The Old Testament - 4th Edition by Victor H Matthews & James C Moyer (Paperback)

About the Book

This substantially updated edition of a classroom standard provides students with an accessible introduction to the literature, history, and social context of the Old Testament.

Book Synopsis

This substantially updated fourth edition of a classroom standard provides students with an accessible introduction to the literature, history, and social context of the Old Testament.

Written by two seasoned Old Testament professors with distinguished careers, this book pays attention to methodology, archaeology, history, and literary genre. The fourth edition brings archaeology up to date with current discoveries and methods and incorporates new insights from current scholarship. This edition has been restructured to increase its usability in one-semester classes on the Old Testament, improving the book's usefulness for instructors. The book also maintains its student-focused orientation, with revisions throughout to increase its readability.

The Old Testament: Text and Context is designed to assist students who are encountering the material for the first time. It includes helpful illustrations, sidebars, maps, study questions, and enrichment activities, making it well suited for undergraduate-level Old Testament courses in university and college settings.

From the Back Cover

"An excellent, comprehensive, student-oriented textbook"

This substantially updated edition provides readers with an accessible introduction to the literature, history, and social context of the Old Testament.

"This classic, now in its fourth edition, introduces readers to both the nature of the Old Testament and its reflection of the ancient Near Eastern world. It is packed with information, including beautiful maps, insets, figures, study questions, a glossary, and indices. Many parts of the work have been expanded, updated, and revised to make it even more readable and helpful for undergraduates and seminarians encountering the Old Testament for the first time."
--Mark Sneed, Lubbock Christian University

"The Old Testament: Text and Context is a guide for students in that important first class in the Old Testament. Matthews and Moyer--repeatedly recognized by their colleagues as skilled teachers--show how archaeology, anthropology, sociology, and literary criticism contribute to our understanding and appreciation of the enduring biblical traditions. This fourth edition is a testimony from all instructors and their students who have found the previous editions to be a valuable resource."
--Don C. Benjamin, Arizona State University

"Matthews and Moyer have produced an excellent, comprehensive, student-oriented textbook that provides first-time readers of the Hebrew Bible an entrance into the texts, their historical background, and scholarly interpretations. Teachers and students will find readable introductions to the books of the Hebrew Bible and the Apocrypha, with valuable sidebar discussions of important issues, organized around the historical context. Special discussions of interest, such as modern methods of biblical research, advice about translations, online resources, and an extensive glossary, add to the book's value for the reader."
--John T. Strong, Missouri State University

"Two of my very best teachers have taken an already-excellent textbook and made it even better. This new edition is clearer, richer, and more relevant for students, and it allows instructors to pivot in many different directions for teaching. This book remains one of my gold standards for introducing students to the Old Testament."
--Brian R. Doak, George Fox University

About the Author

Victor H. Matthews (PhD, Brandeis University) is professor emeritus of religious studies at Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri. He served as dean of the College of Humanities and Public Affairs for 14 years. Matthews is the author of 20 books and dozens of scholarly articles.

James C. Moyer (PhD, Brandeis University) is professor emeritus of religious studies at Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri, where he served as department head of religious studies for over 20 years.