Includes bibliographical references (pages 699-742) and indexes.

PART ONE : The Torah. The Pentateuch -- Genesis : primeval prologue -- Genesis : Patriarchal history -- Exodus : historical background -- Exodus : message -- Leviticus -- Numbers -- Deuteronomy -- -- PART TWO : The prophets. The former prophets -- Joshua -- Judges -- Birth of the monarchy (1 Sam. 1:1-2 Sam. 5:10) -- Israel's golden age : David and Solomon (2 Sam. 5:11-1 Kgs. 11:43) -- Divided monarchy (1 Kgs. 12:1-2 Kgs. 18:12) -- Judah alone (2 Kgs. 18-25) -- Prophets and prophecy -- Hebrew poetry -- Amos -- Hosea -- Micah -- Isaiah : background -- Isaiah : message -- Zephaniah, Nahum, and Habakkuk -- Jeremiah -- Ezekiel -- Obadiah and Joel -- Jonah -- Haggai -- Zechariah -- Malachi -- -- PART THREE : The writings. Introduction to the writings -- Psalms -- Wisdom literature -- Proverbs -- Job -- Ecclesiastes -- The Song of Songs -- Ruth -- Lamentations -- The scroll of Esther -- The Chronicler's perspective -- Ezra-Nehemiah -- Daniel -- -- PART FOUR : The background. The authority of the Old Testament for Christians -- Revelation and inspiration -- The concept of canon -- Formation of the Old Testament -- Geography -- The chronological puzzle -- Archaeology -- Messianic prophecy.

"This standard textbook on the background, content, and message of the Old Testament is now thoroughly revised and updated and takes full account of new research in the field of Old Testament studies. This second edition features a new chapter on archaeology and the Old Testament by Robert E. Cooley, and other key chapters have been updated and expanded by leading scholars in the field of biblical studies£Leslie C. Allen, John E. Hartley, Robert L. Hubbard Jr., William B. Nelson Jr., Nancy Heidebrecht, and John E. McKenna"-- Jacket.