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Understanding the Old Testament, Bernhard Anderson (paperback) It's a well-written introductory text which is accessible to the serious student, strong emphasis on the biblical world from a perspective of history.	A History of Israel (Westminster Aids to the Study of the Scriptures), John Bright (hardcover). A classic text covering the history of the biblical nation.
The Contours of Old Testament Theology, Bernhard W. Anderson, (hardcover)This is the latest addition to my OT library and is a welcome text. Anderson does a wonderful job of making the Theology of the Old Testament understandable.

The New Interpreter's Bible

Volume One: Genesis to Leviticus (1994)

Volume Two: Numbers to Samuel (1998)

Volume Three: Kings to Judith (199)

Volume Five: Proverbs to Sirach (1997)

Volume Seven: The Twelve Prophets (1996)

The Legends of the Jews, Louis Ginzberg (paperback) A collection of midrashic traditions on the various characters of the Torah. A treasure trove of stories which illuminate the biblical figures.

Volume One: From the Creation to the Exodus

Volume Two: From Joseph to the Exodus

Volume Three: Moses in the Wilderness

Encyclopedia of Biblical Personalities : Anthologized from the Talmud, Midrash and Rabbinic Writings, Yishai Chasidah (hardcover) An excellent resource for those looking for details on the various traditions surrounding the key figures in the Jewish Scriptures.

Ancient Israel: Its Life and Institutions, Roland de Vaux (paperback) An excellent overview of the life and practices of the people of the Old Testament. Reprinted from a 1961 English edition.

on the periphery but interesting anyway:

Preface to Paradise Lost, C.S. Lewis (paperback) A classic introduction to Milton's text by the author know for The Screwtape Letters. Promises to be a great read.

General and Introductions

Understanding the Old Testament, Bernhard Anderson (paperback) This is the text for my Junior Honors Class in Scripture for the fall. It's a well-written introductory text which is accessible to the serious student.

The Scepter and the Star : The Messiahs of the Dead Sea Scrolls and Other Ancient Literature (The Anchor Bible Reference Library) John J. Collins (hardcover). Still another fascinating book from the ABRL. An intensive study of the development of the concept of messiah in the Biblical world. Shows how messianism developed in the intertestamental period.

The Gnostic Scriptures : A New Translation With Annotations and Introductions (The Anchor Bible Reference Library) Bentley Layton (paperback). Provides a fascinating insight into the background of Christianity and Hellenistic Judaism.

Reclaiming the Dead Sea Scrolls : The History of Judaism, the Background of Christianity, and the Lost Library of Qumran (Anchor Bible Reference Library), Lawrence H. Schiffman (paperback) From the card catalog description: "Schiffman shows us that the Scrolls library in the Dead Sea caves was gathered by a breakaway priestly sect that left Jerusalem in the aftermath of the Maccabean revolt." Certain to give food for thought.

Understanding the Old Testament, Bernhard W. Anderson (hardcover) A very well developed introductory text for students of the Old Testament. Not light reading. But worth the trip. I'm investigating it as a textbook for next year's course. Also available in paperback.

Reading the Old Testament : An Introduction, Lawrence Boadt (paperback). An overview introduction to the Old Testament.

Introduction to the Old Testament : From Its Origins to the Closing of the Alexandrian Canon (Old Testament Library), J. Alberto Soggin (hardcover)

The Gilgamesh Epic and Old Testament Parallels, Alexander Heidel (paperback). Recommended to me by a colleague. It shows the points of contact between these ancient creation stories.

A History of Israel (Westminster AIDS to the Study of the Scriptures), John Bright (hardcover).

A History of Israelite Religion in the Old Testament Period : From the Beginnings to the End of the Monarchy (Vol 1) (Old Testament Library), Rainer Albertz (hardcover)

A History of Israelite Religion in the Old Testament Period : From the Exile to the MacCabees (Vol 2) (Old Testament Library), Rainer Albertz (hardcover) .

Old Testament Theology: Vol 1 (Old Testament Library), Horst Dietrich Preuss (hardcover)

Old Testament Theology: Vol 2 (Old Testament Library), Horst Dietrich Preuss (hardcover)

Old Testament Theology Vol 1, Gerhard Von Rad (hardcover) This set is a classic!

Old Testament Theology Vol 2, Gerhard von Rad (hardcover) This set is a classic!

Theology of the Old Testament Vol 1,Walter Eichrodt (hardcover)

Theology of the Old Testament Vol 2,Walter Eichrodt (hardcover)

Across the Deadening Silence : Education in Ancient Israel (The Anchor Bible Reference Library),James L. Crenshaw (hardcover) Not yet printed, but promising as is the series.

Yahweh and the Gods of Canaan : An Historical Analysis of Two Contrasting Faiths, William Albright (hardcover)

Holy War in Ancient Israel, Gerhard Von Rad (paperback)

Sage, Priest, Prophet : Intellectual and Religious Leadership in Ancient Israel (Library of Ancient Israel), Joseph Blenkinsopp (hardcover)

Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament (2 vols), Gleason L. Archer, Bruce Waltke, Robert Laird Harris (hardcover)

The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha : Apocalyptic Literature and Testaments, Vol 1,James H. Charlesworth (Editor) a serious collection of extra-biblical texts associated with the Old Testament world.

Old Testament Pseudepigrapha : Expansions of the 'Old Testament' and Legends, Wisdom and Philosophical Literature, Prayers, Psalms, and Odes, Fragments, Vol 2, James H. Charlesworth (Editor) (hardcover).

The David Story : A Translation With Commentary of 1 and 2 Samuel, Robert Alter (hardcover)

Give Us a King : Samuel, Saul, and David, Everett Fox (hardcover)

Particular Texts

Torah - The Law

The Pentateuch : An Introduction to the First Five Books of the Bible (The Anchor Bible Reference Library) Joseph Blenkinsopp (hardcover). A contemporary scholarly introduction to the first five books of the Bible.

Genesis : A Commentary (Old Testament Library), Gerhard Von Rad (hardcover) Part of an excellent series of commentaries.

Genesis: An Introduction, Claus Westermann (paperback). This is a good indepth introduction to the book of Genesis from a modern, critical standard.

Joseph: Eleven Bible Studies on Genesis, Claus Westermann (paperback). Another good text for cracking open the ancient texts. Based on Westermann's 3 volume commentary on Genesis.

Leviticus : A Commentary (Old Testament Library) Erhard S. Gerstenberger (hardcover). Part of an excellent series of commentaries.

Deuteronomy, A Commentary (Old Testament Library), Gerhard Von Rad (hardcover) Part of an excellent series of commentaries.

Nebiim - The Prophets

Prophecy

A History of Prophecy in Israel, Joseph Blenkinsopp (paperback).

History and Prophecy : The Development of Late Judaean Literary Traditions (The Anchor Bible Reference Library) Brian Peckham (hardcover). Part of a strong series, this book gives an overview to Biblical Prophets and their texts.

The Message of the Prophets, Gerhard Von Rad (paperback) Another classic!

Former Prophets

Joshua : A Commentary (Old Testament Library), Richard D. Nelson (hardcover) Part of an excellent series of commentaries.

Latter Prophets

Major

Ezekiel : A Commentary, (Old Testament Library) Walter Eichrodt (hardcover) Part of an excellent series of commentaries.

Ezekiel II : A Commentary on the Book of the Prophet Ezekiel Chapters 25-48 (Hermeneia: A Critical and Historical Commentary on the Bible), Walther Zimmerli, (hardcover) Part of an outstanding series. Intensive bibliography and footnotes. For the serious student.

Jeremiah, a Commentary (Old Testament Library), Robert P. Carroll (hardcover) Part of an excellent series of commentaries.

Jeremiah 1 : A Commentary on the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah Chapters 1-25 (Hermeneia a Critical and Historical Commentary on the Bible) William L. Holladay, (hardcover) Part of an outstanding series. Intensive bibliography and footnotes. For the serious student.

Jeremiah 2 : A Commentary on the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah Chapters 26-52 (Hermeneia a Critical and Historical Commentary on the Bible) William L. Holladay, (hardcover) Part of an outstanding series. Intensive bibliography and footnotes. For the serious student.

Commentary on Jeremiah : Exile and Homecoming, Walter Brueggemann (paperback) From "one of the premier Old Testament scholars of our time."

Minor

The Book of Amos : A Commentary (Old Testament Library) Jorg Jeremias, Douglas W. Scott (Translator), (Hardcover)

Amos : A Commentary on the Book of Amos (Hermeneia-A Critical and Historical Commentary on the Bible), Shalom M. Paul, (hardcover) Part of an outstanding series. Intensive bibliography and footnotes. For the serious student.

Hosea : A Commentary on the Book of the Prophet Hosea (Hermeneia--A Critical and Historical Commentary on the Bible) Hans Walter. Wolff, et al )hardcover) Part of an outstanding series. Intensive bibliography and footnotes. For the serious student.

Joel and Amos : A Commentary on the Books of the Prophets Joel and Amos (Hermeneia--A Critical and Historical Commentary on the Bible) Hans Walter Wolff, et al, (hardcover) Part of an outstanding series. Intensive bibliography and footnotes. For the serious student.

Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah : A Commentary (Old Testament Library), J.J.M. Roberts (hardcover)

Ketubim - The Writings

The Lord Reigns : A Theological Handbook to the Psalms (Old Testament Library), James Luther Mays (paperback)

Wisdom in Israel, Gerhard Von Rad (paperback)

Psalms 1-59: A Continental Commentary, Hans-Joachim Kraus (hardcover) a well-researched, in-depth commentary on the Psalms.

Psalms 60-150: A Continental Commentary, Hans-Joachim Kraus (hardcover) a well-researched, in-depth commentary on the Psalms.

Theology of the Psalms, Hans-Joachim Kraus (hardcover)

The Psalms : Structure, Content and Message, Claus Westermann (paperback)

Proverbs : A Commentary (Old Testament Library), Richard J. Clifford, hardcover

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