The Hebrew Bible for Beginners

Introductions to the Hebrew Bible (or Old Testament) tend toward extensive scholarly discussion with little to introduce the student to the tremendous influence this seminal collection has had on contemporary society or to the complexities of reading ancient religious literature today. Further, few books, if any, discuss the differing ways Jews and Christians approach this common scripture, or how each group appropriates its teachings in divergent, conflicting, and often complex ways. Related to this issue is the problem of how scholarly approaches to reading this literature often stand in stark contrast to popular and religious approaches. This disparity of methods usually startles the inexperienced student and can be alarming, indeed shocking, to religious practitioners. Even mentioning, for instance, that Moses might not have written all of the Torah, or that Job may not be historical, makes some students and religious adherents uncomfortable and sends others into strong feelings of suspicion toward the one speaking.
This book will seek to take an approach that addresses such concerns in a sympathetic yet critical fashion and also provide overviews, charts, timeline, glossary, and other student helps.

Author Biography

Joel S. Kaminsky is the Morningstar Family Professor of Jewish Studies and Professor of Bible in the Religion Department at Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts. Joel N. Lohr is director of religious and spiritual life at University of the Pacific in Stockton, California.