400 Questions & Answers About the Old Testament

by Susan Easton Easton

We do not know what is in [the Old Testament], and therefore we speculate about the things that we ought to have found in the scriptures themselves. I think that there in is one of our biggest dangers of today. President Harold B. Lee Of all the standard works, the books of the Old Testament often seem most shrouded in mystery. Unfamiliar vocabulary, cultural references, and symbolism can feel like daunting prospects for gospel study. So how can members of the Church avoid the spiritual pitfalls of misunderstanding these books of scripture? The answer lies in taking the time to decipher the text one topic at a time. In 400 Questions & Answers about the Old Testament, renowned BYU religion professor Susan Easton Black addresses a wide range of biblical topics designed to answer an array of common questions related to Old Testament study, such The Lord planted a garden eastward in Eden. Where was Eden located? What was manna? Why is the courage of Queen Esther such a big part of the Feast of Purim? This notable collection of doctrinal questions and answers will prove invaluable as readers seek to uncover the gospel gems hidden in the pages of the Old Testament.

Genres: Religion

258 pages, Paperback

First published September 2, 2013

Reviews

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of interesting information. I loved the first part talking about general information about the Old Testament. It then takes you through questions pertaining to certain chapters and verses. Some of those were very informative and others not so much.
I listened to this on audiobook and don't think that's the best format for this book. I read there are great illustrations in the print book. That would have been nice to see. Also I started to zone out after listening. I would suggest this be a companion reference guide to be used along side a year long study of the Old Testament, not a book to just read or listen to straight through.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting commentary, quotes, and background information for all of the books in the Old Testament. Great reference.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good intro. to a complex text. I am glad that Susan Easton Black does at least mention briefly the issue of the Documentary Hypothesis, as well as some of the debates that biblical scholars are wrestling with as they go through these texts. Though she at times takes some literalist approaches to the text, this is a good book for an audience unfamiliar with the Old Testament and it is a good resource.

[Teri · Rating 2 out of 5]

It wasn't exactly a waste of time - but nothing that was new to me - and it might be a little boring for some as it is literally just questions and answers, not written in book/story form. The questions cover many OT prophets/books from Genesis to Malachi. basically if you were to go through each of these OT books and pick out the main questions that stand out to you (or to the average person) the author goes through and answers them. It's ok. Not bad.

[Adam · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid review of the OT more than anything. It is a shotgun approach to questions about the OT to the average reader. So you get a lot of, what's up with this? And you get a lot of, why do they do/say/act (blank)? So you get a nice round of culture, history, context, and specific symbolism and interpretation all in one.

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, but need to be a true Bible wonk...

[Natasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Straightforward, interesting points. Nice to read while my church’s annual curriculum is focused on the Old Testament. Reads like an encyclopedia of sorts.

[Vivienne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is filled with many facts about the Old Testament, but wasn't necessarily captivating as it was more just informational and not necessarily inspiring. But excellent information.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book, but wished there would've been more information. The BEST thing about this book was all the photos and pictures of art pieces. AMAZING addition to studying about the Old Testament.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful reference book on the Old Testament. Very well referenced. It could profit from an index.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great background. One of my favorite authors.