Exploring the Old Testament, vol. 2: The Histories
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Overview
This book is an introduction to the Histories intended for first- or second-year students at theological college or university. It is meant to be read in conjunction with the biblical text. The book includes maps; tables of key facts, chronologies and events; and numerous inset panels. These provide brief treatments of particular topics, suggest questions for thought and discussion, or introduce the reader to issues that require deeper research and reflection.
Top Highlights
“However, both Samuel and yhwh respond negatively: yhwh speaks of the request as an act of rebellion (vv. 7–8), and Samuel warns Israel that the king will oppress them cruelly (v. 18).” (Page 109)
“The coincidences can be seen as evidence, not of randomness, but of God’s providential ordering of things. The key text is 4:14, where Mordecai’s words to Esther would be meaningless unless he believed that events were ordered by God.” (Page 236)
“Prophetic speeches play an important part in the plot structure of 1 and 2 Samuel” (Page 105)
“These words reveal their motives more clearly than vv. 4–5: they see a king primarily as someone who will win battles for them (cf. the people’s request to Gideon at Judges 8:22). Apparently they feel insecure, uncertain that yhwh will deliver them; they would be happier if they had a human king.” (Page 112)
“A central claim of this approach is that Old Testament narrative presupposes readers and hearers who are actively involved in the interpretative process: the writers expected their audience to note key-words, repeated elements, narrative gaps and the like, and then attempt to make sense of them.” (Page 8)
- Title: Exploring the Old Testament, vol. 2: The Histories
- Authors: Phillip E. Satterthwaite and Gordon McConville
- Publisher: SPCK
- Publication Date: 2003
- Pages: 295
Philip E. Satterthwaite is lecturer in Old Testament and Hebrew at Biblical Graduate School of Theology in Singapore.
Gordon McConville studied Modern Languages at Cambridge and Theology at Edinburgh and Belfast. He is Professor of Old Testament Theology in the university of Gloucestershire, having previously taught the Old Testament in Bristol and Oxford. He has written a number of books on Deuteronomy and the Prophets, and most recently on Old Testament political theology.
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