Table Of Content9781405125017_1_pre.qxd 11/23/07 9:59 AM Page i
Opening the Old Testament
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Praise for Opening the Old Testament
‘This is a very successful attempt to “open” the Old Testament for the reader
with no specialist knowledge. By concentrating on selected passages in detail,
Katharine Dell introduces the major themes and genres of the Bible in an acces-
sible way, and then provides the background information needed to understand
the bigger picture. Drawing on much experience in teaching the Old Testament
to students and in informing ordinary Bible readers through her work with the
Bible Reading Fellowship, she helps everyone to see how this often mysterious book
can contribute to modern thought about ethics and religious belief, as well as
how it connects with the New Testament. An invaluable guide for anyone puzzled
or intrigued by the Old Testament.’
John Barton, University of Oxford
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O p e n i n g t h e
O l d Te s t a m e n t
K a t h a r i n e D e l l
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© 2008 by Katharine Dell
blackwell publishing
350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148–5020, USA
9600 Garsington Road, Oxford OX4 2DQ, UK
550 Swanston Street, Carlton, Victoria 3053, Australia
The right of Katharine Dell to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in
accordance with the UK Copyright, Designs, and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system,
or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or
otherwise, except as permitted by the UK Copyright, Designs, and Patents Act 1988, without
the prior permission of the publisher.
Designations used by companies to distinguish their products are often claimed as trademarks.
All brand names and product names used in this book are trade names, service marks,
trademarks, or registered trademarks of their respective owners. The publisher is not
associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book.
This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to
the subject matter covered. It is sold on the understanding that the publisher is not engaged
in rendering professional services. If professional advice or other expert assistance is required,
the services of a competent professional should be sought.
First published 2008 by Blackwell Publishing Ltd
1 2008
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Dell, Katharine J. (Katharine Julia), 1961–
Opening the Old Testament : an introductory handbook / Katharine Dell.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-1-4051-2500-0 (hardcover : alk. paper)—ISBN 978-1-4051-2501-7 (pbk. : alk. paper)
1. Bible. O.T.—Introductions. I. Title.
BS1140.3.D45 2008
221.6′1—dc22
2007028729
A catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.
Set in 10.5/13pt Palatino
by Graphicraft Limited, Hong Kong
Printed and bound in Singapore
by Markono Print Media Pte Ltd
The publisher’s policy is to use permanent paper from mills that operate a sustainable forestry
policy, and which has been manufactured from pulp processed using acid-free and elementary
chlorine-free practices. Furthermore, the publisher ensures that the text paper and cover board
used have met acceptable environmental accreditation standards.
For further information on
Blackwell Publishing, visit our website at
www.blackwellpublishing.com
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Contents
List of Figures viii
List of Maps x
Preface xi
1 What is the Old Testament 1
One Psalm at a Time 4
Clarifying Terminology 5
Books and Matchboxes 7
Canons and Versions 11
Reading the Bible 15
Law, Prophets and Writings 19
The Worship Book of Ancient Israel 20
David: Shepherd Boy and King 22
Scholarship on the Psalms 24
A Selection of Psalms 27
Kingship in Israel 30
The Diversity of the Old Testament 46
Notes 47
2 How to ‘Open’ the Old Testament 55
The Bible in Order 55
Abraham and Sarah 60
History and Story 66
Archaeology and Social History 67
Scholarly Views on Early Israelite History and Religion 70
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vi Contents
Complementary Approaches 73
A Continuing History 73
Deuteronomy and the Deuteronomistic History 76
1 Samuel and King Saul 80
Oral Tradition and Narrative Art 83
History and Faith 85
The Role of Archaeological Evidence 87
Historical and Literary Concerns 88
The Chronicler’s History 89
The Chronicler’s David 90
The Chronicler’s Handling of Sources 92
The Two ‘Histories’ 93
Notes 95
3 How to ‘Open’ the Old Testament for
Ethical Guidance 100
Authoritative Texts? 100
The Ten Commandments 102
Exodus 20 105
A Broader Ethic from Proverbs 108
Proverbs 20 110
Solomon and the Queen of Sheba 115
The Story of Job in the History of Interpretation 121
Job 14 128
Wisdom and Law 129
Notes 129
4 Opening the Old Testament Theologically 135
Major Theological Themes 135
Covenant 136
The Covenant with Noah 138
The Flood Story in the Ancient Near East 141
The Covenant with Abraham 145
The Covenant with Moses 147
The Covenant with David 149
Covenant as Relationship in the Prophets 150
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Contents vii
Scholarly Evaluations of Covenant 151
Creation 152
The Prophets as Theologians 156
Exilic Prophecy in Ezekiel and Deutero-Isaiah 158
Christian Engagement with the Servant Image 161
First Isaiah 162
Isaiah 6 164
Isaiah 7, 8 and 9 167
And so to the New Testament 169
Notes 170
5 Opening Difficult or Liberating Texts 173
Selecting Texts 173
A Bloodthirsty Old Testament? 175
A Legalistic Old Testament? 177
The Relationship of Old and New Testaments 178
The Old Testament Canon in Relation to an
Emerging New Testament 179
The Use of the Old Testament in the New Testament 183
Jesus as the Fulfilment of Old Testament Relationships 187
Christian Use – or Abuse – of the Old Testament 189
Modern Approaches to Interpreting the Old Testament 190
A Liberationist Approach 192
Moses 193
Cultural Difference 200
Pick and Mix 201
A Feminist Perspective 202
Ruth 204
Feminist Scholarly Approaches 206
The Old Testament as a Rich Resource 207
Notes 209
Further Reading 211
Index 215
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Figures
1.1 A long line of books, drawn as matchboxes, to represent
the Old Testament. 8
1.2 The Shrine of the Book at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem,
where some of the Dead Sea Scrolls are now housed. 16
1.3 One of the caves at Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls
were found. 17
1.4 Dead Sea Scrolls: the Great Isaiah Scroll. 18
1.5 David/Jesus the shepherd boy by Margaret Tarrant. 21
1.6 The Jewish worship year. 32
1.7 David playing the harp. 45
2.1 A chronology of Old Testament events and literature. 57
2.2 ‘Ram in a Thicket.’ Symbolic figure of a goat about to
nibble at a tree. 62
2.3 The Israelite Tribute to Shalmaneser III of Assyria. Detail
from the Black Obelisk, Nimrud, Assyria c. 825 bce. 79
3.1 Code of Hammurabi. 103
3.2 Stone head of a woman from Sheba with her name
written on her brow in the Sabean script. 116
3.3 Papyrus from the Egyptian Instruction of Amenemope
(or Amenemopet). 117
3.4 Stevens’s reconstruction of Solomon’s Temple, showing
pillars, vestibule and side storage chambers. 119
3.5 Job comforted by his friends. 123
3.6 Statue of Sophia (Wisdom), from the ancient library at
Ephesus. 125
4.1 Mount Sinai (Jebel Musa), on the southern Sinai peninsula. 137
4.2 Mount Ararat, the traditional landing place of Noah’s Ark. 139
4.3 Tablet 11 of the Babylonian Epic of Gilgamesh containing
the Babylonian version of the flood story. 143
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List of Figures ix
4.4 Chart of similarities between flood stories. 144
4.5 Relief: ‘On the Shores of Babylon.’ 159
4.6 The Cyrus Cylinder. 160
5.1 Scripture written on a scroll. 182
5.2 A line of books, drawn as matchboxes, to represent the
New Testament. 184
5.3 Stone carving from Capernaum thought to depict the
Ark of the Covenant. 189
5.4 Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives. 196
5.5 Moses holding the tablets of stone. 198
5.6 The Judaean hills viewed from the foothills of Moab. 199
5.7 William Blake’s drawing of Naomi entreating Ruth
and Orpah. 205
