Introducing the Old Testament Based upon John R. Sarnpey's Syllabus

280 Pages·1958·7.586 MB·English

by  Clyde T. Francisco

Introducing
the Old Testament
Based upon
John R. Sarnpey's Syllabus
By
Clyde T. Francisco
Professor
Old Testament Interpretation
Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
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COPYRIGHT, 1950
BROADMAN PRESS
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE
EIGHTH PRINTING, 1958
421-08211
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To ray father
L. T. FRANCISCO
Whose love for the Bible
inspired his son
Preface
This is the first book to come from the pen of this author,
but it will not be the last. He is a scholar of great promise as
his academic record both at the University of Richmond and
at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary indicates. He
has a passion to master the field of Old Testament interpre-
tation, but greater still is his passion to experience for him-
self and to teach others the truths of the Old Testament.
The nature and purpose of this book are clearly indicated
by the title, INTRODUCING THE OLD TESTAMENT. It is not
intended to be an exhaustive presentation or interpretation
of the Old Testament. Rather, it is an introduction to this
vast field of study. The book will have great value for those
who desire to secure an elemental knowledge of the Old
Testament, but it will be equally valuable to those who will
use it as the foundation of a comprehensive study of the
Old Testament.
The author, who is professor of Old Testament interpre-
tation in the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, wrote
the book primarily to meet the needs of his own students
but also to put into the hands of other teachers of the Old
Testament a book which -will serve their purpose and aid
their students.
Since there is so much "written in, the law of Moses, and
the prophets, and the psalms" concerning the Christ, things
which Christ himself said "must needs be fulfilled," a knowl-
edge of the Old Testament is indispensable to all students
vii
who would understand the message and the ministry of our
Lord and Saviour. Hence, the tremendous value and im-
portance of this book.
Erns A. FULLER
President
Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
Louisville, Kentucky
viii
Foreword
It was with great hesitation that I undertook the writing of
this book. But the great need of our classes at the Southern
Baptist Theological Seminary for a text of this type has
necessitated such an effort. Without the assistance of mate-
rial from John R. Sampey's Syllabus for Old Testament
Study the book might have been permanently delayed. The
wise counsel of Dr. J. B. Weatherspoon and Dr. Ellis A.
Fuller has proved invaluable. Dr. D. V. Deere has labored
tirelessly over many details of the manuscript. Dr. Kyle M.
Yates and Dr. J. Leo Green, my former teachers, and Dr.
J. J. Owens, my colleague, will certainly recognize my in-
debtedness to them in much of what I have written. To Dr.
R. T. Daniel, professor of Old Testament at Southeastern
Baptist Theological Seminary, goes my sincerest appreciation
for his helpful advice.
It is not the purpose of this book to deal in the technicali-
ties of scholarly research. Such a study, it is hoped, will appear
later. The inclusion of technical material in this work would
defeat the primary purpose of its writing, which is to acquaint
the average reader with the essential history and teachings of
the Old Testament. Any intense study would dampen his
interest and cloud his understanding.
As far as possible I have tried to make the material of such
a sort as to be helpful to the Sunday school teacher, interested
layman, college student, or seminary beginner. Such a purpose
may be impossible of achievement, but one cannot be blamed
for the attempt. There is an important need today for a posi-
tion which emphasizes the positive teachings of the Old Testa-
ment, regardless of opinions about critical problems. Before
this can be achieved, however, these problems must be care-
ix
fully studied and thoughtfully weighed, for we cannot bury
our heads in sand. But after such a procedure, surely there re-
mains some positive truth. INTRODUCING THE OLD TESTA-
MENT seeks to present the abiding truths that survive this
battle of the scholars.
The scriptural quotations contained herein, unless otherwise
designated, are frorn the American Standard Version. Where
there is disagreement with that version, the author is giving his
own translation. Each book quoted is used by permission of the
publisher listed in the footnote below the quotation.
Contents
PREFACE vii
FOREWORD ix
INTRODUCTION
The Nature of the Old Testament
PART I—THE PENTATEUCH 13
The Book of Genesis 19
The Book of Exodus 31
The Book of Leviticus 34
The Book of Numbers 37
The Book of Deuteronomy 39
PART 11--5TUDIES IN THE HISTORICAL BOOKS 46
The Book of Joshua 48
The Book of Judges 51
The Book of Ruth 53
The Books of Samuel 5 5
First and Second Kings 67
First and Second Chronicles 69
Ezra—Nehemiah 71
Esther 74
- Summary of Israel's History: 931-712 B.C. 76
Summary of Hebrew History: 722-330 B.C. 8x
PART III—STUDIES IN THE PROPHETS 85
Obadiah 88
Joel 92
xF
Jonah 96
Amos 99
Hosea 104
Micah 109
Isaiah
113
Nahum x31
Zephaniah 134
Habakkuk 138
Jeremiah 142
Ezekiel 159
Daniel x67
Haggai 174
Zechariah 177
Malachi 282
PART IV—Symms IN THE POETICAL BOOKS 186
The Book of Job 191
The Psalms
203
The Proverbs 223
The Book of Ecclesiastes 227
The Song of Songs
232
The Book of Lamentations 234
STJGGESTED READING LIST FOR INTRODUCTORY OLD TESTAMENT
STUDY 235
CHRONOLOGICAL CHART OF, THE KINGDOM OF ISRAEL 244
xii
INTRODUCTION
THE NATURE OF THE OLD TESTAMENT
Although the Bible is by far the best seller among the world's
publications, it is not being read by the average person. It is
kept in the parlor and referred to by the preacher but is gen-
erally regarded-as dull reading or as a sealed Book to be inter-
preted only by experts. This apathy is especially pronounced
in regard to the Old Testament. To some extent naive exposi-
tors are to blame for this deplorable condition, when theyignore
historical settings in trying to locate in the Old Testament a
complete New Testament. If the Old Testament is only the New
Testament in hieroglyphics, it is much more simple for one to
read the New- Testament. If it is studied in complete disregard
of historical setting, the breath of life departs from it.
Many higher critics have also made their contribution to this
tragic disregard of the Old Testament by tearing its contents
into meaningless fragments or relegating its revealed truth to
the realm of the ordinary. As one scholar has put it, what was
"begun with a pen-knife, continued with a hatchet."' Perhaps,
as another has said, they have been enticed "by the fascinating
devices of the naughty man.' Although it has made a valuable
contribution to the study of the Old Testament in its insistence
upon the fact that a passage cannot be understood apart from its
historical setting, the critical method has been pursued with
such minute analysis that weightier spiritual truths have been
neglected. Its evolutionary emphasis has led to the conviction
that the only portions of the Old Testament worth studying
'C. C. Torrey, The Second Isaiah (New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1928), p. 13.
N. IL Snaith, The Distinctive Ideas of the Old Testament (Philadelphia: The
Westminster Press, 1946), p. 13.