What the Old Testament Authors Really Cared About: A Survey of Jesus' Bible

by Jason S. DeRouchie (Editor)

Written from an irenic, evangelical perspective, this Old Testament survey is designed to unpack what the biblical authors most intended to communicate in the Scripture that Jesus read. As a complementary volume to the previously published What the New Testament Authors Really Cared About (Kregel Academic, 2008), it is well-suited for use in a college, seminary, or church context. Students of the Bible will find this full-color textbook accessible and engaging.What the Old Testament Authors Really Cared About is gospel-centered, portraying the Old Testament as the foundation for a fulfillment found in the New Testament. Each chapter is written by an Old Testament scholar who is a skilled teacher at one of the finest evangelical schools across North America and specializes in the biblical book covered. Readers will find: - Introductory issues (who, when, where, why) condensed to one-page snapshots of essential information at the beginning of each chapter- The clarity of the biblical message enhanced through nearly two hundred high-resolution photographs, over eighty charts and tables, and twelve color maps- Very readable text, appropriate for broad audiences- A format simpler and intentionally shorter than many other surveys, making it a very manageable textbook for a single semester Old Testament survey course or a useful guide to accompany devotional reading of Scripture

Genres: Theology, Old Testament, Christian, Biblical Studies, School, Religion, Nonfiction

496 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2013

About the author

Jason S. DeRouchie (PhD, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) is Research Professor of Old Testament and Biblical Theology at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, MO

Reviews

[Bob Hayton · Rating 5 out of 5]

In "What the Old Testament Authors Really Cared About: A Survey of Jesus’ Bible," Jason DeRouchie brings together 16 other evangelical OT scholars to produce a truly one-of-a-kind resource. Rather than being a work by scholars for scholars, this is a work for the Church. The Old Testament is expounded and analyzed from the perspective of the cross of Christ, and the result is an unpacking of the Gospel in the Old Testament. Today’s believers are provided a practical approach to reading and studying the Old Testament. And as the authors remind us, the Old Testament was the Bible of Jesus and the early Church.

The book surveys each of the 24 books of the Old Testament — 24 books according to the Hebrew numbering, that is. And the Hebrew order of the books of the Old Testament is the order the contributors to this volume follow. Each chapter gives a brief introduction as to the setting and author of that Hebrew book and then focuses on a discussion of the book’s major themes with particular regard to how it fits into the overall canonical structure. Jason DeRouchie provides introductions to each of the major sections of the Hebrew Bible: the Torah (or Law), the Prophets, and the Writings, as well as an overview of the entire Old Testament. Throughout the volume, there are beautiful, full-color photos of scenes from the Holy Land. Additionally, there are countless charts and tables on helpful subjects relating to the material covered. Memory verses and suggestions for additional reading round out each chapter. The KINGDOM Bible reading plan is also included as an appendix and will help readers in continuing to read through and appreciate the Hebrew Bible in the canonical order this book stresses.

This is a very readable and engaging work. The full-color illustrations, charts, maps and graphs will engross the reader. The material presented is merely a survey and so it would make for a great resource for an adult Sunday School class or a Bible Institute course. The Hebrew terms are transliterated and the discussion for the most part stays at a high level. That being said, the discussion focuses on the Messianic nature of the Hebrew Bible and how it all points to Christ. Pastors and teachers will detect a non-dispensational approach that doesn’t overtly teach any one system of eschatology (it leans to a new covenant theology approach, specifically recommending Kingdom through Covenant by Wellum and Gentry a few times). It could be used with prudence by churches from a wide spectrum of positions, yet is firmly evangelical and unflinching in its stance for biblical inerrancy. Some of the discussions about authorship and date will open the reader to some of the challenges of OT scholarship, but much is not said that could be. The balance it achieves is probably right for the purposes the book aims to serve.

The Christological focus of the book and its emphasis on how the Old Testament fits together to point to Christ, makes it most helpful for average readers, and yet it manages to avoid an allegorizing approach to the OT. The authors clearly care about the OT in its own right, and yet make the connections where textually warranted, between the themes and types in the Old Testament and the anti-types and fulfillment in the New Testament. I was disappointed to see a Christ-centered interpretive approach to the Song of Songs was not followed, and that stands as proof that this book is not a free-for-all when it comes to interpretive approach. The book is text-grounded and yet gospel-saturated. The sidebars and graphs are quite useful and the pointers for additional study will help the busy pastor.

Having met Jason DeRouchie and sat in his adult Sunday School class I could feel his passion for the gospel in the Old Testament oozing out of this volume. I am eager to find ways to use it in adult SS settings in my church too. I highly recommend this work, it will reignite a love for the Old Testament and a fuller appreciation for the beauty of the suffering servant and prophesied King, Jesus the Christ.

Disclaimer: This book was provided by Kregel Academic. I was under no obligation to offer a positive review.

[Rebecca Richardson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I gave it 3 stars simply bc it’s a textbook and I’m just not a read the textbook learner. That being said really proud of myself for finishing this. It was super helpful and an easy read for it being a textbook. I will refer to it in the future when studying OT books.

[Garrett Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really helpful book on the overview of the Old Testament. It’s a textbook so sometimes you just have to grind through it but overall a great and relatively easy read.

[Craig Hurst · Rating 5 out of 5]

When the first century Christians read the Old Testament how did they understand them? Moreover, how did they read them in light of Christ? How did Christ understand and teach them in light of Himself? Understanding the Old Testament as a whole and its many books the same way Jesus would have has been the goal of Christians and the life work of scholars like N.T. Wright. Christians cannot, and should not, read the Old Testament as if Christ had never come.

In 2008, under the editorial leadership of Kenneth Berding and Matt Williams, Kregel released What the New Testament Authors Really Cared About: A Survey of Their Writings. Following this book five years later, Jason S. DeRouchie has edited What the Old Testament Authors Really Cared About: A Survey of Jesus’ Bible. DeRouchie earned his PhD from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and is associate professor of Old Testament at Bethlehem College and Seminary. He is joined by a team of amazing contributors like Stephen Dempster, J. Daniel Hays, Preston M. Sprinkle and Daniel J. Estes. The goal and interpretive lens through which this book is written is summed up in the first paragraph:

"Jesus never read Romans or Revelation. He never heard sermons on Matthew’s Gospel or Peter’s epistles. Indeed, the New Testament was not written in Jesus’ day, so his only Bible was what we call the Old Testament. It was books like Genesis and Deuteronomy, Isaiah and Psalms that shaped Jesus’ upbringing and that guided his life and ministry as the Jewish Messiah. It was these Old Testament “Scriptures” that Jesus identified as God’s Word, considered to be authoritative, and called people to know and believe so as to guard against doctrinal error and hell. Jesus was convinced that what is now the first three-fourths of our Christian Bible “cannot be broken”, would be completely fulfilled, and called for repentance and forgiveness of sins to be proclaimed in his name to all nations. All this Jesus summarized as “the good news of the kingdom of God.” If we want to know Jesus as best we can, we must saturate ourselves in the same Scripture he read – namely, the Old Testament!" (28 – Scriptures removed)

Overview of the Book

Taking cue from Jason Meyer’s, DeRouchie summarizes the central message of the Bible as “God’s kingdom through covenant for his glory in Christ.” (51) This answers the what (God’s kingdom), the how (through covenant) and the why (his glory in Christ) questions for biblical theology. The overall structure of the book is viewed through the lens of KINGDOM:

1. Kickoff and Rebellion – Creation, Fall and Flood: God creates, mans sins and God responds with worldwide judgment, though He extends mercy and grace to Noah and his family.
2. Instrument of Blessing – Patriarchs: God elects to create a people for Himself through which He would bless the world.
3. Nation Redeemed and Commissioned - Exodus, Sinai and Wilderness: God brings His people out of bondage in Egypt, reveals His glory and Law at Sinai, though His people respond in sin and they are sent in exile in the wilderness.
4. Government in the Promised Land – Conquest and Kingdoms: God leads His people in the conquest of Canaan and the establishment of kings. Though Israel fails many times God promises a future coming righteous king through David’s line.
5. Dispersion and Return – Exile and Initial Restoration: God casts Israel out of the promised land because of their sin. He later restores them to rebuild the temple though most of them are still cold-hearted towards God.
6. Overlap of the Ages – Christ’s Work and the Church Age: God sent His Son Jesus, the promised king of David and suffering servant of Isaiah, to deal with the sin of His people and begin restoring the world as God’s kingdom. God’s people are now identified as the church.
7. Mission Accomplished – Christ’s Return and Kingdom Consummated: God sends His Son again to exact judgment on those who rebel against Him, to gather His people from all over the world, to remove sin and complete the reestablishment of His kingdom rule on earth as His people are ushered into eternity with God.

It is the theme of kingdom that runs throughout the Bible and through which we (1) understand God’s relationship with man through the various covenants and (2) are pointed to the glory of God as displayed in Christ.

The Old Testament books are categorized into three groups: the Law, the Prophets and the Writings. These three groups are summarized as follows:

The Law – “The Pentateuch was designed to highlight the establishment of the old covenant, which provides the literary lens for understanding the Prophets and Writings and anticipates the need for the redeeming work of Messiah Jesus.” (57) This follows the KIN sections of the Kingdom structure of the Bible.

The Prophets – “The Former Prophets provide a narrative history that clarifies God’s perspective on what happened to Israel from their conquest of the Promised Land to their exile from it. The Latter Prophets then offer prophetic commentary that develops why Israel’s story went the way it did.” (163) This follows the G section of the Kingdom structure of the Bible.

The Writings – “The Writings provided guidance to this [the loyal remnant] faithful few, still in ‘slavery’ (Ezra 9:8-9), who remained resolute in their confidence that Yahweh was on the throne and would one day right all wrongs through a royal redeemer.” (320) This follows the D section of the Kingdom structure of the Bible.
Overview of the Chapters

Each of the three main sections begins with an overview of the content as connected with the KINGDOM overarching structure. The chapters on each book of the Old Testament have the same layout. There is a one page introduction to the book answering who wrote it and to whom, when and where it was written and why it was written. At the beginning of each chapter the authors select a few passages from their respective book which they believe encapsulate and summarize the message of that book. For example, in summarizing Genesis, Stephen Dempster selects Genesis 1:1 to point to creation, Genesis 3:15 to point to the promise of a redeemer, Genesis 12:1-3 to point to the covenant with Abraham and Genesis 15:6 to point to salvation from God as found in faith in God.

Each chapter has more charts and pictures than you will most likely find in any other Old Testament introduction book. Initially I found this to be distracting as I wanted more comments from the contributors. The further I reflected on their presence the more I feel they accomplish as much or more than more explanation would. The charts help to summarize content which remove distracting or unnecessary discussion that the reader might get lost in. Some examples of more helpful charts include “Yahweh’s Mighty Acts Against Egypt” in Exodus (86), the camp arrangement of the twelve tribes of Israel around the tabernacle in the wilderness in Numbers (130), a detailed chart on the “Old Testament Yahweh Wars of Judgment” in Joshua (182-83) and the “Mosaic Covenant Blessings, Curses and Restoration Blessings” in Ezekiel (270). The many pictures help to bring the discussion and Scripture alive as the reader is reminded that the Christian faith is embedded in time and history itself. They tell us that these events really happened and here is what it might have looked like. Additionally, there are sidebars throughout the book which give more information about people, places and events. These are similar to study notes in a study Bible. Each chapter has an “At a Glance” chart which summarizes the book in short statement with corresponding chapters, key words and concepts to review at the end of the chapter as well as resources for further study.

Conclusion

All total, What the Old Testament Authors Really Cared About is a solid survey of the Old Testament by a team of conservative evangelicals committed to the authority of Scripture and its redemptive focus. The audience aim college and seminary students as well as local church leaders. I readily agree with this. My only recommendation would be that while it may be sufficient as a foundational textbook for seminary it would need to be supplemented with other more in-depth Old Testament works as well. For college and laymen this is almost a one-stop-shop for an Old Testament survey. Further, this book guides the reader in their understanding of the Old Testament in light of Christ and not despite it.

NOTE: I received this book for free from Kregel in return for an honest review of the book. I was under no obligation to provide a favorable review and the words and thoughts expressed are my own.

[Michael Boling · Rating 5 out of 5]

As any Bible College or Seminary student will attest, there are a plethora of Old Testament Survey textbooks on the market. Some provide merely a cursory overview of what can be found in the books of the Old Testament somewhat like a 50,000 foot fly over of the material while others engage the text with a greater degree of detail. A new effort on the market is a book called What the Old Testament Authors Really Cared About: A Survey of Jesus’ Bible, edited by Jason DeRouchie.

In the preface of this text, the editor makes it quite clear for the reader what this book is not, namely the fact it is not a thorough survey of the history of the beliefs of the Israelites, a summary of historical events, a synthesis of the various available sources that contribute to an understanding of the text, a review of the important characters in the Old Testament, a survey of the theology of the Old Testament, a systematic theology, or the musings of the reader. What this book is all about is providing the reader with a glimpse, an important one at that of “the essence of what is revealed in the Old Testament, with a conscious eye toward the fulfillment found in Jesus as clarified in the New Testament.” Essentially, this book is focused on what the Old Testament text moves the reader towards in Scripture, that of the coming of the Redeemer. Given the majority of our Bible is comprised of the Old Testament and the New Testament authors cited the Old Testament over and over again which should not be surprising given it was their Bible, understanding the essence of what the Old Testament speaks to is vital.

There is much to like about this Old Testament survey, most importantly, its constant focus on the Messiah. As noted earlier, the message of the Old Testament is the movement in history towards the coming of the Redeemer. Grasping that as you engage each individual Old Testament book is a must in order to grasp the overarching theme of Scripture. In the unpacking of this ultimate truth, this book does a marvelous job of getting to the heart of what each Old Testament book is focused on and how that applies to the foundational theme of redemption through the Messiah upon which Scripture as a whole rests.

Another aspect of this book I fully loved was quite frankly how this book is put together. The full color pages, use of maps and other historically important background information, use of tables and figures to drive home the important concepts of the respective Old Testament books, the numerous sidebar notes throughout the book that serve as a quick reminder of the particular topic at hand, not to mention the solidly biblical orientation of the discussion, all serve to provide the reader with an excellent tool for tacking just what the Old Testament is all about and why it is so important to understand the front of the book. Seeing that promise come about through the lens of the Old Testament which this book does an excellent job of presenting, is a great tool for solid and effective Bible study.

Some may find it strange the consistent use of the term “Jesus’ Bible” used in this book. For those who may find such terminology strange, after reading this book, they will begin to understand why the editor chose such a phrase, namely because the Old Testament was the Bible of Jesus’ day. It was what the New Testament authors had at their disposal and the text from which they taught those in the early church before the New Testament canon was formalized. Using the term “Jesus’ Bible” truly drives home an important point which again is a focus of this particular survey, that of the presentation of the Old Testament as the prelude to the coming of the Messiah and how God worked in history through the people of Israel to bring about that glorious coming of our Redeemer.

Yet another part of this book I enjoyed was the resources for further study, something that is essential for a book that seeks to engage a topic as grand as addressing the scope of the Old Testament message. I found the resources that were provided to be valuable ones for the reader to engage should they desire to focus on more specific aspects of the topics covered in this particular text that might need some additional research and/or study. Since this book has already professed to not be the end all of Old Testament surveys or the entirety of knowledge on Old Testament doctrine, providing additional resources as food for additional study for the reader is an excellent addition.

As the reader of What the Old Testament Authors Really Cared About works their way through this solid Old Testament survey, they will find themselves fully engaged in the message of the front of the book as well as realizing on many occasions what quite a few believers, including myself, have missed in our respective forays into reading the Old Testament. It is quite easy to get lost in the history, mystery, theology, and overall flow of the first 39 books of the Bible. Admittedly, there is much to read and absorb along the way. Having a resource available such as What the Old Testament Authors Really Cared About will serve both the seasoned student of the Bible and those taking a read for even the first time of what God is saying to humanity from Genesis to Malachi. That message is the promise of the Redeemer. With a firm understanding of that promise, the reader will more fully appreciate God’s grace towards humanity expressed through the coming of the Messiah and His death on the cross.

I received this book for free from Kregel Publications for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

[Madison Ewers]

PTL I finally finished this one!! It was helpful and I think I’ll refer back to it in the future as I go through OT books.

[Jonathan Ginn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a solid OT survey textbook that would be ideal for an undergraduate-level course. I especially appreciated the book's many charts and maps, as well as the way it has been arranged to follow the ordering of the Tanakh. That said, as a textbook it can feel a bit dry at times. Furthermore, since it features chapter contributions from a number of different authors, there is a slight yet noticeable disparity in the quality of the writing and content from chapter to chapter.

[Eric Fulwider · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a textbook. It is easy to read considering that fact. This is an overview with a helpful perspective on the OT. However, there were some areas I wished it would have gone deeper on. That being said, I understand that it is a survey and would be a thousand pages if they elaborated much. This book does well to give the broad brush of the OT and connect it with the person and work of Christ. Well done! Also the pictures are awesome!

[R. Fox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strong overall, but it drops the ball quite a bit with the The Twelve (=the Minor Prophets). Excellent for an undergrad OT course, though; in fact, I'm using it now. Perhaps the real strength is how it connects the OT and the NT to show how they are both essential parts of a larger story of redemption, especially in some of the later chapters that synthesize a lot of things.

[Kevin Sorensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

What The Old Testament Authors Really Cared About: A Survey of Jesus’ Bible is not (according to the author/editor):
• A history of Israelite religion
• A summary of the events of history
• A synthesis of the sources behind the texts
• A review of characters in the text
• A theology of the Hebrew Bible on its own
• A systematic theology
• A reflection of the reader
Instead, using more of a canonical approach, the various authors seek to ‘present the essence of what is revealed in the Old Testament.’ Jesus is the primary fulfillment of the Old Testament in the New Testament. How do the Old Testament authors point toward this? How did those who compiled the canon of books in the Old Testament view this and thus, order the canon accordingly?
Primarily, WOTARCA, is a textbook. One could use it for a class (college or intro seminary level). One could simply read through it, but the reader will be helped far more effectively if a group were to do this together. Personally, I’ll be working to develop a study class/group at my church for people who want to see what the Old Testament is all about.
I thoroughly enjoy the layout of this book. It’s one-column print is easy on the eyes. Charts, graphs, photographs, sidebars, summary boxes are all used to assist the reader in assimilating the vast amount of information contained here. Seven appendices will also further one’s ability to comprehend what the compilation of authors are striving to communicate. And DeRouchie’s primary K-I-N-G-D-O-M development will convey the progression, as well as the purpose of God’s Covenants throughout redemptive history. 

Overall, I’d highly recommend this book to pastors, elders, pastors-in-training, college students, entry-level seminary students, and highly motivated students of the Bible. I’m not certain that the ‘average Joe or Sue Christian’ would pick it up unless taking a class, but it’s not out of their reach; probably more beyond their level of interest.

[Peter Krol · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very helpful survey of the Old Testament. DeRouchie makes a strong case for reading and interpreting the Old Testament books in the Hebrew order (Law, Prophets, Writings). This collection was crafted and curated to teach particular things in particular ways.

This text covers each Old Testament book thematically, explaining the main ideas presented in each book. It is well-written, well-edited, and beautifully annotated. I will return to it often.

[Reagan Formea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m in Bible college rn and I’m allowing myself to count one textbook a semester to my goodreads challenge soooo I chose this one;) actually a really good read!! Kinda makes the boring books of the Bible make so much more sense and adds some value.

[Matt Pitts · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was perfect for the college level Old Testament Survey course I'm teaching: clear, concise chapters that focus on the big ideas rather than getting bogged down in minutiae. The writing is winsome and engaging. There are plenty of images and figures to summarize and add color to the text. I could not have asked for a better textbook.

Note: I did not assign all of the chapters and so I have not read them all either, but I read 17 out of 25 so I got a good feel for the whole book.

4.5 stars

[Elvis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. DeRouchie’s book surveying the Old Testament is phenomenal. I enjoyed this book immensely. It is easy to read, and it is very thought provoking in that he approaches the Old Testament in ways that I had not thought of before. “What the Old Testament Authors Really Cared About” really opened my eyes to see how Jesus can truly be in every book and story of the Bible, especially in the Old Testament. I’m sure that I will be using this book for years to come as I seek to preach and teach the Bible to others.

[D · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book alongside my OT reading this year and I loved it. This survey is a very brief primer to each book in the OT. It is academic but very devotional. The content is great and it has great charts, graphs, and photos that make the book worth the money itself.

A great companion to OT study.

[Rick Perez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful approach to a survey of the Old Testament! Illuminated my understanding of Jesus’ words in Luke 24:27,44-45. The Law, The Prophets & The Writings. I now see all of Jesus’ New Testament fulfillment in the light of Matthew 5:17-18 much clearer and thru the lens of The Law, The Prophets & The Writings! Highly recommend.

[Kaden Classen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good survey of the Old Testament. It's strong in theology and overviews the themes of each book well. I really enjoyed it and will reference the book as I study the Old Testament. If you're looking for things like extensive authorship and date arguments, though, this book doesn't have them. In my opinion, it's best used alongside another textbook that does offer those.

[Ashish Mathew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid OT survey. Aimed at an undergraduate level. Helpful treatment of major themes through each book. Used this textbook to teach through an OT Survey class at our church’s Bible institute. Easy-to-follow and accessible.

[Bradley Somers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent. This is a textbook, yet, easy to read and will keep you interested in reading through the Old Testament from a Hebrew Bible perspective. Recommend to anyone who wants to go deeper than simply a read through of the Old Testament

[Sara Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really helpful textbook on an overview of the Old Testament! Enjoyed that it had pictures to help me imagine what was going on during that time, and I loved how each book of the Bible was given overarching themes that pointed to Christ!

[Andrew Cowart · Rating 3 out of 5]

The New Testament issue of this book is put together a lot better than this one. This book is hard to follow at times.

[Joshua · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic, brief overview (survey) of the Hebrew Bible.

[Hannah Kicklighter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Used for my Introduction to the Old Testament class.

Eh... not really a big fan of this book, to be honest. It was very heavy in material and just wasn’t that interesting to me.

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great resource on the O.T. Great charts, maps, pictures to accompany the information.

[William Beck · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good resource to use for some background information when studying.

[Elizabeth Eflin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chapters are a manageable length with good section breaks, and there are lots of fun pictures and infographics. A good fly-by overview of the Old Testament.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very high quality book with a hardcover that has the art on the cover with no need for a dust jacket, and very nice, thick paper to display the high quality graphics and photos. The title is drawn from the companion New Testament volume-What the New Testament Authors Really Cared About , which is something I'd like to get because of how much I like this one. Incidentally, one of the reviewers of that book would have liked a Summary at the end of each chapter, which is included in this book. The NT book was published in 2008 and this one in September of 2013.

This book comes highly recommended by people like by Piper, Block, Gentry, Naselli, Storms and J. Meyer (stands for Jason-did I scare you?) among others. The book is:

-intentionally shorter-"synthesizes in 3-6 themes the lasting message of each book"
-collaborative effort by many scholars and teachers to "communicate effectively to college and seminary students and within the local church, thus making it very readable for broad audiences."

The book "attempts to present the essence of what is revealed in the Old Testament, with a conscious eye toward the fulfillment found in Jesus as clarified in the New Testament." I found this to be very consistent throughout the book. The consistency shows the quality of the editing.

Being an illustrative book, there are many helpful charts, timelines, inserts, and photographs. Regarding the photographs-I think that's a tricky thing with these types of books and illustrated study Bibles. Some of the photos are very valuable, showing specific places that have architectural landmarks that are still in place today. Other times the photos could be of anywhere and seem to just be filler pieces. Photos with people in them (which are of course taken since photography was invented) are rather strange, even if it shows a few helpful items like men with phylacteries, which many of us are unfamiliar with. Overall they are helpful, and the photos used in this book are mostly very high quality. That's the closet thing to anything negative I have to say about the book.

Since you can see the description and see inside the book online, I'd like to just point out a couple more areas of interest.

Boxed inserts like quotes on how the NT relates to the Old, or contemporary significance, or other topics, are spread throughout. It's like a box of (high quality) chocolates, you never know what you'll get.

I especially liked the chapter on Job. Having just read a commentary on it, I thought that Edward M. Curtis did a terrific job (see what I did?) in distilling what the book is about. A lot can be learned just from the synopsis of the book at the beginning of the chapter after the Who? When? Where? Why?

The Author of Job ...

-Affirmed Yahweh's sovereignty over all things.
-Showed that personal sin is not the only reason humans suffer.
-Acknowledge humanity's inability to fully grasp God's work and purposes.
-Recognized that God accepts the honest cries of his hurting people.
-Clarified how to respond when God's justice and goodness appear questionable.
-Believed that people should fear God for who he is rather than for what he gives.

And then expounds on those topics both succinctly and with an obvious understanding of the book that I have found to be rare. Or maybe I just agree with his assessment, after having read so much about it. That can't be easy with a book like Job. This is done consistently throughout the entire book.

This is a book I love to have, especially for the Old Testament. It will be referred to much in the future. In fact, it's almost something you'd like to keep on the coffee table, if only all of your guests were as interested in the Old Testament as you are.

I received this book for free from Kregel in return for an honest review of the book. I was under no obligation to provide a favorable review and the words and thoughts expressed are my own.

Update: I read the whole section on the minor prophets and it was very informative.

[Kristi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found it incredibly insightful and I loved learning how all the different books in the Old Testament fit together. Did a great job of showing all of the themes that really overlap.

It is a book, though, that you have to break up and read in pieces.

[Scott Meadows · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book provides a valuable and concise introduction to the essential details that one needs to know about each book of the Old Testament. Read for OT I & II at MBTS under Jason DeRouchie, the author.

[Rich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here is my review:

http://wp.me/pygs7-Nu