The Historical Books

Interpreting Biblical Texts

by Richard D. Nelson

In The Historical Books, Richard D. Nelson introduces neophyte readers to the basic concepts of history and historical writing and provides a simple framework of events and periods that can be used to situate historical data reported in texts or presupposed by them. Standard interpretive methods are accessibly explained and illustrated by consistent reference to 2 Samuel 24. The focus of discussion moves from the narrow level of individual pericope to larger units of meaning. Because the ultimate goal is to expose the claims made on the reader by these biblical texts and to help the reader make sense of these claims, the interpretive spotlight rests on the present interaction of text and reader rather than on the past.

Genres: Biblical Studies, Old Testament

192 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1998

About the author

Professor Emeritus of Biblical Hebrew and Old Testament Interpretation at Perkins School of Theology in Dallas, Texas. He is the author of The Historical Books (Abingdon), Deuteronomy: A Commentary (Westminster John Knox), and From Eden to Babel: An Adventure in Bible Study (Chalice).

Reviews

[cinlin]

Read chapter 1 "What Are We Reading?" for Intro to the Old Testament.

[Ben Kester · Rating 3 out of 5]

An introduction to historic old testament books. I appreciated the historiography walk-through to provide some context.

[India · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good overview of the Historical Books of the Bible.

[Jerome · Rating 1 out of 5]

Good info on patterns and a cohesive view of each book. Unfortunately, his use of higher criticism leads Nelson to dismiss all the useful historical, literary, and theological data the text supplies. He tries to make sense out of what he denies to be true by integrating it with the little he affirms and ultimately leaves the reader with a lot of double talk and backtracking.