THE OLD TESTAMENT: A BRIEF INTRODUCTION

"Levin paints a concise yet lucid picture of the shape and development of the Old Testament, an achievement that is certainly aided by his clear, sharply phrased style. He traverses the entire range of the Old Testament books, offering insightful comments formulated in a crisp, arresting, and provocative way."--Peter Machinist, Harvard University No other book has influenced the religion and culture of the Western world like the Bible and its largest component, the Old Testament, which is shared by Jews and Christians alike. This groundbreaking work by noted biblical scholar Christoph Levin is the most current and concise introduction to the Old Testament available today. The book fully explains the development of the Old Testament canon, as well as the editorial history underlying its various parts, including the five books of Moses, the prophetic books, and the Psalms. Examining the Old Testament in its historical context, it also sheds new light on many of the shorter books, including Jonah, Job, Ruth, the Song of Solomon, Ecclesiastes, Esther, and Daniel.