The Hebrew Bible for Beginners: A Jewish & Christian Introduction

by Joel N. Lohr, Joel S. Kaminsky

An engaging introduction showing how the Hebrew Bible forms faith, then and now.

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.

316 pages, Paperback

First published September 15, 2015

About the author

Joel N. Lohr (PhD, University of Durham) is university chaplain and director of religious life at the University of the Pacific.

Reviews

[Daniel Rempel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really helpful and accessible introduction to the HB/OT. Perfect for the first year undergrad OT class I teach.

[Martin Denton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a textbook--I guess for college; I guess to accompany a course offering a serious reading of what Jews call the Tanakh and Christians call the Old Testament. It's a lot friendlier and more accessible than most of the textbooks I recall reading 40-odd years ago, and a lot more informative as well. Coming to it as a lay reader in search of, I blush to admit, a kind of Cliff's Notes for the Hebrew Bible beyond the Torah, I found it constantly interesting, valuable, and informative.

I think the most useful thing about this book is that it is co-written by two academics, one Jewish and one Christian; and so, as the subtitle announces, this is a book that considers how the stories and lessons and laws of the books comprising the Hebrew Bible have been interpreted by both of those religions. The differences are fascinating and helped confirm my personal view that the Bible is poetry more than divine scripture; the authors would likely generally agree with that thought, although both of them clearly believe in a fundamental way that these words are indeed, in some way, the words of God.

[Terrance Lively · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great work that explains much of the history of the Hebrew Bible. It provides perspectives from both the Jewish faith and Christian faith while exploring the intersection of the two theologies in the scriptures. It stands as a wonderful entry into the history of the Hebrew Bible and its theological implications.

[Keith Yarter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good overview

Enjoyed the plus and minus each book or groups of books.
This book has a basic scholarship that easy to understand and pricks the mind to listen to what is presented.
Enjoyed the Jewish and non Jewish perspective.