The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament
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About this ebook
Preaching's Preacher's Guide to the Best Bible Reference
How can we account for the "Book of the Law" suddenly being discovered during Josiah's renovation of the temple (2 Chron 34:14)? We know from Egypt and Mesopotamia that it was common to seal important documents--including theological documents--in the masonry or foundations of a palace or temple in order to inform a future king who might undertake restoration of the building.
What might the psalmist have had in mind when praising God for removing our transgressions "as far as the east is from the west" (Ps 103:12)? In an Egyptian hymn to Amun-Re, the deity is praised for his judgment of the guilty. As a result of the god's discernment the guilty are assigned to the east and the righteous to the west.
What is meant by God "weighing the heart" (Prov 21:2)? In Egyptian religious tradition we find the notion of the dead being judged before the gods. As the soul is examined, the dead person's heart is weighed in a scale against a feather symbolizing Truth. If the answers are correct and the heart does not outweigh the feather, the soul may enter the realm of everlasting life.
The narratives, genealogies, laws, poetry, proverbs and prophecies of the Old Testament are deeply rooted in history. Archaeologists, historians and social scientists have greatly advanced our knowledge of the ancient world of the Bible. When we illuminate the stories of Abraham or David, the imagery of the Psalms or Proverbs, or the prophecies of Isaiah or Jeremiah with this backlight of culture and history, these texts spring to new life. The unique commentary joins The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament in providing historical, social and cultural background for each passage of the Old Testament. From Genesis through Malachi, this single volume gathers and condenses an abundance of specialized knowledge--making it available and accessible to ordinary readers of the Old Testament. Expert scholars John Walton, Victor Matthews and Mark Chavalas have included along with the fruits of their research and collaboration
- a glossary of historical terms, ancient peoples, texts and inscriptions
- maps and charts of important historical resources
- expanded explanations of significant background issues
- introductory essays on each book of the Old Testament
The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament will enrich your experience of the Old Testament--and your teaching and preaching from Scripture--in a way that no other commentary can do.
John H. Walton
John H. Walton (PhD, Hebrew Union College) is professor of Old Testament, emeritus, at Wheaton College and Graduate School. His many books include The Lost World of Genesis One and Wisdom for Faithful Reading.
Read more from John H. Walton
A Survey of the Old Testament Workbook Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A Survey of the Old Testament Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Old Testament Today, 2nd Edition: A Journey from Ancient Context to Contemporary Relevance Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Covenant: God's Purpose, God's Plan Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Bible Story Handbook: A Resource for Teaching 175 Stories from the Bible Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Hear Ye the Word of the Lord: What We Miss If We Only Read the Bible Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDemons and Spirits in Biblical Theology: Reading the Biblical Text in Its Cultural and Literary Context Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Ancient Near Eastern Thought and the Old Testament: Introducing the Conceptual World of the Hebrew Bible Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
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Reviews for The IVP Bible Background Commentary
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- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The IVP Bible Background commentaries are wonderful tools. If I could have only one commentary, this would be it. I like some others, but none have the objective integrity of these ... no discernible theological agenda. The information is not necessarily good for every purpose, but it gives you much of what you need to gather context. Wonderful.