Figure 1 David by Donatello (1386-1466) David was one of the admirable heroes of the Old Testament. The stories of the Bible have inspired some of the great artistic works of Western culture. Museo Nazionale del Bargello, Florence -- Photo by Barry Bandstra

KEY TERMS Ancient Middle East Apocrypha B.C.E. / C.E. Canaan Canon Elohim Fertile Crescent Genre Hebrew Hebrew Bible Israel Israeli Israelite Jew Ketuvim LORD Mesopotamia Nevi'im Old Testament Palestine Septuagint Tanak Tetragrammaton Torah Yahweh YHWH

The Bible is the single most important book in the history of the Western world, and it continues to be a perennial bestseller. The focus of our study is the first portion of the Bible, the Old Testament, also referred to as the Hebrew Bible. As sacred scripture for three of the world's great religions, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, it is fundamental and continues to be revered. Full of rich tales, shining heroes, and even more colorful villains, it has inspired some of the world's greatest works of art, music and literature. An informed acquaintance with the Old Testament befits every knowledgeable person, as it is intertwined with the course of culture in both East and West. But it is also a deeply religious book and can speak to one's heart, stirring the imagination and the soul.

   

ToC | Reading the Old Testament

. . . Introduction | ToC