Encountering the Old Testament

A Christian Survey

Second Edition

Bill T. Arnold and Bryan E. Beyer

Baker Academic

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Book copyright © 1999, 2008 Bill T. Arnold and Bryan E. Beyer

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ISBN 978-0-8010-0301-1

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Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations labeled NLT are from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations labeled NRSV 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.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Arnold, Bill T.

Encountering the Old Testament: a Christian survey / Bill T. Arnold and Bryan E. Beyer. — 2nd ed.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references (p.) and indexes.

ISBN 978-0-8010-3170-0 (cloth)

1. Bible. O.T.—Textbooks. I. Beyer, Bryan. II. Title.

BS1140.3.A76 2008

221.6′1—dc22 2007042455

Contents in Brief

Preface

To the Professor

To the Student

Abbreviations

1. What Is the Old Testament and Why Study It?

2. Where and When Did the Events of the Old Testament Take Place?

Part 1

Encountering the Pentateuch

3. Introduction to the Pentateuch: The Birth of God’s People

4. Genesis 1–11: The Prelude to Israel

5. Genesis 12–50: The Patriarchs: Ancestors of Israel’s Faith

6. Exodus: A Miraculous Escape

7. Leviticus: Instructions for Holy Living

8. Numbers: Failure in the Desert

9. Deuteronomy: Restoring the Covenant

Part 2

Encountering the Historical Books

10. Introduction to the Historical Books: The History of Israel’s Nationhood

11. Joshua: Conquest and Division

12. Judges and Ruth: Israel’s Moral Crisis

13. First Samuel: God Grants a King

14. Second Samuel: David’s Reign

15. First Kings: The Glory of Solomon and the Beginning of the End

16. Second Kings: ...