Exploring the Old Testament: A Guide to the Pentateuch

Exploring the Old Testament #1

by Gordon J. Wenham

Exploring the Old A Guide to the Pentateuch offers a clear overview of the "five books of Moses," as well as an introduction to the historical and textual questions that modern scholarship has posed and the answers it has proposed. This critically informed, textually sensitive introduction to the Pentateuch introduces students to In this textbook you will find double-column formatting for ease of use, annotated bibliographies for further reading, sidebar explorations of select historical and textual topics in greater detail, a glossary of terms, and relevant charts and maps.

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

223 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 2003

About the author

Gordon J. Wenham was a Reformed British Old Testament scholar and writer. He has authored several books about the Bible. Tremper Longman has called him "one of the finest evangelical commentators today."

Reviews

[Alex Connell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fine intro textbook to the Old Testament. I read this as required reading for a class, it didn't really do much for me, I'd already read most of this before in other texts.

[Randy Mccracken · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Exploring the Old Testament (as well as Exploring the New Testament) Series, has similar goals to the "Encountering Biblical Study Series," and the "Teach the Text Series." Each of these series focuses on providing the beginning Bible student with an overview of a certain book or certain portion of Scripture. The goal is to introduce the reader to the main teachings and issues involved. The biggest difference with the Exploring the Old Testament Series is that it focuses on larger blocks of Scripture (The Pentateuch, the Historical Books, etc.). The author of this volume, Gordon Wenham is Senior Professor of Old Testament Emeritus at the University of Gloucestershire and is currently lecturing at Trinity College, Bristol. Ever since his commentary on Leviticus in the New International Commentary Series published in the late 70s, Wenham has been a favorite author and commentator of mine. You can always expect to learn something new. His books are always insightful and clearly written. I highly recommend this book as an introduction to the Pentateuch. For a more in depth review please click on the following link: http:www.biblestudywithrandy.com

[Greg Ronald]

Looking forward to reading this in connection with a Pentateuch course I will be taking in January 2013. It was very helpful in understanding the books of the Pentateuch and the various theories concerning the dating, history, theology and the application of these works in our Christian faith.

[Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of my textbooks for Biblical School.

[Wallace · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to refresh my exposure to and understanding of issues that I first encountered and engaged with during my reading for the Bachelor of Divinity degree at The Queen's University, Belfast (QUB). It was also attractive that the author of this book, Gordon J. Wenham, was one of my lecturers while at QUB. This is one of a six-book series covering the Old and New Testaments dealing with issues relating to literary sources, time of writing etc. at university level.

It was helpful to be introduced to how the arguments have moved on from when I first studied the issues, although there doesn't appear to be any more clarity on them! However, it was informative to read where the current consensus amongst academics and specialist Pentateuchal studies is. If you haven't read any of these academic studies before, you might feel somewhat disturbed by some of the discussions - I was also when first acquainted with it, but as a Christian, I am content to hold onto the Biblical position that 'all scripture is God-breathed and is profitable ...'

A solid 3-star read!

[JR Snow · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really great introduction to the pentateuch that sits somewhere downstream from the scholarship/journal/seminary world, but sitting well upstream from most lay-level intro works. In other words, this is a meaty-enough introduction that many pastors and scholars would use this book as a refresher to help them write the books/classes/studies that would be truly lay-level.

I have the whole series, and it is excellent. Highly recommend for anyone with at least some undergraduate theological experience, or some familiarity with Biblical theology in general.

[Fred Christopherson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a textbook which seems oriented to helping the reader understand the contents of these Biblical books. As such it provides outlines of the books, descriptions of themes, characters, and historical backgrounds. The book also provides an overview of scholarly theories—enough to make the reader conversant in them without becoming bogged down by academic controversies. While taking a non-sectarian approach, the tone and contents seem to understand that many of the readers will want to take the contents of the biblical books at face value.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Look I gotta count my Seminary books here.

Would I recommend to lay people? probably not, medium accessibility but not horribly academic

As a seminary text: I like that it explores the range of Christian thought, a decent overview of different perspectives and doesn’t really tell you what you must believe but presents them as viable options.

[JR Snow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read sections of this for my Pentateuch Class at RBC (Fall '14 I believe) under Dr. Michael Morales. I read it again in full to accompany my reading of the Bible canonically. This is a worthy and even-handed introduction, suited for educated laymen or freshman seminarians.

[Eli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent.

[Allen Lim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having read and enjoyed Wenham's book on Exploring the New Testament, I went into this book with a similar expectation. Unfortunately, this book did not resonate as well with me.

Perhaps this is the way it is with an OT commentary (though I should hope I am wrong...) Anyway, for now I think this book could work as a primer into the OT (specifically the pentateuch), but I cannot heartily recommend this as I did the earlier NT commentary.

[Bradley Velez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a good introduction to Biblical studies o the Pentateuch. It also talks about the intentions and literary style of each book. It may be a little confusing when it gets to the scholarly stuff at the end. But, other than that, it is a good book.

[Greg Ronald]

Looking forward to reading this in connection with a Pentateuch course I will be taking in January 2013.

[Jake · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very well written and thought-provoking overview of the first five books of the Old Testament. I will definitely be referencing this one again in the future.

[Isaac · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good, basic introduction to the Pentateuch and would be helpful to any thoughtful beginner student for getting their head around it.