the History of Religions
A Look Back and Ahead
From Egypt to Sinai Exodus 16-24
Itineraries
Incidents on the Journey
Manna
At Sinai
The Location of Sinai
Location of Sinai Covenant
The Ten Commandments
The Status and Numbering of the Ten Commandments
The Ratification of the Covenant A Look Back and Ahead
Law, Ritual, and Holiness Exodus 20.22-23.33 and 25-40, and Leviticus
Law in the Ancient Near East
Excerpt from the Code of Hammurapi
The Covenant Code (Ex 20.22-23.33)The Ark, the Tabernacle, and the Priestly
Vestments and Ordination
"An Eye for an Eye"The Golden Calf
Forty Days and Forty Nights
The Ritual Decalogue
An Ancient Hebrew Agricultural CalendarSequel
The Book of Leviticus
Sacrifices (Lev 1-7)The Consecration Ceremonies and Their Aftermath (Lev 8-10)Purity and Impurity (Lev 11-15)
The Day of Atonement
The Holiness Code
Capital Punishment
Women in Israelite Ritual and Law
The Ethics of Leviticus
A Look Back and Ahead
In the Wilderness Numbers
The Book of Numbers
Preparations for the Journey
Law, Ritual, and Purity
The Chronology and Geography of the Wanderings
Rebellions in the Wilderness
Miriam
Opposition on the Journey
Excerpt from the Deir Alla Texts
Preparations for the Entry into the Land
A Look Back and Ahead
The End of the Journey to the Promised Land Deuteronomy
The Book of Deuteronomy
The ShemaThe Origins of Deuteronomy
The Deuteronomic School
The Character and Personality of Moses
The Meanings of Torah
A Look Back and Ahead
Joshua and the Conquest of the Land of Canaan Joshua
The Deuteronomistic History
The Book of Joshua
History and the Book of Joshua
Shechem in Biblical Tradition
A Look Back and Ahead
The Emergence of Israel in the Land of Canaan Judges and Ruth
The Book of Judges
The Moabites and the Ammonites
The Song of Deborah
The PhilistinesHistory and the Israelite Confederation
The Book of Ruth
A Look Back and Ahead

The Establishment of the Monarchy 1 Samuel
The Books of Samuel1 Samuel
Positive Assessments of Saul
History
A Look Back and Ahead
The Reign of David 2 Samuel, 1 Kings 1-22 Samuel
Davi
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