Lucidly written by a leading biblical scholar, 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, author Michael D. Coogan covers all the books of the Hebrew Bible, along with the deuterocanonical books included in the Bible used by many Christians. He treats every book of the canon with careful attention to its historical context, its particular genre, and its distinctive features. Dealing in detail with ancient Near Eastern sources and archaeological data, Coogan works from a primarily historical and critical methodology but also introduces readers to literary analysis and other interpretive strategies, especially current ones. The Old Testament: A Historical and Literary Introduction to the Hebrew Scriptures is enhanced by a glossary, timelines, photos, illustrations, maps, and a four-color insert on Jerusalem in biblical times. Strategically placed 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. Each chapter includes key terms, questions for review and discussion, and suggestions for further reading. Providing a non-denominational and non-doctrinal treatment, The Old Testament is accessible to students of all backgrounds. It offers a unique and captivating introduction to the Hebrew scriptures themselves and to how they have been--and can be--interpreted.

Preface Abbreviations Credits PART ONE. COSMIC ORIGINS 1. CREATIONS. Genesis 1-3 The Book of Genesis Genesis 1 and the Sabbath Box 1.1 Chapter and Verse Box 1.2 Genesis and Science Box 1.3 The Sabbath in Jewish and Christian Tradition The Second Account of Creation (Gen 2.4b-3.24) Box 1.4 Myth and the Bible Box 1.5 The Garden of Eden Box 1.6 "God" and "the Lord (God)" Retrospect and Prospect Box 1.7 Adam and Eve in Jewish and Christian Tradition 2. THE FORMATION OF THE PENTATEUCH The Traditional View The Development of Modern Interpretation A Summary of the Documentary Hypothesis Challenges to the Documentary Hypothesis The Formation of the Pentateuch Other Strategies for Interpreting the Pentateuch Retrospect and Prospect 3. PRIMEVAL HISTORY. Genesis 4-11 J (the Yahwist Source) Box 3.1 Cain and Abel Box 3.2 Noah's Drunkenness Box 3.3 The Sons of God Box 3.4 The Tower of Babel P (the Priestly Source) Box 3.5 The Table of Nations Box 3.6 Enoch The Flood Retrospect and Prospect PART TWO. NATIONAL ORIGINS 4. THE PROMISED LAND: GEOGRAPHY, HISTORY, AND IDEOLOGY Geography History Box 4.1 Timeline Ideology Box 4.2 The Land of Israel in Jewish and Christian Tradition Retrospect and Prospect 5. THE ANCESTORS OF ISRAEL. Genesis 12-50 The Nature of the Narratives Source Criticism Box 5.1 Abram and Abraham, Sarai and Sarah Box 5.2 The Binding of Isaac Form Criticism Box 5.3 Circumcision Ancient Near Eastern Parallels Box 5.4 The Ugaritic Texts The Joseph Narrative The Ancestors of Israel Box 5.5 Abraham, Father of Believers History and the Ancestors of Israel The Religion of the Ancestors Retrospect and Prospect 6. ESCAPE FROM EGYPT. Exodus 1-15 The Book of Exodus Exodus 1-15 Box 6.1 Hebrew and Hebrews Box 6.2 Legends of Rescue Box 6.3 The Divine Name Yahweh Box 6.4 The Hardening of the Pharaoh's Heart Box 6.5 The Development of the Passover Celebration The Exodus and History The Exodus and the History of Religions Retrospect and Prospect 7. FROM EGYPT TO SINAI. Exodus 16-24 Itineraries Incidents on the Journey Box 7.1 Manna At Sinai Excursus on Covenant Box 7.2 The Location of Sinai Box 7.3 Excerpt from a Hittite Suzerainty Treaty The Ten Commandments The Ratification of the Covenant Retrospect and Prospect Box 7.4 The Status and Numbering of the Ten Commandments 8. LAW AND RITUAL. Exodus 20.22-23.33 and 25-40 Law in the Ancient Near East Box 8.1 Excerpt from the Code of Hammurapi The Covenant Code (Ex 20.22-23.33) The Ark, the Tabernacle, and the Priestly Vestments and Ordination Box 8.2 "An Eye for an Eye" The Golden Calf Box 8.3 Forty Days and Forty Nights The Ritual Decalogue Box 8.4 An Ancient Hebrew Agricultural Calendar Sequel Retrospect and Prospect 9. RITUAL AND HOLINESS. Leviticus 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 Box 9.1 Anointing Box 9.2 Capital Punishment Excursus on Women in Israelite Ritual and Law The Ethics of Leviticus Retrospect and Prospect 10. 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 Box 10.1 The Rebellions of the Israelites in Christian and Muslim Scriptures Box 10.2 Miriam Box 10.3 The Amalekites Opposition on the Journey Box 10.4 Excerpt from the Deir Alla Texts Preparations for the Entry into the Land Retrospect and Prospect 11. THE END OF THE JOURNEY TO THE PROMISED LAND. Deuteronomy The Book of Deuteronomy Box 11.1 The Shema The Origins of Deuteronomy Box 11.2 Parallel Curses in the Treaties of Esarhaddon and in Deuteronomy The Deuteronomic School Excursus on the Character and Personality of Moses Box 11.3 The Meanings of "Torah" Retrospect and Prospect 12. JOSHUA AND THE CONQUEST OF THE LAND OF CANAAN. Joshua The Former Prophets The Deuteronomistic History The Book of Joshua Box 12.1 Parallels between Deuteronomy 27 and Joshua 8 Box 12.2 Shechem in Biblical Tradition Box 12.3 Circumcision a Second Time? Retrospect and Prospect 13. THE EMERGENCE OF ISRAEL IN THE LAND OF CANAAN. Judges and Ruth The Book of Judges Box 13.1 The Moabites and the Ammonites Box 13.2 The Song of Deborah Box 13.3 The Philistines History and the Israelite Confederation The Book of Ruth Retrospect and Prospect PART THREE. KINGS AND PROPHETS 14. THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE MONARCHY. 1 Samuel The Book(s) of Samuel 1 Samuel Box 14.1 Samuel in Other Traditions Box 14.2 Positive Assessments of Saul History Retrospect and Prospect 15. THE REIGN OF DAVID. 2 Samuel, 1 Kings 1-2, and Psalm 132 2 Samuel Box 15.1 David's Compositions Box 15.2 Jerusalem Retrospect and Prospect Box 15.3 Psalm 132 16. THE REIGN OF SOLOMON. 1 Kings 1-11 and Psalm 89 The Books of Kings 1 Kings 1-11 Box 16.1 Solomon in Later Tradition Box 16.2 The "Royal Psalms" Excursus: The Ideology of the Davidic Monarchy Box 16.3 The Psalms of Zion Box 16.4 The Royal Ideology in Later Traditions Retrospect and Prospect 17. THE DIVIDED KINGDOMS OF ISRAEL AND JUDAH FROM THE LATE TENTH TO THE EARLY EIGHTH CENTURIES BCE. 1 Kings 12-2 Kings 14 History Box 17.1 Chronology of Kings of Israel and Judah Late Tenth to Mid-Eighth Centuries BCE Institutions and Society Excursus on Prophecy Box 17.2 Prophets in Later Traditions The Legends of Elijah and Elisha Box 17.3 Elijah in Later Tradition Retrospect and Prospect 18. THE NORTHERN KINGDOM OF ISRAEL IN THE EIGHTH CENTURY BCE. 2 Kings 14-17, Amos, and Hosea History Box 18.1 Chronology of the Eighth Century BCE Prophetic Books and "Classical" Prophecy Amos Box 18.2 The Day of the Lord Hosea Box 18.3 Prophetic Attacks on Rituals Box 18.4 Marriage in Ancient Israel Box 18.5 God as Parent: Father or Mother? Retrospect and Prospect 19. 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 History Box 19.1 Chronology of the Eighth and Seventh Centuries BCE The Reign of Hezekiah Isaiah Box 19.2 Isaiah in Later Tradition The Siege of Jerusalem in 734 BCE Box 19.3 The Identity of Immanuel Box 19.4 Sennacherib's Third Campaign (701 BCE) according to the Assyrian Annals The Assyrian Invasion of Judah in 701 BCE Box 19.5 Hezekiah's Tunnel Micah Box 19.6 The King from Bethlehem Retrospect and Prospect 20. 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 History Box 20.1 Chronology of the Seventh Century BCE The Reign of Manasseh Box 20.2 Ashurbanipal's Library The Reign of Josiah The Book of Zephaniah Box 20.3 Megiddo and Armageddon The Book of Nahum Retrospect and Prospect 21. THE FALL OF JERUSALEM. 2 Kings 23.31-25.30, 2 Chronicles 36, Habakkuk, Jeremiah, and the Letter of Jeremiah History Box 21.1 Chronology of the Late Seventh and Early Sixth Centuries BCE Box 21.2 Throne Names of Kings of Judah The Book of Habakkuk Jeremiah Box 21.3 Jeremiah in Postbiblical Tradition Box 21.4 Parallels between Psalms and Jeremiah's Confessions Box 21.5 Jeremiah and the History of Bookmaking Retrospect and Prospect PART FOUR. EXILE AND RETURN 22. AFTER THE FALL: JEWS IN JUDAH AND BABYLON. Lamentations, Psalm 137, Obadiah, and Ezekiel History The Book of Lamentations Box 22.1 Acrostic Poems The Jews in Babylonia Box 22.2 Nebuchadrezzar's Wonders Psalm 137 Obadiah Ezekiel Box 22.3 Yahweh as Violent Spouse Box 22.4 Leadership in the Restored Community Box 22.5 Gog of Magog Retrospect and Prospect 23. RETURN FROM EXILE. Ezra 1-2 and Isaiah 34-35 and 40-55 History Box 23.1 Chronology of the Sixth Century BCE The Priestly Source of the Pentateuch The Exilic Edition of the Deuteronomistic History Isaiah 40-55 Box 23.2 The Development of Monotheism Box 23.3 Female Images of God Retrospect and Prospect PART FIVE. RECONSTRUCTION AND CONSOLIDATION 24. THE EARLY RESTORATION. Ezra 3-6, 1 Esdras, Haggai, Zechariah 1-8, and Isaiah 56-66 History Ezra 3-6 Box 24.1 Aramaic Box 24.2 The Books of Esdras The Book of Haggai Zechariah 1-8 Isaiah 56-66 Retrospect and Prospect 25. JUDAH IN THE FIFTH CENTURY BCE. Ezra 7-10, Nehemiah, Isaiah 24-27, Zechariah 9-14, Joel, Malachi, and 2 Esdras History Box 25.1 Chronology of the Late Sixth to the Late Fourth Centuries BCE The Books of Ezra and Nehemiah Box 25.2 The Elephantine Papyri Apocalyptic Literature The "Isaiah Apocalypse" (Isa 24-27) Zechariah 9-14 The Book of Joel The Book of Malachi Box 25.3 Second Esdras Retrospect and Prospect 26. HISTORY REWRITTEN. 1-2 Chronicles The Books of Chronicles Box 26.1 Samaria and the Samaritans Box 26.2 Arrangement of the Genealogies of the Sons of Jacob (the Tribes of Israel) Box 26.3 Comparison of 2 Samuel 24.1-9 and 1 Chronicles 21.1-7 Retrospect and Prospect 27. THE CONSOLIDATION OF TRADITIONS. Psalms and Proverbs The Book of Psalms Box 27.1 Parallelism Box 27.2 The Forms of the Psalms Box 27.3 Form-critical Analysis of Psalm 3 Excursus on Music in Ancient Israel Wisdom Literature Box 27.4 Ahiqar and Proverbs The Book of Proverbs Retrospect and Prospect PART SIX. CONTROVERSY AND CHALLENGE 28. DISSIDENTS AND LOVERS. Job, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Solomon The Book of Job Box 28.1 The Satan Box 28.2 "I Know That My Redeemer Liveth" Box 28.3 Behemoth and Leviathan Box 28.4 Job's Wife and Daughters Box 28.5 Job in Later Tradition The Book of Ecclesiastes Excursus on the Development of Beliefs in Life after Death in Ancient Israel The Song of Solomon Retrospect and Prospect 29. ENCOUNTERS WITH THE GREEKS. 1-2 Maccabees, Baruch, Sirach, The Wisdom of Solomon, and 4 Maccabees History Box 29.1 Tables of Rulers 1 Maccabees Box 29.2 The Dead Sea Scrolls Box 29.3 Hanukkah 2 Maccabees Baruch The Wisdom of Jesus, Son of Sirach (also known as Ben Sira and Ecclesiasticus) Box 29.4 Different Views of Immortality in the Hebrew and Greek Texts of Ben Sira The Wisdom of Solomon Box 29.5 Contrasts in the Divine Treatment of the Egyptians and the Israelites during the Exodus Retrospect and Prospect Box 29.6 4 Maccabees 30. HEROES UNDER FOREIGN RULERS. Jonah, Esther, Additions to Esther, Judith, Tobit, 3 Maccabees, Daniel, and Additions to Daniel The Book of Jonah The Book of Esther Box 30.1 The Festival of Purim The Book of Judith Box 30.2 Widows The Book of Tobit Box 30.3 Angels and Demons 3 Maccabees The Book of Daniel Box 30.4 "Son of Man" Box 30.5 Outline of the Visions of Successive Kingdoms in the Book of Daniel Retrospect and Prospect Appendix: The Canons of the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament Chronological Chart General Bibliography Glossary Index

Michael D. CooganProfessor of Religious Studies, Stonehill College

"Coogan's The Old Testament: A Historical and Literary Introduction to the Hebrew Scriptures stands out from the crowd and, in my opinion, is the current best choice for a critical overview of the text coupled with a solid introduction to the Bible's Near Eastern background. Everyone who teaches the Old Testament is now indebted to Michael Coogan."--Ron Tappy, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary