The Hebrew Bible--A Socio-Literary Introduction [Paperback]

Norman K. Gottwald (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1985

Along with an overview of the Hebrew Bible, including introductions to each book, Gottwald provides social analysis of ancient Israel and how these books fit into that society. His acute treatment of literary genres, social conflicts, and contemporary scholarship makes this an indispensable textbook and reference work.

The volume contains many charts, study questions, and other aids, now enhanced by the new CD-ROM, which contains copious aids:

• complete, searchable text of the book

• glossary hyperlinked to the text of the book

• NRSV hyperlinks

• student assignments and discussion questions

• a wealth of internet links

• notetaking, bookmarking, and highlighting capabilities

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

An ideal introduction, now enhanced with CD-ROM.

Minimum System requirements: Computer/Processor: Pentium 133 MHz or faster (Pentium 300 MHz processor recommended). CD-ROM drive. Operating System: Microsoft Windows 98 or later—will run on Windows 98/98SE/Me/NT 4.0 (SP3)/2000/XP. Memory: Windows 98/Me/ NT: 64 MB; Windows 2000/XP: 64 MB (128 MB recommended). Hard Drive Space: 60 MB minimum. Monitor Resolution: 800 x 600 or larger. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

About the Author

Norman K. Gottwald is Professor of Old Testament Emeritus at New York Theological Seminary. He is the author of numerous works, including The Tribes of Yahweh, All the Kingdoms of the Earth, A Light to the Nations, and The Politics of Ancient Israel. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 702 pages
• Publisher: Augsburg Fortress Publishers; 1St Edition edition (July 1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 080061853X
• ISBN-13: 978-0800618537
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.5 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,590,100 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars One of the better introductions, January 5, 2002

By 

Shemayah Phillips - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Hebrew Bible--A Socio-Literary Introduction (Paperback)

Norman Gottwald and George Mendenhall the two well-known pioneers of the sociological approach to the origins of Ancient Israel, Mendenhall being Gottwald's "mentor." (Although, Gottwald promotes an almost Marxist view of peasant revolution for Israel and Mendenhall has detached himself from that extreme view)this introduction does take this approach. Yet, there is much more to it and the defendable theory does not intrude noticably.

The book discusses religious and analytic (or "critical"--a misleading term) approaches to the Hebrew Bible, that is, the Tanak. The reader is not insulted by the use of confessional Christian terminology like "Old Testament," "BC/AD;" yet, Christian views are represented. On the literary side of the introduction Gottwald stays true and speaks of literary types reminiscent of Georg Fohrer.

The student is refered to reading assignments in ANET (Ancient Near Eastern Texts relating to the Old Testament, Pritchard)and also the currently out of print Macmillan Bible Atlas (Aharoni and Avi-Yonah----a standard w/o a worthy replacement!). There are some mediocre line (b&w) maps (why it's a four instead of five stars) but many good and useful charts and tables. I cannot say enough about their helpfulness.

I bought this textbook when it was first published and it is worth having in hardback (the textbook style cover)because I still use and refer to it often and have not worn it out. The paperback edition would have died long ago. I am preparing introductory courses for the Yahwistic Bible Society in Tanak and Biblical Hebrew, and though I refer to many texts, this and the introduction by L. Boadt (a Catholic scholar---I mention this because I am not a Christian and his intro is from the viewpoint of Catholicism, and the Catholic Christian canon of scripture with deuterocanonicals, and I still consider it excellent) are always nearby.

Gottwald is very factual, direct, serious, no frills. Boadt is very readable for the non-specialist, even pleasant and sometimes entertaining for what can be a dry subject. Don't depend on one introduction, and you might consider the major angles. A useful selection might include Gottwald (or Bandstra), Boadt, and R.K. Harrison (fundamentalist Christian. Out of print . . . but can be found at overstock bookstores like Book Warehouse).

Gottwald would be a good basis for an intro course. It often is used as the textbook for university Bible intro courses.