Includes bibliographical references.

Introduction: What are the Hebrew Bible and Old Testament? -- pt. 1. The Torah/Pentateuch. The Near Eastern context -- The nature of the Pentateuchal narrative -- The primeval history -- The patriarchs -- The exodus from Egypt -- The revelation at Sinai -- The priestly theology : Exodus 25-40, Leviticus, and Numbers -- Deuteronomy -- pt. 2. The Deuteronomistic history. The Book of Joshua -- Judges -- First Samuel -- Second Samuel -- 1 Kings 1-11 : Solomon and the divided monarchy -- 1 Kings 12-2 Kings 25 : tales of prophets and the end of the kingdoms of Israel and Judah -- pt. 3. Prophecy. Amos and Hosea -- Isaiah, Micah, Nahum, and Zephaniah -- The Babylonian era : Habakkuk, Jeremiah, and Lamentations -- The Exilic Period : Ezekiel and Obadiah -- The additions to the Book of Isaiah -- Postexilic prophecy : Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi, Joel -- pt. 4. The writings. Ezra and Nehemiah -- The books of Chronicles -- The Psalms and Song of songs -- Proverbs -- Job and Qoheleth -- The Hebrew short story : Ruth, Esther, Tobit, Judith -- Daniel, 1-2 Maccabees -- The Deuterocanonical Wisdom books : Ben Sira, Wisdom of Solomon, Baruch -- From tradition to canon.