Product Description

Editors Bill T. Arnold and Hugh G. M. Williamson present more than 160 in-depth articles on the essential historical, literary, theological, interpretive and background topics for studying the historical books of the Old Testament (Joshua, Judges, 1-2 Sam

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #239855 in Books
• Published on: 2005-12
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 1060 pages

Customer Reviews

Great source to begin research!
Over 150 articles comprise the Dictionary of the Old Testament: Historical Books, which covers the books of Joshua, Judges, 1-2 Samuel, 1-2 Kings, 1-2 Chronicles, Ezra, and Nehemiah.

Each entry is concluded by an extensive bibliography and useful cross-references to other articles in the Dictionary Of The Historical Books.

A unique feature that enhances the readability and usefulness of this dictionary is that the entries are in reality "macro-essays" on larger categories or topics instead of separate smaller essays on the component parts. For example, "Absalom" will be found in the discussion
of "David's Family," and "Anat" under "Canaanite Gods and Religion."

The entries discuss and evaluate many of the key interpretative problems and the relevance of comparative data from literary, cultural, and archaeological sources that pertain to these biblical texts. Archaeological studies are used extensively throughout the entries, with numerous sites being treated separately in addition to their citation within other contexts.

With a wide range of backgrounds and points of view among the 120 contributors, this dictionary contains fairly even and well-balanced entries that provide a panoramic view of the present landscape in this segment of scholarly research on the historical books. It must be noted, however, that the contributors to the dictionary do not merely present but also evaluate data. While some readers no doubt will take issue with some of the interpretations of the various contributors, the entries articulate the state of the question for these issues and topics and offer new directions and interpretative possibilities for the future.

The volume concludes with three indexes: Scripture, subjects,
and articles. Whether you are a scholar, a graduate student, or a layman looking for a summation of scholarly opinion, this volume is for you!

A magnificent achievement
Editors Bill Arnold and Paul Williamson have enlisted an international cast of scholars; each addressing topics within their specialties. In the past twenty years a burgeoning list of titles addressing the historicity of the OT has appeared, thus making it necessary for a dictionary that addresses these particular concerns. With entries ranging from "agriculture" to "Zion traditions," DOTHB packs competently presented information cover-to-cover. One of the best dictionaries I have encountered.

Quality Scholarship
IVP (InterVarsity Press) has a reputation for publishing quality scholarship in the fields of Theology and Biblical Studies. The IVP Bible Dictionary Series is no exception. Dictionary of the Old Testament: Historical Books is the second of IVP's series on the Hebrew Bible (the first: Dictionary of the Old Testament: Pentatuch). IVP mostly utilizes conservative Christian scholars for the articles that comprise their dictionaries. However, often material is gathered for those articles from sources throughout Christian and Judaic scholarship. Also, each entry provides a bibliography referencing a wide range of sources for further study. Those who are interested in New Testament studies should also check out IVP's New Testament volumes in this same series, The IVP Dictionary of Theology, and Dictionary of Biblical Imagery. I personally own all of these and am awaiting the remaining, yet to be published, volumes in the Hebrew Bible series.