John J. Collins's Introduction to the Hebrew Bible is one of the most reliable and widely adopted critical textbooks at undergraduate and graduate levels alike, and for good reason. Enriched by decades of classroom teaching, it is aimed explicitly at motivated students, regardless of their previous exposure to the Bible or faith commitments. The approach is ecumenical, in the sense that it seeks not to impose any particular theological perspective but to provide information and raise questions that should be relevant to any student.Collins proceeds through the canon of the Old Testament and the Apocrypha, judiciously presenting the current state of historical, archaeological, and literary understanding of the biblical text, and engaging the student in questions of significance and interpretation for the contemporary world.The third edition is presented in a new and engaging format with new maps and images. An index has been added to the volume for the first time.
John J. Collins is Holmes Professor of Old Testament Criticism and Interpretation at Yale Divinity School and author of many works, including, from Fortress Press, Encounters with Biblical Theology (2005), Does the Bible Justify Violence? (2004), and Daniel (Hermeneia, 1994).
Maps Illustrations Preface Preface to the Second Edition Preface to the Third Edition Abbreviations Introduction: What Are the Hebrew Bible and Old Testament? PART ONE: THE TORAH/PENTATEUCH 1 The Near Eastern Context 2 The Nature of the Pentateuchal Narrative 3 The Primeval History 4 The Patriarchs 5 The Exodus from Egypt 6 The Revelation at Sinai 7 The Priestly Theology: Exodus 25-40, Leviticus, and Numbers 8 Deuteronomy PART TWO: THE DEUTERONOMISTIC HISTORY 9 The Book of Joshua 10 Judges 11 First Samuel 12 Second Samuel 13 1 Kings 1-11: Solomon and the Divided Monarchy 14 1 Kings 12-2 Kings 25: Tales of Prophets and the End of the Kingdom PART THREE: PROPHECY 15 Amos and Hosea 16 Isaiah, Micah, Nahum, and Zephaniah 17 The Babylonian Era: Habakkuk, Jeremiah, and Lamentations 18 The Exilic Period: Ezekiel and Obadiah 19 The Additions to the Book of Isaiah 20 Postexilic Prophecy: Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi, Joel, Jonah PART FOUR: THE WRITINGS 21 Ezra and Nehemiah 22 The Books of Chronicles 23 The Psalms and Song of songs 24 Proverbs 25 Job and Qoheleth 26 The Hebrew Short Story: Ruth, Esther, Tobit, and Judith 27 Daniel, 1-2 Maccabees 28 The Deuterocanonical Wisdom Books: Ben Sira, Wisdom of Solomon, and Baruch 29 From Tradition to Canon Glossary Index
