"By skillfully examining well-selected biblical texts, Coogan has offered readers a valuable window into the complexity, beauty, and importance of the Hebrew Bible. Through compelling analogies, he clarifies the meaning of the Bible, and allows the modern student to appreciate this complex ancient collection in its context."--Marc Zvi Brettler, Dora Golding Professor of Biblical Studies, Brandeis University, and Author of How to Read the Jewish Bible(Oxford), and co-editor of The Jewish Study Bible (Oxford)."This book is a remarkable achievement. Accessible, informative, and authoritative, it packs into its small size an amazing amount of information, not only about the literature of the Old Testament and its cultural and historical context, but also about the methods of biblical scholarship that revolutionized the understanding of the Old Testament during the last two centuries. It is an ideal introduction for a wide range of readers: the non-religious who arecurious about this cultural monument, Jews and Christians who want an orientation to their complex scriptures, and students seeking an overview of the Old Testament in critical perspective."--Carol Newsom, Candler Professor of Old Testament/Hebrew Bible, Emory University"Marked by an astonishing comprehensiveness, this book presents established facts and contested issues alike with irenic clarity. Balancing panoramic views with deeper exegetical probes, Coogan deftly interweaves insights gleaned from Canaanite, Egyptian, and Mesopotamian texts, archaeology, reception history from Ben Sira to Luther to Kierkegaard, and contemporary feminist criticism.

The result is a compelling invitation to readers who seek to understand theancient sociopolitical conflicts, rituals, and theologies that animate the Old Testament."--Carolyn Sharp, Associate Professor of Hebrew Scriptures Yale Divinity School"By skillfully examining well-selected biblical texts, Coogan has offered readers a valuable window into the complexity, beauty, and importance of the Hebrew Bible. Through compelling analogies, he clarifies the meaning of the Bible, and allows the modern student to appreciate this complex ancient collection in its context."--Marc Zvi Brettler, Dora Golding Professor of Biblical Studies, Brandeis University, and Author of How to Read the Jewish Bible(Oxford), and co-editor of The Jewish Study Bible (Oxford)."This book is a remarkable achievement. Accessible, informative, and authoritative, it packs into its small size an amazing amount of information, not only about the literature of the Old Testament and its cultural and historical context, but also about the methods of biblical scholarship that revolutionized the understanding of the Old Testament during the last two centuries. It is an ideal introduction for a wide range of readers: the non-religious who arecurious about this cultural monument, Jews and Christians who want an orientation to their complex scriptures, and students seeking an overview of the Old Testament in critical perspective."--Carol Newsom, Candler Professor of Old Testament/Hebrew Bible, Emory University"Marked by an astonishing comprehensiveness, this book presents established facts and contested issues alike with irenic clarity.

Balancing panoramic views with deeper exegetical probes, Coogan deftly interweaves insights gleaned from Canaanite, Egyptian, and Mesopotamian texts, archaeology, reception history from Ben Sira to Luther to Kierkegaard, and contemporary feminist criticism. The result is a compelling invitation to readers who seek to understand theancient sociopolitical conflicts, rituals, and theologies that animate the Old Testament."--Carolyn Sharp, Associate Professor of Hebrew Scriptures Yale Divinity School.