The Old Testament. A Very Short Introduction

161 Pages·2008·4.39 MB·English

by  Michael Coogan

TheOldTestament:AVeryShortIntroduction
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AFRICANHISTORY JohnParkerand CHRISTIANITY LindaWoodhead
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THEAMERICANPRESIDENCY HelenMorales
CharlesO.Jones CLAUSEWITZ MichaelHoward
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THEROMANEMPIRE SPINOZA RogerScruton
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S.A.Smith TRAGEDY AdrianPoole
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Michael Coogan
The Old
Testament
A Very Short Introduction
1
3
OxfordUniversityPress,Inc.,publishesworksthatfurther
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Copyright(cid:1)2008byMichaelCoogan
PublishedbyOxfordUniversityPress,Inc.
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OxfordisaregisteredtrademarkofOxfordUniversityPress
Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthispublicationmaybereproduced,
storedinaretrievalsystem,ortransmitted,inanyformorbyanymeans,
electronic,mechanical,photocopying,recording,orotherwise,
withoutthepriorpermissionofOxfordUniversityPress.
LibraryofCongressCataloging-in-PublicationData
Coogan,MichaelDavid.
TheOldTestament:averyshortintroduction/MichaelCoogan.
p.cm.—(Veryshortintroductions)
Includesbibliographicalreferencesandindex.
ISBN978–0–19–530505–0(pbk.)
1.Bible.O.T.—Introductions. I.Title.
BS1140.3.C662008
221.6’1—dc22
2007041097
Theauthorandpublishergratefullyacknowledgepermissiontoquotefromthe
NewRevisedStandardVersionoftheBible,copyright(cid:1)1989bytheDivisionof
ChristianEducationoftheNationalCounciloftheChurchesofChristinthe
U.S.A.Usedbypermission.Allrightsreserved.
1 3 5 7 9 8 6 4 2
PrintedintheUnitedStatesofAmerica
onacid-freepaper
For Dan, Elizabeth, and Matt
Acknowledgments
Thanksarehappilygiventomanywhohavehelpedwiththisbook,
includingtheanonymousreviewersforOxfordUniversityPress;
DonaldKraus,ExecutiveEditorforBiblesatOxfordUniversity
Press;mysupportiveandinsightfuleditor,NancyToff;andmy
constantreaders,ElizabethHill,andmywife,PamelaHill.
Contents
ListofIllustrations xi
1
WhatistheOldTestament? 1
2
Interpretivestrategies 12
3
TheOldTestamentandhistory 22
4
TheOldTestamentandmyth 33
5
TheExodusfromEgypt:adeepprobe 43
6
‘‘Keepmycommandments’’:biblicallaw 53
7 ‘‘FestivalsoftheLord’’:ritualinancientIsrael 64
8
Prophetsandprophecies 74
9
HezekiahandSennacherib:anotherdeepprobe 91
10
Poetryanddissent 100
11
‘‘Letusnowpraisefamousmen’’—andwomen 111
12
TheenduringsignificanceoftheOldTestament 121