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Michael D. Coogan
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The Old Testament: A Historical and Literary Introduction to the Hebrew Scriptures 4th Edition

by Michael D. Coogan (Author), Cynthia R. Chapman (Author)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 145 ratings
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Lucidly written by leading biblical scholars Michael D. Coogan and Cynthia R. Chapman, this balanced, engaging, and up to date introduction to the Hebrew scriptures distills the best of current scholarship. Employing the narrative chronology of the Bible itself and the history of the ancient Near East as a framework, Coogan and Chapman cover all the books of the Hebrew Bible, along with the deuterocanonical books included in the Bible used by many Christians. They work from a primarily historical and critical methodology but also introduce students to literary analysis and other interpretive strategies.

FEATURES

* Chapter pedagogy includes chapter previews and summaries, key terms, a glossary, questions for review and discussion, and suggestions for further reading

* Two introductory chapters one on the composition of the Old Testament and one on the history and geography of the ancient Near East and how it influenced the Hebrew Bible provide students with the context necessary to analyze the biblical texts

* Strategically placed text boxes address issues that often puzzle readers of the Bible, provide models of interpretation of particular texts, and discuss their significance for Judaism and Christianity

* A strong visual program includes charts, photographs, line drawings, maps, and a color insert on Jerusalem in biblical times

A FREE 6 month subscription to Oxford Biblical Studies Online (www.oxfordbiblicalstudies.com) a $180 value is included with the purchase of every new copy of the text.
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  1. ISBN-10
    019060865X
  2. ISBN-13
    978-0190608651
  3. Edition
    4th
  4. Publisher
    Oxford University Press
  5. Publication date
    July 3, 2017
  6. Language
    English
  7. Dimensions
    9.1 x 0.9 x 7.5 inches
  8. Print length
    608 pages
  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Michael D. Coogan's The Old Testament is a comprehensive and thoughtful introduction to the body of knowledge generated by over a century of Biblical scholarship. This book lucidly and carefully introduces undergraduate students to new ways of studying a very old book, and to the fascinating and contentious field of professional Biblical scholarship."--Vickie Larsen, University of Michigan, Flint

"This is a top-quality book in all ways: great scholarship, great graphics, and careful attention to detail."--Timothy Dwyer, Roberts Wesleyan College

"The Old Testament is an excellent book for both professors and students. Coogan is thorough in his scope and economical in his prose, making complicated issues understandable for students of various levels."--Jason Gaines, Fairfield University and Mount Holyoke College

Book Description

The best-selling and most reasonably priced full introduction to the Old Testament

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Oxford University Press; 4th edition (July 3, 2017)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 608 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 019060865X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0190608651
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.15 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 9.1 x 0.9 x 7.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 145 ratings

About the author

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Michael D. Coogan

Michael D. Coogan

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Michael Coogan is Lecturer in Hebrew Bible/Old Testament at Harvard Divinity School and Director of Publications for the Harvard Semitic Museum. He has also taught at Stonehill College, Boston College, Wellesley College, Fordham University, and the University of Waterloo (Ontario), and has participated in and directed archaeological excavations in Israel, Jordan, Cyprus, and Egypt. He is the author of Old Testament text books and The Old Testament VSI.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
145 global ratings
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Top reviews from the United States

John C. Lambropoulos
5.0 out of 5 stars Modern, balanced, informative, attractive
Reviewed in the United States on January 24, 2006
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Coogan is one of the leading Bible experts, a co-editor of the Oxford Bible Dictionary with Metzger. His point of view is balanced, educated, a "real teacher's" approach.

The "Old Testament" book is a nicely done textbook. The maps reflect accurately the book discussion, the diagrams are clear and not very crowded, and the references at the end of each chapter are the best starting points for further exploration of specific topics. As the title indicates, this is an introduction (read: university freshman/sophomore level) to the history of the Old Testament, with an equal discussion of the literary merits of the book(s). The book can easily be read on one's own, because it is clearly written, and well organized. The chapters of the book are set up "historically", and there is an excellent discussion of the actual history/archaeology matching the Old Testament texts. The archaeological support for the Old Testament is superb; it makes you see the OT from a deeper, different perspective. I especially liked the fact that the book is balanced, and does not "interpret" theological points (that's up to each reader, I think).

The book is also very attractive, the print size reads very easily. To get the most out of the book, one would probably need a modern Old Testament translation (the Oxford NRSV with the Apocrypha would be ideal, or the Harper/Collins edition). I can easily see the book becoming a standard university textbook, just like Ehrman's New Testament textbook.

As much as I liked reading the book, I would love having a few more appendices. For example, a (brief) discussion of the Septuagint, possibly some commentary/interpretation from rabbinic sources, possibly discussion of the Qumran texts.
48 people found this helpful
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cindy hindman
5.0 out of 5 stars The Old Testament A Historical and Literary Introduction to the Hebrew Scripture
Reviewed in the United States on October 4, 2010
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This book was purchased as part of a class on the Old Testament. Very well written and very easy to follow it gives you abundant amounts of research on the Old Testament and the history of its writings. Very interesting to see some other points of view about when and who and how they feel the bible was written. Gives me more of an appreciation of the Jewish faith and its origination. It points out repetition throughout several books of the bible. Things that the average reader of the bible would not realize the significance of the repetition. Very interesting and knowledgeable. I recommend it to anyone seeking further insight to the Old Testament.
9 people found this helpful
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Richard Christopher
5.0 out of 5 stars Book
Reviewed in the United States on March 27, 2022
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This book is in great shape for a used book. very quick shipping
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R. Southwell
4.0 out of 5 stars Logical and Informative
Reviewed in the United States on September 20, 2009
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This book is well planed out and easy to use. We used this textbook in my Undergraduate Old Testament class, as well as in my Graduate level seminary courses. This book makes exalent points that people of most levels of learning can struggle with. It think the book lays out the ideas in a way that the can be understood easily and informative of the history in the Near East context of the Hebrew Scriptures.
Other students have said that this book helped them to challenge what it is that we see in the scriptures in new ways. I see this text book as a way to guide our understanding of the context the scriptures are written in so that we can better understand the ideas and thoughts that came out of that time.
 The Old Testament: A Historical and Literary Introduction to the Hebrew Scriptures
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Pamela Eldredge
5.0 out of 5 stars Wow!!!
Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2019
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Absolutely the best introduction to the Old Testament I have ever read. The reader will likely learn more about the Hebrew Bible reading this overview than by reading any other single book. Coogan and Chapman, great scholars, have hit a home run.
3 people found this helpful
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Daniel M.
1.0 out of 5 stars Biases, presuppositions and unsubstantiated claims
Reviewed in the United States on July 6, 2023
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This book doesn't even make an attempt at unbiased exegesis and does not at all present a balanced view. It treats the bible solely as literature and goes out of its way to deny or denounce any supernatural claims made within the scriptures, almost entirely without making an attempt to provide evidence for its rebuttal of the text. It turns history into fiction simply by its own declaration. It is full of completely baseless claims and makes no real effort to support them. Instead, you'll read "Although _______, it may __________" based purely on the unfounded speculations of the author. This is not scholarship, it's liberal propaganda. It continuously reads all kinds of modern ideologies and sensibilities into the text, even using methods such as "queer criticism." If you're approaching the scripture from a scholarly, literary perspective, there are other, better books out there that are more grounded in actual discovery, exegesis, and scholarship. If you're approaching it from a more religious, theological perspective, it is entirely useless.
One person found this helpful
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Tridelta
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, useful, fascinating
Reviewed in the United States on September 16, 2013
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This is a college-level textbook that is well written and should appeal to any reasonably intelligent person who would like to know more about how the Old Testament was created. It is definitely not boring or tedious. The illustrations and maps are extremely useful and informative. I highly recommend this book for anyone with an open mind and an interest in Biblical history.
5 people found this helpful
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Billybabble
5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent investment!
Reviewed in the United States on March 28, 2013
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This is a MUST Have for all pastors and students of thelogy. It seems to be very much up to date in scholarship and research. No wonder it is required by some schools of theology as a basic text for Old Testament studies. (Stephen Harris' textbook is good, but I believe this one is even better and even easier to read.)
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Top reviews from other countries

Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in Canada on June 13, 2016
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Could not be more pleased
2 people found this helpful
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Nancy B.
3.0 out of 5 stars ... the Old Testament so from that point it was good. However they seem to think that the Old ...
Reviewed in Canada on February 5, 2017
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I got this book to learn more about the history and customs of the Old Testament so from that point it was good. However they seem to think that the Old Testament is just a bunch of myths so that really put me off.
3 people found this helpful
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