A Theological introduction to the Old testament

424 Pages·03.76 MB·English

by  Bruce C. Birch, Walter Brueggemann, Terence E. Fretheim, David L. Petersen

A THEOLOGICAL
INTRODUCTION
TO THE
Old
Testament

Second Edition

Bruce C. Birch
Walter Brueggemann
Terence E. Fretheim
David L. Petersen

ABINGDON PRESS
NASHVILLE
A THEOLOGICAL INTRODUCTION TO THE OLD TESTAMENT

Copyright © 1999 by Abingdon Press
Second edition © 2005 by Abingdon Press

All rights reserved.
No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or
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except as may be expressly permitted by the 1976 Copyright Act or in writing from the publisher.
Requests for permission should be addressed to Abingdon Press, P.O. Box 801, 201 Eighth Avenue
South, Nashville, TN 37202-0801, or emailed to [email protected].

This book is printed on acid-free paper.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

A theological introduction to the Old Testament / Bruce C. Birch . . . [et al.].—2nd ed.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and indexes.
ISBN 0-687-06676-X (alk. paper)
1. Bible. O.T.—Theology. 2. Bible. O.T.—Introductions.
I. Birch, Bruce C.
BS1192.5.T43 2005
230'.0411—dc22
2004022219

Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are from the New Revised Standard Version of the
Bible, copyright © 1989, by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the
Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations noted RSV are from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1946,
1952, 1971 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ
in the USA. Used by permission.

The map of the Ancient Near East on page iii is from Abingdon's Reproducible Maps, 1996, adapted
from Bible Teacher Kit, copyright © 1994 by Abingdon Press.

In chapter 8, material drawn from T. Fretheim, First and Second Kings (Louisville: Westminster
John Knox Press, 1999) is used by permission of Westminster John Knox Press.
The map on page 180, the empire of David and Solomon (page 240), Solomon's twelve
administrative districts (page 249), and the kingdoms of Israel and Judah (page 260) are used by
permission, Hammond Incorporation, Union, N.J.

The maps of Israel, Judah, and the Assyrian Empire at the time of Israel's fall (page 291) and Israel
under Persian Rule (page 428) are used courtesy of © CHK America, 806-962-9958.

The maps, charts, and illustrations on pages 59, 95, 132, 202-3, 226, 244, 253, 264, 328, 436, and
455 are used by permission of Abingdon Press.

05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14—10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

MANUFACTURED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

CONTENTS

PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION

PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

CHAPTER 1
The Old Testament as Theological Witness
Key topics: Approaches to OT theology; canon and scripture; authority; text and context
(ancient and modern)

CHAPTER 2
The Created Order and the Re-creation of Broken Order
Key topics: Creation and Creator; the human role; broken creation; primeval history
Key texts: Gen 1–11

CHAPTER 3
Promises Made, Threatened, and Fulfilled .
Key topics: The promise to the ancestors; the Joseph story
Key texts: Gen 12–50

CHAPTER 4
Bondage, Exodus, Wilderness
Key topics: Bondage in Egypt; the Exodus God; the role of Moses;
liberation/salvation/deliverance; the wilderness
Key texts: Exod 1–18, selected psalms

CHAPTER 5
The Structures of Covenant Life
Key topics: The theophany at Sinai; covenant—nature and structures; decalogue/law;
sacrifice and holiness
Key texts: Exod 19–40, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy

CHAPTER 6
"The People of the Land"
Key topics: Conflict with previous inhabitants; holy war; the role of the land; settlement and
tribal league
Key texts: Joshua, Judges

CHAPTER 7
The Rise of the Monarchy
Key topics: Rise of kingship; emerging nation and new roles of leadership; pivotal role of
David; Solomonic rule; temple worship with psalms
Key texts: 1–2 Samuel, 1 Kgs 1–11, selected psalms

CHAPTER 8
Kings and Prophets in the Divided Kingdom
Key topics: Division of the kingdom; nationhood among the empires; conflict with the
Baalists; Elijah and Elisha; nature of early prophecy; temple worship and the psalms
Key texts: 1 Kgs 12–2 Kgs 13, selected psalms

CHAPTER 9
Prophecy and Reform: From Jeroboam to Josiah
Key topics: The nature of classical prophecy; the eighthcentury prophets and their context;
Deuteronomic Reform
Key texts: 2 Kgs 14–25, Amos, Hosea, Micah, Isa 1–39, Deuteronomy, Zephaniah

CHAPTER 10
Collapse/Exile/Hope
Key topics: Jeremiah and the national crisis; destruction and exile; exile as historical and
theological crisis; the image of Babylon; lament; hope in the midst of exile
Key texts: Jeremiah, Lamentations, Nahum, Habakkuk, Ezekiel, Isa 40–55

CHAPTER 11
Wisdom, Order, Protest
Key topics: Wisdom theology
Key texts: Proverbs, Job, Ecclesiastes, selected psalms

CHAPTER 12
New Life, Renewed Community, New Crises
Key topics: Return, the rebuilding of the temple, and the reconstitution of the community;
torah and temple; identity and conflict in the community and among the nations; crisis
and apocalyptic; the final shape of the Psalter
Key texts: 1–2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Remaining Minor Prophets, Isa 56–66, Song of
Songs, Daniel, Ruth, Esther, selected psalms

SCRIPTURE INDEX

TOPICAL INDEX