Understanding the Old Testament Suggested Readings (46 books)

A list of the suggested readings for the course Understanding the Old Testament from the Great Courses as listed in the course guidebook. A full list by lecture of the suggested reading can be found in a comment below.

Please note that a Bible has not been added to the list because there was no recommended version suggested in the guidebook, and relevant selections from the Bible were not included in the lecture readings lists.

NOTE: The books have been added in order of lectures. Please do not vote on this list and do not add additional books.

flag

All Votes Add Books To This List

1	Understanding the Old Testament by Robert D. Miller II 4.12 avg rating — 343 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
1	Your Travel Guide to Ancient Israel by Josepha Sherman 3.86 avg rating — 14 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
3	Exploring the Genesis Creation & Fall Stories (Exploring Scripture Series) by John Michael Perry 3.67 avg rating — 3 ratings score: 99, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
4	The Priestly Vision of Genesis 1 by Mark S. Smith 3.67 avg rating — 24 ratings score: 98, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
5	The Liberating Image: The Imago Dei in Genesis 1 by J. Richard Middleton (Goodreads Author) 4.17 avg rating — 135 ratings score: 97, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
6	Introduction to the Pentateuch by Roger Norman Whybray 3.29 avg rating — 24 ratings score: 96, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
7	Creation, Uncreation, Recreation: A Discursive Commentary on Genesis 1–11 by Joseph Blenkinsopp 3.91 avg rating — 23 ratings score: 95, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
8	The Trial of Innocence: Adam, Eve, and the Yahwist by André LaCocque liked it 3.00 avg rating — 1 rating score: 94, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
9	Discovering Eve: Ancient Israelite Women in Context by Carol L. Meyers 3.94 avg rating — 49 ratings score: 93, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
10	Divine Commitment and Human Obligation: Selected Writings of David Noel Freedman : History and Religion by David Noel Freedman 4.25 avg rating — 4 ratings score: 92, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
11	The Historicity of the Patriarchal Narratives: The Quest For The Historical Abraham by Thomas L. Thompson 3.22 avg rating — 9 ratings score: 91, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
12	The Anchor Bible Dictionary, Vol. 3: H-J by David Noel Freedman (Editor) 4.70 avg rating — 10 ratings score: 90, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
13	"Too Much to Grasp": Exodus 3:13-15 and the Reality of God by Andrea D. Saner 4.25 avg rating — 4 ratings score: 89, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
14	"You Shall Not Kill" or "You Shall Not Murder"?": The Assault on a Biblical Text by Wilma Ann Bailey 4.22 avg rating — 9 ratings score: 88, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
15	The Sabbath: Its Meaning for Modern Man by Abraham Joshua Heschel 4.37 avg rating — 7,406 ratings score: 87, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
16	Called to Freedom by Roland Meynet 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings score: 86, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
17	Contending for Justice: Ideologies and Theologies of Social Justice in the Old Testament (The Library of Hebrew Bible/Old Testament Studies, 642) by Walter J. Houston 3.75 avg rating — 4 ratings score: 85, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
18	Law from the Tigris to the Tiber: The Writings of Raymond Westbrook: 2 vol set by Raymond Westbrook 4.50 avg rating — 2 ratings score: 84, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
19	Unfolding Deuteronomistic History by Antony F. Campbell 3.86 avg rating — 7 ratings score: 83, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
20	The Rise of Ancient Israel by Hershel Shanks (Editor) 4.24 avg rating — 108 ratings score: 82, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
21	Chieftains Of The Highland Clans: A History Of Israel In The Twelfth And Eleventh Centuries B.C. by Robert D. Miller II 2.89 avg rating — 9 ratings score: 81, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
22	The Book of Judges (New International Commentary on the Old Testament by Barry G. Webb 4.38 avg rating — 61 ratings score: 80, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
23	David's Secret Demons: Messiah, Murderer, Traitor, King by Baruch Halpern 3.88 avg rating — 58 ratings score: 79, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
24	The Characters of Elijah and Elisha and the Deuteronomic Evaluation of Prophecy: Miracles and Manipulation (The Library of Hebrew Bible/Old Testament Studies, 671) by Roy L. Heller it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating score: 78, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
25	The Prophets by Abraham Joshua Heschel 4.40 avg rating — 1,323 ratings score: 77, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
26	Helpmates, Harlots, and Heroes: Women's Stories in the Hebrew Bible by Alice Ogden Bellis 3.88 avg rating — 107 ratings score: 76, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
27	Character and Ideology in the Book of Esther by Michael V. Fox 4.30 avg rating — 20 ratings score: 75, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
28	Amos by Göran Eidevall 4.22 avg rating — 9 ratings score: 74, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
29	Sedeq and Sedaqah in the Hebrew Bible by Ahuva Ho it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating score: 73, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
30	Conversations with Scripture: 2 Isaiah by Stephen L. Cook 3.89 avg rating — 9 ratings score: 72, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
31	Messianism within the Scriptural Scroll of Isaiah by Randall Heskett liked it 3.00 avg rating — 1 rating score: 71, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
32	To Pluck Up, to Tear Down: A Commentary on the Book of Jeremiah 1-25 by Walter Brueggemann 4.11 avg rating — 9 ratings score: 70, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
33	To Build, to Plant: A Commentary on Jeremiah 26-52 by Walter Brueggemann 4.29 avg rating — 7 ratings score: 69, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
34	The Jewish Gospels by Daniel Boyarin 4.10 avg rating — 741 ratings score: 68, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
35	The Encyclopedia of Apocalypticism: Volume 1: The Origins of Apocalypticism in Judaism and Christianity by Bernard McGinn (Editor) 3.90 avg rating — 10 ratings score: 67, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
36	The Psalms as Israel's Prayer and Our Own by Robert D. Miller II 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings score: 66, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
37	Analyzing the Psalms, 2nd Edition by Ernst R. Wendland it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating score: 65, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
38	Spirituality of the Psalms by Walter Brueggemann 4.13 avg rating — 379 ratings score: 64, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
39	Tree of Life, 3rd ed.: An Exploration of Biblical Wisdom Literature by Roland Edmund Murphy 3.62 avg rating — 101 ratings score: 63, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
40	The Proverb- and An Index to «The Proverb»: With an Introduction and Bibliography by Wolfgang Mieder by Hasseltine Byrd Taylor (Editor) liked it 3.00 avg rating — 1 rating score: 62, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
41	Job: A Case Study by Raymond Breakstone (Editor) liked it 3.00 avg rating — 1 rating score: 61, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
42	The Meaning of the Book of Job and Other Biblical Studies: Essays on the Literature and Religion of the Hebrew Bible by Matitiahu Tsevat really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 3 ratings score: 60, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
43	Qoheleth [Ecclesiastes] (Continental Commentary Series) by Norbert Lohfink 4.50 avg rating — 2 ratings score: 59, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
44	Playing with Dragons: Living with Suffering and God by Andrew R. Angel 4.31 avg rating — 16 ratings score: 58, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
45	God at War: The Bible & Spiritual Conflict by Gregory A. Boyd 4.23 avg rating — 449 ratings score: 57, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
46	The Dragon, the Mountain, and the Nations: An Old Testament Myth, Its Origins, and Its Afterlives by Robert D. Miller II really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 5 ratings score: 56, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars