While some of the following titles focus mainly on the contents of the various biblical books, others add to this a detailed account and discussion of the contemporary state of scholarship. For the latter purpose, of course, the more recent works are to be preferred, but readers interested in the history of research can often find important information in works that reflect the questions raised by previous generations of scholars. Hence a few older works have been listed here as well.
The bibliography is divided into two sections as follows:
Anderson, B. W., Understanding the Old Testament (Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 41986; abridged paperback revision 1997); the UK edition is entitled: The Living World of the Old Testament (London: Longman, 41988). There is now an abridged and updated 5th edition: B. W. Anderson – S. Bishop – J. Newman, Understanding the Old Testament (Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall, 52006).
Bandstra, B. L., Reading the Old Testament: An Introduction to the Hebrew Bible (Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, 1995, 21999). Third edition with CD-ROM: [same title] (Belmont, CA: Thomson / Wadsworth, 2004). Fourth edition: [same title] (Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Cengage, ©2009 [available in late 2008]); there is a companion website [http://biblicaltext.org] with additional material and resources. The text of the second edition (1999) can be found here [http://web.archive.org/web/20070812002601/www.hope.edu/bandstra/RTOT/RTOT.HTM].
Barton, J. – J. Bowden, The Original Story: God, Israel and the World (London: Darton, Longman & Todd, 2004).
Benjamin, D. C., The Old Testament Story: An Introduction, with CD-ROM (Minneapolis: Fortress, 2004).
Birch, B. C. – W. Brueggemann – T. E. Fretheim – D. L. Petersen, A Theological Introduction to the Old Testament (Nashville: Abingdon, 1999, revised 22005).
Bowker, J., The Complete Bible Handbook: An Illustrated Companion (London – New York: Dorling Kindersley, 1998).
Brueggemann, W., An Introduction to the Old Testament: The Canon and Christian Imagination (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox, 2003); = Introduzione all'Antico Testamento. Il canone e l'immaginazione cristiana (Strumenti 21; Torino: Claudiana, 2005).
Ceresko, A. R., Introduction to the Old Testament: A Liberation Perspective (Maryknoll (NY): Orbis Books; London: Chapman, 1992). Revised and expanded edition: [same title] (Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 22001); = Solleva lo sguardo: L'Antico Testamento in una prospettiva di liberazione (Collana "La Missione"; Bologna: Editrice Missionaria Italiana, 2002).
Coggins, R. J., Introducing the Old Testament (Oxford Bible series; Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1990, 22001).
Collins, J. J., Introduction to the Hebrew Bible, with CD-ROM (Minneapolis: Fortress, 2004).
Collins, J. J., A Short Introduction to the Hebrew Bible (Minneapolis: Fortress, 2007). [Five of the Minor Prophets and three Deuterocanonical books are not discussed in this edition.]
Coogan, M. D., The Old Testament: A Historical and Literary Introduction to the Hebrew Scriptures (New York: Oxford University Press, 2006).
Coogan, M. D., A Brief Introduction to the Old Testament: The Hebrew Bible in Its Context (New York – Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009). [a concise updated version of his 2006 work]
Crenshaw, J. L., Old Testament Story and Faith: A Literary and Theological Introduction (Peabody, MA: Hendrikson, 1992).
Dell, K. J., Opening the Old Testament (Oxford: Blackwell, 2008).
Dick, M. B., Reading the Old Testament: An Inductive Introduction (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 2008).
Drane, J., Introducing the Old Testament. 2nd edition, completely revised and updated (Oxford: Lion Hudson, 2000; Minneapolis, MN: Fortress, 2001) [First edition 1987].
Gertz, J. C. – A. Berlejung – K. Schmid – M. Witte, Grundinformation Altes Testament. Eine Einführung in Literatur, Religion und Geschichte des Alten Testaments (UTB 2745; Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 2006).
Gottwald, N. K., The Hebrew Bible: A Brief Socio-Literary Introduction (Minneapolis, MN: Fortress, 2009).
Harris, S. L., Understanding the Bible. Seventh edition (Boston: McGraw-Hill, 2007).
Harris, S. L. – R. L. Platzner, The Old Testament: An Introduction to the Hebrew Bible (New York: McGraw-Hill, 22008). [First edition: Boston: McGraw-Hill, 2003].
Levin, C., Das Alte Testament (C. H. Beck Wissen in der Beck'schen Reihe, 2160; München: Beck, 2001); = Introduzione all'Antico Testamento (L'Antico Testamento Commentato; Brescia: Morcelliana, 2004); = The Old Testament. A Brief Introduction (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2005).
Matthews, V. H. – J. C. Moyer, Old Testament: Text and Context (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1997, 22005).
McKenzie, S. L. – M. P. Graham (eds.), The Hebrew Bible Today: An Introduction to Critical Issues (Louisville, KY: Westminster / John Knox, 1998).
McKenzie, S. L. – J. Kaltner, The Old Testament: Its Background, Growth, and Content (Nashville, TN: Abingdon, 2007).
Mendenhall, G. E., Ancient Israel's Faith and History: An Introduction to the Bible in Context. Edited by G. A. Herion (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox, 2001).
Merlo, P. (ed.), L'Antico Testamento: introduzione storico-letteraria (Frecce 440; Roma: Carocci, 2008).
Nickelsburg, G. W., Jewish Literature Between the Bible and the Mishnah: A Historical and Literary Introduction (Philadelphia: Fortress, 1981). Second edition with CD-ROM: [same title] (Minneapolis: Fortress, 2005).
Noffke, E., Introduzione alla letteratura mediogiudaica precristiana (Strumenti 18; Torino: Claudiana, 2004). [includes the deuterocanonical books]
Quesnel, M. – P. Gruson (eds.), La Bible et sa culture. Vol. 1: Ancien Testament. Vol. 2: Jésus et le Nouveau Testament (Paris: Desclée De Brouwer, 2000); = La Biblia y su cultura. Vol. 1: Antiguo Testamento. Vol. 2: Jesús y el Nuevo Testamento (Presencia teológica, 115/1-2; Santander: Editorial Sal Terrae, 2002).
Schmidt, W. H. – W. Thiel – R. Hanhart, Altes Testament (Grundkurs Theologie, 1; Urban Taschenbücher, 421; Stuttgart: Kohlhammer, 1989).
Schmitt, H.-C., Arbeitsbuch zum Alten Testament. Grundzüge der Geschichte Israels und der alttestamentlichen Schriften (Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 2005).
Sicre Díaz, J. L., Introducción al Antiguo Testamento (Estella: Verbo Divino, 1992; 21993; 31996); = Introdução ao Antigo Testamento (Petrópolis: Vozes, 21999).
Stendebach, F. J., Einleitung in das Alte Testament (Leitfaden Theologie, 22; Düsseldorf: Patmos, 1994, 2001[reprint]) ; = Introduzione all'Antico Testamento (Giornale di Teologia, 251; Brescia: Queriniana, 1996).
Bentzen, A., Introduction to the Old Testament. Vol 1: Canon, Text and Forms of the O.T. Vol. 2: Books of the O.T. (Copenhagen: G. E. C. Gad, 1948). Seventh edition (same titles), 2 vols. in 1 (Copenhagen: G. E. C. Gad, 1967).
Briend, J. – H. Cazelles, et al., La Loi et les Prophètes. Introduction critique à l'Ancien Testament. Texte revu et Préface nouvelle. Preface by H. Cazelles (Paris: Téqui, 2000). [For the original edition of 1973 see s.v. Cazelles below. In the 2000 publication there are only slight revisions of the text, the whole part on the Psalms and Wisdom literature has been omitted, and the original 1973 bibliographies have not been updated.]
Cazelles, H. (gen. ed.), Introduction à la Bible. édition nouvelle. Tome II: Introduction critique à l'Ancien Testament (Paris: Desclée, 1973); = Introducción a la Biblia: Introducción Crítica al Antiguo Testamento (Biblioteca Herder. Sección de Sagrada Escritura, 158; Barcelona: Herder, 1981). [For a very limited update of part of the work see above s.v. Briend and Cazelles.]
Childs, B. S., Introduction to the Old Testament as Scripture (London: SCM; Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1979). Unchanged reprint (London: XPRESS Reprints, 1996).
Chilton, B. D. (ed.), The Cambridge Companion to the Bible (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 22008).
Driver, S. R., An Introduction to the Literature of the Old Testament (International Theological Library; Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 91913) [11891].
Eissfeldt, O., Einleitung in das Alte Testament, unter Einschluss der Apokryphen und Pseudepigraphen. Entstehungsgeschichte des Alten Testaments (Neue theologische Grundrisse; Tübingen: J.C.B. Mohr [Paul Siebeck], 1934). The title was changed in the following editions: Einleitung in das Alte Testament, unter Einschluss der Apokryphen und Pseudepigraphen sowie der apokryphen- und pseudepigraphenartigen Qumran-Schriften. Entstehungsgeschichte des Alten Testaments (Neue theologische Grundrisse; Tübingen: J.C.B. Mohr (Paul Siebeck), 21956, 31964); = The Old Testament. An Introduction, including the Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha, and also the Works of Similar Type from Qumran. The History of the Formation of the Old Testament (Oxford: Basil Blackwell; New York: Harper and Row, 1965); = Introduzione all'Antico Testamento. Edizione italiana a cura di Antonio Ornella. Vol. 1: Aspetti letterari. Vol. 2: Analisi dei libri, 1. Vol. 3: Analisi dei libri, 2. Vol. 4: Il canone e il testo (Biblioteca teologica, 1-4; Brescia : Paideia, 1970 / 1980 / 1982 / 1984).
Fohrer, G., Einleitung in das Alte Testament. Begründet von Ernst Sellin. Völlig neu bearbeitet von Georg Fohrer (Heidelberg: Quelle Meyer, 101965, 111969, 121979). [The first seven editions were by Ernst Sellin 11910 – 71935; the eighth and ninth editions were by Leonhard Rost (81950; 91959).]; = Introduction to the Old Testament. Initiated by Ernst Sellin. Completely revised and rewritten by Georg Fohrer (Nashville: Abingdon, 1968; London: SPCK, 1970).
Gottwald, N. K., The Hebrew Bible: A Socio-Literary Introduction (Philadelphia: Fortress, 1985).
Kaiser, O., Einleitung in das Alte Testament. Eine Einführung in ihre Ergebnisse und Probleme. 5., grundlegend neubearbeitete Auflage (Gütersloh: Gütersloher Verlagshaus Mohn, 51984) [11969]. English version from the revised second German edition of 1970, and incorporating further revisions by the author to 1973: Introduction to the Old Testament: A Presentation of Its Results and Problems (Oxford: Blackwell; Minneapolis: Augsburg, 1975).
Kaiser, O., Grundriß der Einleitung in die kanonischen und deuterokanonischen Schriften des Alten Testaments. Bd. 1: Die erzählenden Werke. Bd. 2: Die prophetischen Werke (Mit einem Beitrag von Karl-Friedrich Pohlmann). Bd. 3: Die poetischen und weisheitlichen Werke (Gütersloh: Gütersloher Verlagshaus Mohn, 1992 / 1994 / 1994).
Kaiser, O., Die alttestamentlichen Apokryphen. Eine Einleitung in Grundzügen (Gütersloh: Chr. Kaiser / Gütersloher Verlags-Haus, 2000): = The Old Testament Apocrypha: An Introduction (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 2004). [mainly on the deutero-canonical books]
Rendtorff, R., Das Alte Testament. Eine Einführung (Neukirchen-Vluyn: Neukirchener Verlag, 62001 [11983, 21985 ...]); = The Old Testament. An Introduction (London: SCM, 1985; Philadelphia: Fortress, 1986); = Introduction à l'Ancien Testament (Paris: Cerf, 1989); = Introduzione all'Antico Testamento: storia, vita sociale e letteratura d'Israele in epoca biblica (Piccola biblioteca teologica, 22; Torino: Claudiana, 1990).
Rofé, A., Introduction to the Literature of the Hebrew Bible (Jerusalem Biblical Studies, 9; Jerusalem: Simor, 2009). [translated and updated from the Hebrew original: Jerusalem: Carmel Publishing House, 2006].
Rogerson, J. W. – J. M. Lieu (eds.), The Oxford Handbook of Biblical Studies (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2006).
Römer, T. – J.-D. Macchi – C. Nihan (eds.), Introduction à l'Ancien Testament (Le monde de la Bible, 49; Genève: Labor et Fides, 2004); = Guida di lettura dell'Antico Testamento (Bologna: Edizioni Dehoniane, 2007); = Introducción al Antiguo Testamento (Biblioteca Manual; Bilbao: Desclée De Brouwer, 2008). Seconde édition entièrement révisée et substantiellement augmentée: [same editors and title], (Le monde de la Bible, 49; Genève: Labor et Fides, 2009).
Schmidt, W. H., Einführung in das Alte Testament (de Gruyter Lehrbuch; Berlin: de Gruyter, 1979 ... 51995); = Old Testament Introduction (New York: Crossroad, 1984; New York: de Gruyter; Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox, 21999).
Sellin–Fohrer: see Fohrer, G.
Smend, R., Die Entstehung des Alten Testaments (Theologische Wissenschaft, 1; Stuttgart: Kohlhammer, 1978 ... 41989); = La formazione dell'Antico Testamento (Brescia: Paideia, 1993).
Soggin, J. A., Introduzione all'Antico Testamento. Dalle origini alla chiusura del Canone alessandrino (Brescia: Paideia, 1968-69, 21974, 31979, 41987); = Introduction to the Old Testament. From its Origins to the Closing of the Alexandrian Canon (OTL; London: SCM; Philadelphia: Westminster, 1976, 21980, 31989). [the first Italian edition was published in 2 vols.]
Vriezen, T. C. – A. S. van der Woude, Oud-Israëlitische en vroeg-joodse literatur (Kampen: Kok, 102000); = Ancient Israelite and Early Jewish Literature (Leiden: Brill, 2005).
Zenger, E., et al., Einleitung in das Alte Testament. (Kohlhammer Studienbücher Theologie, 1,1; Stuttgart: Kohlhammer, 1995, 21996, 31998, 42001, 52004, 62006, 72008). [Of the recent editions, the 3rd and the 5th were major revisions; the 6th, on the other hand, is described as a "durchgesehene Auflage", which differs from the 5th only in a few small additions and corrections (both editions have the same number of pages); the 7th edition (7., durchgesehene und erweiterte Auflage) has a new "Grundriss der Geschichte Israels" by C. Frevel in place of Anhang 1 & 2 of the preceding editions, but otherwise has little new material vis-à-vis the 6th edition]; = Introduzione all'Antico Testamento (Brescia: Queriniana, 2005) [from the 5th German edition].