Table of Contents

Contents List of Maps and Tables ix The Design and Use of the Book xi Acknowledgments xix Abbreviations xx 1 FUNDAMENTALS About the Old Testament 2 The Big Story Line/Plotline 3 Reorientation 6 Expectations and Procedures 8 Writing and Books 19 2 PENTATEUCH Original Meaning Old Testament Story Line 28 History Story Line 41 Literary Perspective 51 Bridging Contexts Plotline of the Pentateuch 67 Purpose of Each Book 70 Dealing with Story 83 Theological Perspectives 86 Contrast: Religious Belief in the Ancient World 102 Contemporary Significance Scenario: Evolution and the Bible 108 Recapitulation 110 The Fall Today 114 Significance of the Faith of Abraham 115 Old Covenant/New Covenant 117 What Are All of These Laws Doing in My Bible If the Law Is Obsolete? 117 Scenario: Law 118 Recapitulation 120 What Does Sacred Space Mean to Me? 121 A Sense of the Holy 124 3 HISTORICAL LITERATURE Original Meaning Old Testament Story Line 136 World History Story Line 155 Literary Perspective 173 Bridging Contexts Plotline of the Historical Literature 180 Purpose of Each Book 189 Understanding Historical Literature 196 Pedestals and Role Models 200 Theological Perspectives 205 Contemporary Significance History Seems Boring and Irrelevant to Me--Help! 213 Scenario: Using Historical Literature Today 216 Recapitulation 217 How Can We View History Biblically? 220 How Should We View the Bible Historically? 224 4 PROPHETS Original Meaning Story Line of the Prophets in Their Times 232 Literary Perspective 237 Bridging Contexts Purpose of Prophetic Books 244 Prediction, Prophets, and God 250 Fulfillment and Revelation 252 Theological Perspectives 254 Contemporary Significance Scenario: Read Today's Headlines in the Bible 264 Thinking about Prophecy 265 Indictment Today 267 Judgment Today 274 Instruction Today 275 Aftermath Today 276 Recapitulation 283 5 WISDOM LITERATURE Original Meaning What Is Wisdom? 283 Retribution Principle 292 Story Line: Job 293 Literary Perspective 295 Bridging Contexts Proverbs and Truth 301 Purpose Book by Book 305 Theological Perspectives 316 Contemporary Significance Scenario: Retribution Principle Today 321 Recapitulation 322 When Life Goes Wrong 322 Seeking Fulfillment in Life 327 Proverbs and the Family 331 The Power of Sex 335 6 PSALMS Original Meaning Summary of Content 343 Literary Perspective 346 Bridging Contexts Purpose: Kingship in Psalms 355 Psalms as Revelation 361 Theological Perspectives 362 Contemporary Significance Contemporary Worship and the Psalms 371 What Do We Expect from God and What Does He Expect from Us? 372 Scenario: Trusting God When He Doesn't Seem to Hear 373 Recapitulation 374 Devotional Use of Psalms 377 7 EPILOGUE Plotline of the Old Testament Continued to the New Testament 382 How Do the Old and New Testaments Relate? 384 Were Israelites "Saved"? 388 Interpreting the Old Testament in Light of the New and the New in Light of the Old 389 What Have We Learned? 392 Overall Theme 394 What to Do with It 394 You Will Know That I Am Yahweh 396 Appendix: Reading through the Old Testament 398 Glossary 401 Index 405

About the Author

Andrew E. Hill (PhD, University of Michigan) is professor of Old Testament studies at Wheaton College in Illinois. He is coauthor with John Walton of A Survey of the Old Testament and the author of the Anchor Bible Commentary: Malachi. His articles have appeared in such scholarly publications as the Hebrew Annual Review, Journal of Biblical Literature, and Vetus Testamentum. John H. Walton (PhD, Hebrew Union College) teaches Old Testament at Wheaton College Graduate School. He is the author of several books, including Chronological and Background Charts of the Old Testament (Zondervan), Ancient Israelite Literature in Its Cultural Context (Zondervan), Covenant: God's Purpose, God's Plan (Zondervan), and IVP Bible Background Commentary of the Old Testament (IVP), and coauthor of Survey of the Old Testament (Zondervan).