Studying the Old Testament

To study the Old Testament is to embark on a daunting expedition for today's students, most of whom have little or no prior knowledge of the Bible or the field of biblical studies. Rhonda Burnette-Bletsch's Studying the Old Testament: A Companion introduces major issues and methods of reading the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible at a level appropriate for undergraduates or study groups. Unlike typical introductory textbooks that encourage memorization, this book adopts an inductive approach that teaches students to think critically about the Bible. Readers encounter the biblical text firsthand through guided exercises that allow them to make their own observations before they are introduced to scholarly theories. Burnette-Bletsch's clear, friendly guide to the biblical literature is supplemented by a CD-ROM that contains a variety of resources that enhance the student's experience and comprehension. In addition to guided exercises, the CD contains charts, maps, bibliographies of book, video, and internet resources, review questions and self-tests, lists of important terms, a glossary, links to ancient primary texts that offer striking parallels to the Bible, and concise but substantive discussions of topics that range from explorations of ongoing biblical research to fascinating points of contact between biblical texts and contemporary issues.