Tight Fists or Open Hands?: Wealth and Poverty in Old Testament Law

by David L. Baker

Publisher:

Eerdmans

, 2009

Overview

The heart of this book is a study of all the biblical laws concerned with wealth and poverty. Baker groups these laws together by topic, considering the similarities and differences between the Decalogue, Book of the Covenant, Holiness Code, and Deuteronomic laws. He then places these in the context of ancient Near Eastern law in order to make clear which attitudes are distinctly biblical and which are held in common with other civilized peoples.

Each section includes an extended conclusion that summarizes the main ideas, considers relationships with other biblical texts, and points to the significance of the laws for today’s world. Such thorough exegesis and modern application make this book relevant to pastors, scholars, and students in a variety of courses.

Key Features

• Examines biblical laws regarding wealth and poverty
• Compares biblical law with ancient near eastern laws
• Identifies the relevance of biblical law to today’s world

Product Details

• Title: Tight Fists or Open Hands?: Wealth and Poverty in Old Testament Law
• Author: David L. Baker
• Publisher: Eerdmans
• Publication Date: 2009
• Pages: 440
• Resource Type: Topical
• Topic: Old Testament

About David L. Baker

David L. Baker (PhD, University of Sheffield) is a lecturer in biblical studies at All Nations Christian College, Hertfordshire, England. Until 2014 he was senior lecturer in Old Testament at Trinity Theological College in Perth, Western Australia. Previously, he was deputy warden of Tyndale House, Cambridge, England, and a seminary lecturer in Indonesia for over twenty years. He is the author of Two Testaments, One Bible: The Theological Relationship Between the Old and New Testaments and Tight Fists or Open Hands? Wealth and Poverty in Old Testament Law, as well as several books in Indonesian. His research interests include Deuteronomy, the Decalogue, the relationship between the Testaments, and wealth and poverty in the Old Testament.