What does "Bible" mean? How many Bibles are there? -- A few basics. Hebrew ; Scrolls, language, and versions ; From scrolls to Scripture ; The Apocrypha -- The Tanakh and Old Testament as sacred scripture. Traditional Jewish interpretation of the Tanakh ; The liturgical use of the Tanakh in Judaism ; Traditional Christian interpretation of the Old Testament ; The Old Testament in Christian liturgy -- Modern approaches to the Bible. The historical-critical approach ; Feminist interpretation ; Ideological and sociopolitical criticism ; Holistic approaches : literary criticism ; Holistic approaches : canonical ; Concluding reflections -- The Bible as "story" and "history". The Bible's historical backgrounds ; Understanding the Bible's storyline -- The Torah. Introduction to the Torah ; Genesis ; Exodus ; Leviticus ; Numbers ; Deuteronomy -- The Neviʼim = The Prophets. Introduction to the Prophets. Joshua ; Judges ; 1 Samuel ; 2 Samuel ; 1-2 Kings ; Isaiah ; Ezekiel ; The Book of the Twelve. Hosea ; Joel ; Amos ; Obadiah ; Jonah ; Micah ; Nahum ; Habakkuk ; Zephaniah ; Haggai and Zechariah 1-8 ; Deutero-Zechariah and Malachi -- The Ketuvim = The Writings. Introduction to the Ketuvim, or, the Writings. Psalms ; Introduction to Wisdom literature ; Proverbs ; Job -- The Megillot = The Five Scrolls. Song of songs ; Ruth ; Lamentations ; Qoheleth ; Esther ; Daniel ; Ezra-Nehemiah ; 1-2 Chronicles -- The Apocrypha. Tobit ; Judith ; Sirach ; Wisdom of Solomon ; Concluding reflections on the Apocrypha -- Epilogue. The Hebrew bible and beyond.

Introductions to the Hebrew Bible (or Old Testament) tend toward extensive scholarly discussion with little to introduce the student to the tremendous influence this seminal collection has had on contemporary society or to the complexities of reading ancient religious literature today. Further, few books, if any, discuss the differing ways Jews and Christians approach this common scripture, or how each group appropriates its teachings in divergent, conflicting, and often complex ways. Related to this issue is the problem of how scholarly approaches to reading this literature often stand in stark contrast to popular and religious approaches. This disparity of methods usually startles the inexperienced student and can be alarming, indeed shocking, to religious practitioners. This book offers a critical yet sympathetic overview of the Hebrew Bible and the field of biblical studies, as well as introduces the reader to Jewish, Catholic, and Protestant interpretations of it. Avoiding jargon and convoluted prose, this highly accessible volume provides textboxes, charts, a timeline, a glossary, and regularly includes artistic renderings of biblical scenes to keep lay and beginning readers engaged.