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Bible History Old Testament
In this enduring classic, Alfred Edersheim explores the broad sweep of Old Testament history. He brings to his work his immense learning and familiarity with Judaism, as well as his love for Scripture and his desire for every Christian to know and understand the story of God's redemptive work in history.
This new edition of Edersheim's classic features the following improvements:
- Entirely reset in a modern and easy-to-read typeface
- Complete and unabridged in one volume
- Arabic numbers replace roman numerals
- New maps to provide for richer understanding
"In writing it "[Bible History: Old Testament]" I have primarily had in view those who teach and those who learn, whether in the school or in the family. But my scope has also been wider. I have wished to furnish, what may be useful for reading in the family, --what indeed may, in some measure, serve the place of a popular exposition of the sacred history. More than this, I hope it may likewise prove a book to put in the hands of students, to show them what the Bible really teaches."
--Alfred Edersheim
This new edition of Edersheim's classic features the following improvements:
- Entirely reset in a modern and easy-to-read typeface
- Complete and unabridged in one volume
- Arabic numbers replace roman numerals
- New maps to provide for richer understanding
"In writing it "[Bible History: Old Testament]" I have primarily had in view those who teach and those who learn, whether in the school or in the family. But my scope has also been wider. I have wished to furnish, what may be useful for reading in the family, --what indeed may, in some measure, serve the place of a popular exposition of the sacred history. More than this, I hope it may likewise prove a book to put in the hands of students, to show them what the Bible really teaches."
--Alfred Edersheim
1024 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1887
2431 people are currently reading
696 people want to read
About the author
Alfred Edersheim
309 books41 followersEdersheim was a scholar and writer on the traditions of the Jewish faith and Life of Christ He was born March 7th, 1825 in the city of Vienna, Austria. His parents Marcus and Stephanie Beifuss were of the Jewish faith. In Vienna he studied in the gymnasium and University of Austria.
Around 1845 he moved to Pesth, Hungary where he met John Duncan and other Presbyterian ministers, who were chaplains to Scottish workmen building a bridge over the Danube River. Under their influence he became a Christian and came to Scotland with Dr. Duncan. In 1843 he entered New College until 1844. In 1846 he entered the Presbyterian ministry and thereafter preached for a year as a missionary to the Jews and Germans at Jassy in Rumania. He came to Old Aberdeen Church in 1848 and remained for twelve years. Here he translated several German theological books into English and wrote his History of the Jewish Nation from the Fall of Jerusalem to the reign of Constantine the Great."
Reverend Alfred Edersheim was the second minister of Free Church known then as Old Machar Free Church. After twelve years at Free Church, Alfred's health started failing, he resigned and moved to Torquay in the county of Devon, England. In 1861, he gathered a congregation and in 1862 they built St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Torwood Gardens, Torquay. Because of deteriorating health problems he had to resign from St. Andrews and moved to Bournemouth a spa on the south coast. In 1875 he became an Episcopalian and ordained a deacon and priest in the Church of England. For a year he was the (unsalaried) curate of the Abbey Church, Christ Church, Hants, near Bournemouth. In 1876 he became vicar of Loders, Dorsetshire; resigning in 1883, moving to Oxford, where he was select preacher to the University from 1884-86.
Because of his health condition he eventually moved to Menton, France where he passed away March 16th, 1889.
His publications as author, translator, editor, and contributor to dictionaries and serial works are very numerous. Perhaps the best-known are:
The History of the Jewish Nation from AD 70-312 (1857)
The Jubilee Rhythm of St. Bernard, and other Hymns (1866)
The Golden Diary of Heart-Converse with Jesus in the Psalms (1874)
The Temple: its Ministry and Services as they were in the Time of Jesus Christ (1874)
Sketches of Jewish Social Life in the days of Christ (1876)
The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah (1883; 2 vols)
Prophecy and History in relation to the Messiah, (Warburtonian Lectures, 1880-84)
The History of Israel from the Sacrifice on Carmel to the Death of Jedhu (1885)
Around 1845 he moved to Pesth, Hungary where he met John Duncan and other Presbyterian ministers, who were chaplains to Scottish workmen building a bridge over the Danube River. Under their influence he became a Christian and came to Scotland with Dr. Duncan. In 1843 he entered New College until 1844. In 1846 he entered the Presbyterian ministry and thereafter preached for a year as a missionary to the Jews and Germans at Jassy in Rumania. He came to Old Aberdeen Church in 1848 and remained for twelve years. Here he translated several German theological books into English and wrote his History of the Jewish Nation from the Fall of Jerusalem to the reign of Constantine the Great."
Reverend Alfred Edersheim was the second minister of Free Church known then as Old Machar Free Church. After twelve years at Free Church, Alfred's health started failing, he resigned and moved to Torquay in the county of Devon, England. In 1861, he gathered a congregation and in 1862 they built St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Torwood Gardens, Torquay. Because of deteriorating health problems he had to resign from St. Andrews and moved to Bournemouth a spa on the south coast. In 1875 he became an Episcopalian and ordained a deacon and priest in the Church of England. For a year he was the (unsalaried) curate of the Abbey Church, Christ Church, Hants, near Bournemouth. In 1876 he became vicar of Loders, Dorsetshire; resigning in 1883, moving to Oxford, where he was select preacher to the University from 1884-86.
Because of his health condition he eventually moved to Menton, France where he passed away March 16th, 1889.
His publications as author, translator, editor, and contributor to dictionaries and serial works are very numerous. Perhaps the best-known are:
The History of the Jewish Nation from AD 70-312 (1857)
The Jubilee Rhythm of St. Bernard, and other Hymns (1866)
The Golden Diary of Heart-Converse with Jesus in the Psalms (1874)
The Temple: its Ministry and Services as they were in the Time of Jesus Christ (1874)
Sketches of Jewish Social Life in the days of Christ (1876)
The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah (1883; 2 vols)
Prophecy and History in relation to the Messiah, (Warburtonian Lectures, 1880-84)
The History of Israel from the Sacrifice on Carmel to the Death of Jedhu (1885)
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
August 3, 2020
Overall good
This 6 vol. set took awhile to digest.
Here is why I gave it a 4 star rating: A lot of chapters gave incredible insight and detail into the Old Testament. Other chapters were so wordy and loqatous, (spelling?), that I came away with the feeling of 'Huh?, What did he say?'.
So I would strongly suggest that these volumes are read as a reference work, with a Bible open right beside it. These books will appeal to the scholar at heart. Not everyone will enjoy reading this.
This 6 vol. set took awhile to digest.
Here is why I gave it a 4 star rating: A lot of chapters gave incredible insight and detail into the Old Testament. Other chapters were so wordy and loqatous, (spelling?), that I came away with the feeling of 'Huh?, What did he say?'.
So I would strongly suggest that these volumes are read as a reference work, with a Bible open right beside it. These books will appeal to the scholar at heart. Not everyone will enjoy reading this.
January 22, 2022
I love history,
I love reading the Bible's Old Testament and found Alfred Eldersheim's telling very clear and enlightening, I am looking forward to reading this book again to glean more in depth knowledge. A. C. P.
I love reading the Bible's Old Testament and found Alfred Eldersheim's telling very clear and enlightening, I am looking forward to reading this book again to glean more in depth knowledge. A. C. P.
November 18, 2019
Exegesis is the science (or art) of drawing out the meaning of a text with a view of the author's context and discoverable meaning. The process can refer to any text of literature (and perhaps beyond), but it is most commonly referred to with regards to sacred texts and, most commonly, the Bible. Good exegesis = rightly and wisely interpreting scripture as it was intended to be understood.
Eisegesis is the method of interpreting scripture by reading into it the interpreter's own biases or presuppositions. When someone is cherry-picking a specific scripture to defend a pet theological idea, most likely they are using Eisegesis. At it's best, eisegesis is the art of coming up with good ideas by using bad methodology. At it's worst, well... we get a parody of a theological work like what is found in Alfred Edersheim's "Bible History Old Testament".
As a few examples of what I am talking about, I am just going to copy and paste the notes that I jotted to myself at the end of each chapter.
Chapter 1 - Excellent quote here. Unfortunately, that is the chapter's only redeeming quality. "It is so simple, and yet so full of majesty, as almost to force us to 'worship and bow down,' and to 'kneel before the Lord our Maker.' And as this was indeed the object in view, and not scientific instruction, far less the gratification of our curiosity, we must expect to find in the first chapter of Genesis simply the grand outlines of what took place, and not any details connected with creation."
Chapter 2 - He is reading later theology into the story. Although not necessarily wrong, Edersheim is reading far more into the text than what it is saying.
Chapter 5 - AE is trying to create a theological lesson from the sons of Lamech (Jubal, Jabal, Tubal-Cain) that is completely unfaithful to the text.
Chapter 6 - His attempts to appeal to extra-Biblical history and science to validate the history of the flood are tenuous at best. They only really show how little he knows in the realms of history and science.
Chapter 7 - He is flirting with racism when discussing the descendants of Ham.
Chapter 9 - I disagree with AE's attempt to use the words of Job's friends to explore the beliefs of pagan theology at this point in history.
Chapter 11 - The separation of Abraham and Lot happened. That does not mean that it had to happen or that God could not have accomplished His purposes in a different way had it not happened. Again, Edersheim is reading far more into the text than is there (or even necessary).
Chapter 14 - Once again AE is seeing "genetic purity" where there is absolutely no call for it. "The seed of promise" becoming "mixed" had absolutely nothing to do with why Ishmael was exiled. On the other hand, AE seems strangely silent on Sarah's jealousy of Hagar.
Chapter 15 - "Esau after the custom of the East, obtained the name Edom, or 'red' from the color of the mess of pottage for which he sold his birthright." Gee... and all this time I thought he got the name because HE HAD RED HAIR. Shows what little I know. Beyond that... what "custom of the East" are we talking about? I can't even critique the statement because it is just thrown out there with no explanatory information or validating evidence.
Chapter 17 - AE has to run his commentary against the evidence of scripture when insisting that Laban was not a worshipper of YHWH but simply acknowledging that the God of Abraham existed. There is plenty of evidence both in history and in scripture that YHWH was worshipped by others beyond the children of Abraham, but this historical fact runs counter to AE's presuppositions so he refuses to acknowledge it. Either he is ignorant and unqualified to be writing a book on "Bible History" or he is being intentionally deceptive and thus, equally unqualified.
Chapter 19 - Scripture says that Dinah went to visit the local women in the area. There Shechem saw her and raped her. But AE says that it was Dinah's fault she got raped. "A more terrible warning than afforded by the results of her thoughtless and blameworthy participation in the irreligious and even heathen festivities could scarcely be given."
After this shameful act of victim shaming, I called it quits. I threw in the towel. This is more than bad exegesis and weak history. It is despicable. The only reason anybody should ever bother picking up this book is if they are teaching a hermeneutics class and the need a textbook example of what a student should not do when interpreting scripture.
Eisegesis is the method of interpreting scripture by reading into it the interpreter's own biases or presuppositions. When someone is cherry-picking a specific scripture to defend a pet theological idea, most likely they are using Eisegesis. At it's best, eisegesis is the art of coming up with good ideas by using bad methodology. At it's worst, well... we get a parody of a theological work like what is found in Alfred Edersheim's "Bible History Old Testament".
As a few examples of what I am talking about, I am just going to copy and paste the notes that I jotted to myself at the end of each chapter.
Chapter 1 - Excellent quote here. Unfortunately, that is the chapter's only redeeming quality. "It is so simple, and yet so full of majesty, as almost to force us to 'worship and bow down,' and to 'kneel before the Lord our Maker.' And as this was indeed the object in view, and not scientific instruction, far less the gratification of our curiosity, we must expect to find in the first chapter of Genesis simply the grand outlines of what took place, and not any details connected with creation."
Chapter 2 - He is reading later theology into the story. Although not necessarily wrong, Edersheim is reading far more into the text than what it is saying.
Chapter 5 - AE is trying to create a theological lesson from the sons of Lamech (Jubal, Jabal, Tubal-Cain) that is completely unfaithful to the text.
Chapter 6 - His attempts to appeal to extra-Biblical history and science to validate the history of the flood are tenuous at best. They only really show how little he knows in the realms of history and science.
Chapter 7 - He is flirting with racism when discussing the descendants of Ham.
Chapter 9 - I disagree with AE's attempt to use the words of Job's friends to explore the beliefs of pagan theology at this point in history.
Chapter 11 - The separation of Abraham and Lot happened. That does not mean that it had to happen or that God could not have accomplished His purposes in a different way had it not happened. Again, Edersheim is reading far more into the text than is there (or even necessary).
Chapter 14 - Once again AE is seeing "genetic purity" where there is absolutely no call for it. "The seed of promise" becoming "mixed" had absolutely nothing to do with why Ishmael was exiled. On the other hand, AE seems strangely silent on Sarah's jealousy of Hagar.
Chapter 15 - "Esau after the custom of the East, obtained the name Edom, or 'red' from the color of the mess of pottage for which he sold his birthright." Gee... and all this time I thought he got the name because HE HAD RED HAIR. Shows what little I know. Beyond that... what "custom of the East" are we talking about? I can't even critique the statement because it is just thrown out there with no explanatory information or validating evidence.
Chapter 17 - AE has to run his commentary against the evidence of scripture when insisting that Laban was not a worshipper of YHWH but simply acknowledging that the God of Abraham existed. There is plenty of evidence both in history and in scripture that YHWH was worshipped by others beyond the children of Abraham, but this historical fact runs counter to AE's presuppositions so he refuses to acknowledge it. Either he is ignorant and unqualified to be writing a book on "Bible History" or he is being intentionally deceptive and thus, equally unqualified.
Chapter 19 - Scripture says that Dinah went to visit the local women in the area. There Shechem saw her and raped her. But AE says that it was Dinah's fault she got raped. "A more terrible warning than afforded by the results of her thoughtless and blameworthy participation in the irreligious and even heathen festivities could scarcely be given."
After this shameful act of victim shaming, I called it quits. I threw in the towel. This is more than bad exegesis and weak history. It is despicable. The only reason anybody should ever bother picking up this book is if they are teaching a hermeneutics class and the need a textbook example of what a student should not do when interpreting scripture.
March 3, 2018
Fantastic bok
December 14, 2018
Wonderful insights to the Bible. Clears up a lot of confusing things.
June 16, 2019
Old Testament history th way it should be taught
I have not been in a bible study or heard a sermon and that tells what this book tells. It was well worth the time.
I have not been in a bible study or heard a sermon and that tells what this book tells. It was well worth the time.
November 16, 2021
Gg
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 5, 2022
I always have this book beside me when reading the Old Testament. Scholarly but worth the read.
May 9, 2015
The Old Testament starts off telling us how God created Earth. It says he had created man and sent them to Earth to continue God's jobs on earth. Man decided they didn't want to live by the word of God. Later he decided to "start over" with Noah. One of the stories in the Old Testament is David and the Lions Den. David had prayed 3 times a day to God even though it was against the law. He was later thrown in the den with the lions, expected to be dead the next morning. When he was found alive the next morning people had known it was because of God. It shows that even in life threatening situations, you can get through it will the power of God.
September 17, 2019
Great history of God and trace men and the history of the new earth. God
Showed us his action for the earth that God has began A very insterded problem for us today. Long lived the God of the uuniverse.
Showed us his action for the earth that God has began A very insterded problem for us today. Long lived the God of the uuniverse.
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April 17, 2009Bible History Old Testament: New Updated Edition by Alfred Edersheim (?)
July 31, 2011
So far this author is one of the best I ever read, I stongly recommend him.
God Bless You guys
God Bless You guys
January 11, 2013
A really good book. I now have read it 3 times.
April 8, 2013
This book is a must.
January 4, 2019
I am retired clergy, so I might tend to be a little more critical. But since I'm also a Christian who believes the Bible is God's Word and, therefore, trustworthy, there was nothing in these 1,363 pages with which I disagreed. Both edifying and enjoyable, I highly recommend it!
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews