The Face of Old Testament Studies: A Survey of Contemporary Approaches

This work attempts to provide a one-volume summary of the scholarly study of the Hebrew Bible at the close of the twentieth century. The preface points to ancestors such as the Society for Old Testament Study volumes. Baker and Arnold offer 16 review articles of at least 20 or so pages (the longest, dealing with Psalms, is 40 pages). Each is prepared by a writer who has contributed to the debates that they comment upon. Some articles cover general approaches to the study of the Hebrew Bible: "The Text of the Old Testament" by Al Wolters; "Epigraphic Light on the Old Testament" by Mark W. Chavalas and Edwin C. Hostetter; "Archaeological Light on the Old Testament" by Mark W. Chavalas and Murray R. Adamthwaite; "Literary Approaches to Old Testament Study" by Tremper Longman III; "Opening Windows onto Biblical Worlds: Applying the Social Sciences to Hebrew Scripture" by Charles E. Carter. Others deal with overarching issues: "Religion in Ancient Israel" by Bill T. Arnold; "Theology of the Old Testament" by R.W. L. Moberly. One article treats historiographical questions: "Historiography of the Old Testament" by V. Phillips Long. This is followed by separate articles on different periods: "Early Israel in Recent Biblical Scholarship" by K. Lawson Younger Jr .; "The Historical Study of the Monarchy: Developments and Detours" by Gary N. Knoppers; "Exile and After: Historical Study" by H. G. M. Williamson. The remaining articles focus on bodies of literature: "Pondering the Pentateuch: The Search for a New Paradigm" Gordon J. Wenham; "Israelite Prophets and Prophecy" by David W. Baker; "Wisdom Literature" by Bruce K. Waltke and David Diewert; "Recent Trends in Psalms Study" by David M. Howard Jr.; "Recent Studies in Old Testament Apocalyptic" by John N. Oswalt. [Full Review]