The Hebrew Bible Paperback - 2021

From the rear cover

Praise for the previous edition:

"An innovative approach to the Hebrew Bible. Instead of surveying the Bible book-by-book beginning with Genesis, this work introduces readers to the major works of the Bible by timeframe. With this approach, it is easier for readers to see both how biblical works are products of their times and how they respond to their times ... A very readable introduction and a model of judicious synthesis."
-- MARK S. SMITH, New York University

"Carr's volume provides a very readable and informative introduction to the study of the Hebrew Bible for beginning theological students. He combines a very useful analysis of the historical and social contexts in which the texts of the Bible were written together with an insightful account of the contexts in which they have been read in both Judaism and Christianity."
-- MARVIN A. SWEENEY, Claremont Graduate University

The newly revised second edition of The Hebrew Bible: A Contemporary Introduction to the Christian Old Testament and the Jewish Tanakh delivers a comprehensive and up-to-date introduction to the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament in the broader context of world history. Its treatment of the formation of the Bible across different historical periods gives readers a richer understanding of how Old Testament writings were shaped through interaction with ancient empires while introducing them to multiple versions, translations, and digital resources for further study of the Bible.

Written by a leading scholar in the field, the second edition incorporates the most recent research on the archaeology and history of early Israel, the formation of the Pentateuch, and the development of the historical and poetic books, along with a deepened and current focus on recent methods of biblical study, including trauma studies, African American, womanist, and ecocritical approaches to the Bible. Students will benefit from the inclusion of study questions in each chapter, focus passages from the Bible, and other supplementary resources including timelines, illustrations, photographs, and a glossary to help them retain knowledge. Carr's extensive treatment of the final formation of biblical books in early Judaism covers the diverse early Jewish texts (e.g. Ben Sira, Enoch, Judith) that were revered as scripture before there were more clearly defined Jewish and Christian Bibles.

Comprehensive and ideal for students of seminary courses and undergraduate students studying the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament, this second edition of The Hebrew Bible will also interest general readers looking for an accessible guide to the history of the formation of the Bible.