Biblical Bibliographies
Charles Conroy [www.cjconroy.net]



Introductions to the Old Testament Books and Background



[see also:  History of OT Literature]



While some of the following titles focus mainly on the contents of the various biblical books, others add to this a detailed 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 three sections as follows (the division between the first two may be debatable in some cases):

I.    More accessible works useful for first level of study

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).

Andiñach, P. R., Introducción hermenéutica al Antiguo Testamento (Estudios bíblicos, 47; Estella [Navarra]: Verbo Divino, 2012).

Arnold, B. T., Introduction to the Old Testament (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2014).

Ballhorn, E. – G. Steins – R. Wildgruber – U. Zwingenberger (eds.), 73 Ouvertüren: Die Buchanfänge der Bibel und ihre Botschaft (Gütersloh: Gütersloher Verlagshaus, 2018).

Bandstra, B. L., Reading the Old Testament: An Introduction to the Hebrew Bible. Fourth edition (Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Cengage, 2009). Earlier editions: 1995, 1999, 2004. Further information is available on the publisher's webpage. The text of the second edition (1999) can be found here.

Barstad, H. M., A Brief Guide to the Hebrew Bible (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox, 2010).

Barton, J. – J. Bowden, The Original Story: God, Israel and the World (London: Darton, Longman & Todd, 2004).

Barton, J. (ed.), The Hebrew Bible: A Critical Companion (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2016).

Benjamin, D. C., The Old Testament Story: An Introduction, with CD-ROM (Minneapolis: Fortress, 2004).

Bergsma, J. – B. Pitre, A Catholic Introduction to the Bible: The Old Testament (San Francisco, CA: Ignatius Press, 2018).

Billon, G., Introduction à l'Ancien Testament (Mon ABC de la Bible; Paris: Cerf, 2018).

Birch, B. C. – W. Brueggemann – T. E. Fretheim – D. L. Petersen, A Theological Introduction to the Old Testament (Nashville: Abingdon, 1999, revised 22005).

Boadt, L. E., Reading the Old Testament: An Introduction (Mahwah, NJ: Paulist, 1984). Second edition [same title]: revised and updated by R. Clifford and D. Harrington (New York & Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 2012).

Bonfiglio, R. P. (ed.), A Study Companion to Introduction to the Hebrew Bible (Second ed.; Minneapolis, MN: Fortress, 2014). [see below: Collins, Introduction, 2nd ed., 2014]

Bowker, J., The Complete Bible Handbook: An Illustrated Companion (London – New York: Dorling Kindersley, 1998).

Brueggemann, W. – T. Linafelt, An Introduction to the Old Testament: The Canon and Christian Imagination. Third expanded edition (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox, 2020). [earlier editions: 2003 (Brueggemann alone) and 2012 (Brueggemann and Linafelt)] Italian version of the first edition: Introduzione all'Antico Testamento. Il canone e l'immaginazione cristiana (Strumenti 21; Torino: Claudiana, 2005).

Carr, D. M., An Introduction to the Old Testament: Sacred Texts and Imperial Contexts of the Hebrew Bible (Chichester, West Sussex & Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell, 2010); = Einführung in das Alte Testament: Biblische Texte – imperiale Kontexte (Stuttgart: Kohlhammer, 2012).

Carr, D. M., The Hebrew Bible: A Contemporary Introduction to the Christian Old Testament and Jewish Tanakh. Second edition (Chichester, West Sussex & Hoboken, NJ: Wiley Blackwell, 2021). [first edition 2010 with a different title as above]

Carvalho, C. L., Encountering Ancient Voices: A Guide to Reading the Old Testament. Second edition (Winona, MN: Anselm Academic, 2010). [first edition: Winona, MN: St. Mary's Press, 2006]

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).

Clifford, H. – D. Earl – R. P. O'Dowd – L.-S. Tiemeyer, Companion to the Old Testament: Introduction, Interpretation, Application (London: SCM, 2016).

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). Second edition: Introduction to the Hebrew Bible and Deutero-Canonical Books. Second edition (Minneapolis, MN: Fortress, 2014) [see also above: Bonfiglio, Study Companion, 2014]. Third edition: Introduction to the Hebrew Bible and Deutero-Canonical Books. Third edition (Minneapolis, MN: Fortress, 2018). [the third edition has also been published in four partial volumes as in the following items]

Collins, J. J., Introduction to the Hebrew Bible and Deutero-Canonical Books: The Torah/Pentateuch. Third edition (Minneapolis, MN: Fortress, 2018).

Collins, J. J., Introduction to the Hebrew Bible and Deutero-Canonical Books: The Deuteronomistic History. Third edition (Minneapolis, MN: Fortress, 2018).

Collins, J. J., Introduction to the Hebrew Bible and Deutero-Canonical Books: Prophecy. Third edition (Minneapolis, MN: Fortress, 2018).

Collins, J. J., Introduction to the Hebrew Bible and Deutero-Canonical Books: The Writings. Third edition (Minneapolis, MN: Fortress, 2018).

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!]; = Breve introduzione alla Bibbia ebraica (Introduzioni e trattati, 38; Brescia: Queriniana, 2011). Second edition: A Short Introduction to the Hebrew Bible and Deutero-Canonical Books. Second edition (Minneapolis: Fortress, 2014). Third edition: A Short Introduction to the Hebrew Bible. Third edition (Minneapolis, MN: Fortress, 2018).

Conway, C. M. – D. M. Carr, A Contemporary Introduction to the Bible: Sacred Texts and Imperial Contexts. Revised second edition (Chichester, West Sussex & Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell, 2021). [for the part dealing with the Hebrew Bible see also s.v. Carr 2021 above]

Coogan, M. D., The Old Testament: A Historical and Literary Introduction to the Hebrew Scriptures (New York: Oxford University Press, 2006). [see below for later editions]

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]

Coogan, M. D. – C. R. Chapman, The Old Testament: A Historical and Literary Introduction to the Hebrew Scriptures. Fourth edition (New York: Oxford University Press, 2018). [earlier editions: 2006, 2011, 2014]

Coogan, M. D. – C. R. Chapman, A Brief Introduction to the Old Testament: The Hebrew Bible in Its Context. Fourth edition (New York – Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2020). [the book was actually available in mid-2019]

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).

Dell, K. J. (ed.), The Biblical World. Second edition (Routledge Worlds; London: Routledge – Taylor & Francis, 2021). [the first edition (2002) was edited by J. Barton]

Dick, M. B., Reading the Old Testament: An Inductive Introduction (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 2008).

Dietrich, W. (ed.), Die Welt der Hebräischen Bibel. Umfeld – Inhalte – Grundthemen. 2., erweiterte und überarbeitete Auflage (Stuttgart: Kohlhammer, 2021). [first ed. 2017]

Doglio, C., Introduzione alla Bibbia (Antico e Nuovo Testamento, 29; Brescia: Morcelliana, 2022). [earlier edition with same title: (Strumenti universitari di base, Sezione di scienze religiose; Brescia: La Scuola, 2010)]

Dorn, K., Basiswissen Bibel: Das Alte Testament. 2., überarbeitete und aktualisierte Auflage (UTB 4317; Paderborn: Ferdinand Schöningh – Brill, 2021). [first ed. 2015]

Drane, J., Introducing the Old Testament. Third revised edition (Oxford: Lion Hudson; Minneapolis: Fortress, 2011). [ 2nd ed. 2000/2001; 1st ed. 1987]

Goldingay, J. E., An Introduction to the Old Testament: Exploring Text, Approaches & Issues (Downers Grove, IL – Leicester, UK: InterVarsity – IVP Academic; London: SPCK, 2015).

Gottwald, N. K., The Hebrew Bible: A Brief Socio-Literary Introduction. Edited by R. J. Kruger Gaudino (Minneapolis, MN: Fortress, 2009).

Greer, J. S. – J. W. Hilber – J. H. Walton (eds.), Behind the Scenes of the Old Testament: Cultural, Social, and Historical Contexts (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2018).

Hamilton, M. W., A Theological Introduction to the Old Testament (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2018).

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].

Hess, R. S., The Old Testament: A Historical, Theological, and Critical Introduction (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2016).

Hilbrands, W. – H. J. Koorevaar (eds.), Einleitung in das Alte Testament: ein historisch-kanonischer Ansatz (TVG Lehrbücher; Giessen: Brunnen, 2023).

Hubbard, R. L., Jr – J. A. Dearman, Introducing the Old Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2018).

Jacobson, R. A. – M. J. Chan, Introducing the Old Testament: A Historical, Literary, and Theological Survey (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2023).

Jensen, J., God's Word to Israel. New and augmented edition. Foreword by Mark S. Smith (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press Academic, 2021).

Kaminsky, J. S. – J. N. Lohr, The Hebrew Bible for Beginners: A Jewish and Christian Introduction (Nashville, TN: Abingdon, 2015).

Knight, D. A. – A.-J. Levine, The Meaning of the Bible: What the Jewish Scriptures and Christian Old Testament Can Teach Us (New York: HarperCollins, 2011).

Levin, C., Das Alte Testament. 5., überarbeitete Auflage (C. H. Beck Wissen in der Beck'schen Reihe, 2160; München: Beck, 2018 [first edition in the same series, 2001]. Italian version: Introduzione all'Antico Testamento, a cura di Flavio Dalla Vecchia (L'Antico Testamento Commentato, Brescia: Morcelliana, 2004) [Dalla Vecchia contributed a two-part Appendix: «Storia dell'interpretazione dell'Antico Testamento» and «Libri Deuterocanonici», pp.133-158]. English version: The Old Testament. A Brief Introduction (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2005).

Linafelt, T., The Hebrew Bible as Literature: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions, 478; New York: Oxford University Press, 2016).

Liss, H., Tanach. Lehrbuch der jüdischen Bibel. 4., völlig neu überarbeitete Auflage (Schriften der Hochschule für Jüdische Studien Heidelberg, 8; Heidelberg: Universitätsverlag Winter, 2019). [first edition 2005]

Longman, T., Introducing the Old Testament: A Short Guide to Its History and Message (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2012).

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).

Mommer, P., Einführung in das Alte Testament (Gütersloh: Gütersloher Verlagshaus, 2015).

Nelson, R. A., The Old Testament: Canon, History, and Literature (Nashville, TN: Abingdon, 2019).

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).

Nobile, M., Introduzione all'Antico Testamento: la letteratura veterotestamentaria. Nuova edizione riveduta e aumentata (Epifania della Parola, nuova serie; Bologna: Edizioni Dehoniane, 2011). First edition [same title] 1995, reprinted 2004.

Noffke, E., Introduzione alla letteratura mediogiudaica precristiana (Strumenti 18; Torino: Claudiana, 2004). [includes the deuterocanonical books]

Novick, T., An Introduction to the Scriptures of Israel: History and Theology (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2018).

Paganini, S., La Bibbia che Gesù leggeva: breve introduzione all'Antico Testamento (Testi e commenti; Bologna: EDB – Edizioni Dehoniane, 2013).

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).

Routledge, R., Old Testament Introduction: Text, Interpretation, Structure, Themes (London: Apollos, 2016).

Schmid, K. – J. Schröter, Die Entstehung der Bibel: von den ersten Texten zu den heiligen Schriften (München: C. H. Beck, 2019). English version: The Making of the Bible: From the First Fragments to Sacred Scripture (Cambridge, MA: The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 2021). French version: Aux origines de la Bible: des premiers textes aux Saintes Écritures (Le Monde de la Bible, 76; Genève: Labor et Fides, 2021).

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 [Navarra]: Verbo Divino, 1992; 21993; 31996); = Introdução ao Antigo Testamento (Petrópolis: Vozes, 21999).

Sicre Díaz, J. L., Introducción al Antiguo Testamento. Nueva edición corregida, actualizada y aumentada (Estudios bíblicos, 42; Estella [Navarra]: Verbo Divino, 2011).

Ska, J.-L., Antico Testamento. Vol. 1: Introduzione. Vol. 2: Temi e letture (Fondamenta; Bologna: Edizioni Dehoniane, 2015). Spanish version: Compendio de Antiguo Testamento: introducción, temas y lecturas (Estudios bíblicos, 62; Estella [Navarra]: Verbo Divino, 2017).

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).

Strawn, B. A., The Old Testament: A Concise Introduction (New York: Routledge, 2020).

Tarazi, P. N., The Old Testament: An Introduction. Vol. 1: Historical Traditions; Vol. 2: Prophetic Traditions; Vol. 3: Psalms & Wisdom (Crestwood, NY: St Vladimir's Seminary Press, 1991 / 1994 / 1996). A second revised edition of vol. 1 was published in 2003.

Vázquez Allegue, J., Guía de la Biblia: introducción general a la Sagrada Escritura (El mundo de la Biblia; Estella [Navarra]: Verbo Divino, 2019).

II.    More technical and academic works

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).

Dietrich, W. – H.-P. Mathys – T. Römer – R. Smend, Die Entstehung des Alten Testaments. Neuausgabe (Theologische Wissenschaft, 1; Stuttgart: Kohlhammer, 2014). [a major revision of a work first published in 1978; see below s.v. Smend]

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). Incomplete Spanish edition: Introducción al Antiguo Testamento, incluyendo los Apócrifos y Pseudoepígrafos y otras obras aparecidas en Qumrán. Traducción, actualización de la bibliografía y Complemento bibliográfico (1977-2000), por José L. Sicre. Tomo I (Madrid: Ediciones Cristiandad, 2000)[The second volume was never published.].

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).

Gertz, J. C. – A. Berlejung – K. Schmid – M. Witte, Grundinformation Altes Testament. Eine Einführung in Literatur, Religion und Geschichte des Alten Testaments. 6., überarbeitete und erweiterte Auflage (UTB 2745; Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 2019) [First edition: 2006]. English version of the 3rd German edition (2008) with some bibliographical revisions: T&T Clark Handbook of the Old Testament: An Introduction to the Literature, Religion and History of the Old Testament (London: T & T Clark, 2012).

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]. First Italian version: Introduzione alla letteratura della Bibbia ebraica. 2 vol. (ISBS 48-49; Brescia: Paideia, 2011). Second Italian edition: Introduzione alla letteratura della Bibbia ebraica. 2a ed. emendata. 2 vol. (ISBS 48-49; Brescia: Paideia, 2015).

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. Seconde édition entièrement révisée et substantiellement augmentée (Le Monde de la Bible, 49; Genève: Labor et Fides, 2009). The Italian and Spanish translations were based on the first French edition of 2004: Guida di lettura dell'Antico Testamento (Lettura pastorale della Bibbia; Bologna: Edizioni Dehoniane, 2007); Introducción al Antiguo Testamento (Biblioteca Manual Desclée, 61; Bilbao: Desclée De Brouwer, 2008). German translation of the second edition of 2009: Einleitung in das Alte Testament. Die Bücher der Hebräischen Bibel und die alttestamentlichen Schriften der katholischen, protestantischen und orthodoxen Kirchen (Zürich: Theologischer Verlag, 2013).

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). For the new German edition (2014) see above s.v. Dietrich et al.

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]. The Italian translation was based on the 5th German edition: Introduzione all'Antico Testamento (Brescia: Queriniana, 2005).

Zenger, E. – C. Frevel, et al., Einleitung in das Alte Testament. 8., vollständig überarbeitete Auflage, herausgegeben von Christian Frevel (Kohlhammer Studienbücher Theologie, 1,1; Stuttgart: Kohlhammer, 2012) [the first edition to appear after Zenger's death in 2010]. Italian translation: Zenger, E. (ed.), Introduzione all'Antico Testamento. Nuova edizione interamente aggiornata e aumentata a cura di C. Frevel. Edizione italiana a cura di Flavio Dalla Vecchia (Grandi opere; Brescia: Queriniana, 2013).

Zenger, E. – C. Frevel, et al., Einleitung in das Alte Testament. 9., aktualisierte Auflage herausgegeben von Christian Frevel (Kohlhammer Studienbücher Theologie, 1,1; Stuttgart: Kohlhammer, 2016). [The substantial section in the 7th and 8th editions entitled "Grundriss der Geschichte Israels" by C. Frevel has been removed, and is now available in an expanded form as a separate book; see here.]

III.    Reference works of an introductory nature

Balentine, S. E. (editor-in-chief), The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Bible and Theology. 2 vol. (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2015).

Beal, T. (editor-in-chief), The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Bible and the Arts. 2 vol. (Oxford Encyclopedias of the Bible; Oxford & New York: Oxford University Press, 2016).

Brawley, R. L. (editor-in-chief), The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Bible and Ethics. 2 vol. (Oxford Encyclopedias of the Bible; Oxford & New York: Oxford University Press, 2014).

Chapman, S. B. – M. A. Sweeney (eds.), The Cambridge Companion to the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament (Cambridge Companions to Religion; Cambridge & New York: Cambridge University Press, 2016).

Coogan, M. D. (gen. ed.), The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Books of the Bible. 2 vol. (Oxford Encyclopedias of the Bible; Oxford & New York: Oxford University Press, 2011).

Fewell, D. N. (ed.), The Oxford Handbook of Biblical Narrative (Oxford Handbooks; Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2016).

Goodman, M. – J. Cohen – D. Sorkin (eds.), The Oxford Handbook of Jewish Studies (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002).

Lieb, M. – E. Mason – J. Roberts (eds.), The Oxford Handbook of the Reception History of the Bible (Oxford Handbooks; Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2011).

Lim, T. H. – J. J. Collins (eds.), The Oxford Handbook of the Dead Sea Scrolls (Oxford Handbooks; Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2010).

McKenzie, S. L. (editor-in-chief), The Oxford Encyclopedia of Biblical Interpretation. 2 vol. (Oxford Encyclopedias of the Bible; Oxford & New York: Oxford University Press, 2013).

Morgan, D. F. (ed.), Oxford Handbook of the Writings of the Hebrew Bible (Oxford Handbooks; New York & Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2019). ["Writings" = Ketubîm]

O'Brien, J. M. (ed.), The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Bible and Gender Studies. 2 vol. (Oxford Encyclopedias of the Bible; Oxford & New York: Oxford University Press, 2014).

Rogerson, J. W. – J. M. Lieu (eds.), The Oxford Handbook of Biblical Studies (Oxford Handbooks in Religion and Theology; Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2006).

Strawn, B. A. (editor-in-chief), The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Bible and Law. 2 vol. (Oxford Encyclopedias of the Bible; Oxford & New York: Oxford University Press, 2015).