“In The Historical Writings, Lamb and Leuchter have provided an accurate, honest, and wise account of the key interpretive issues related to the historical books of the Hebrew Bible. This volume helpfully orients its readers to the major issues while providing further opportunity for a closer reading of the details of these texts. It sets the standard for a new generation of introductions to the Bible.”
The Historical Writings: Introducing Israel's Historical Literature
History has an inescapable centrality in the Hebrew Bible, and biblical narratives are for many readers the best recognized and most memorable parts of the Bible. The history of ancient Israel and the nature of Hebrew historiography remain hotly contested topics today. This new introduction explores key questions and methods shaping contemporary scholarly debate. Students will explore the Deuteronomistic History and other historical writings and evaluate the different roles history-writing plays throughout the Hebrew Bible.
An introduction presents issues in the historical and literary interpretation of these writings. Subsequent chapters on the books Joshua through Kings, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Chronicles each discuss literary concerns, historical issues, and theological themes relevant to each book, then offer succinct and informative commentary on the book. Pedagogical features include maps, timelines, photographs, primary sources from the ancient Near East, reading lists, and a glossary.
- Publisher Fortress Press
- Format Hardcover
- ISBN 9780800699505
- eBook ISBN 9781506407852
- Dimensions 6 x 9
- Pages 606
- Publication Date July 1, 2016
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Reviews
Reviewed in Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society (2017)
Endorsements
Sets the standard for a new generation of introductions to the Bible. . .
Mark J. Boda | McMaster Divinity College
This volume promises to usher a generation of students through the most pressing questions in academic study of the Bible’s historical literature in an approachable, accessible format. . .
“In this ambitious volume, Leuchter and Lamb offer a sophisticated introduction to ancient Israel’s historical self-presentation. These well-established scholars provide useful and lively discussions of Joshua–Kings, Ezra–Nehemiah, and Chronicles, exploring the composition, literary structure and themes, and socio-historical setting of each book. Self-aware thematic and historical summaries are paired with insightful literary commentaries, guiding readers through the text’s dominant concerns and constituent units. This volume promises to usher a generation of students through the most pressing questions in academic study of the Bible’s historical literature in an approachable, accessible format.”
Jeremy M. Hutton | University of Wisconsin–Madison