Hebrew Bible / Old Testament

Introduction

This is a guide that explores resources in biblical studies focusing on the Hebrew Bible, or Old Testament.

Introduction

Welcome to this guide on the Old Testament / Hebrew Bible. This guide was designed for students researching and writing papers in biblical studies, especially exegetical papers. Emphasis has been placed here on available online materials.

Old Testament or Hebrew Bible?

What Christianity calls "the Old Testament," and what Judaism calls "the Tanakh," refers to a similar but substantially different group of texts in assemblage, translation, and interpretation. Both terms carry their own set of connotations, and many academic groups have advocated for the use of the more neutral term "Hebrew Bible." To understand the tradition and exegetical lens of the scholarship you research, it is necessary to understand how these terms are understood and used. These resources can provide you with background information on the concepts of “Old Testament” and “Hebrew Bible.”

The Old Testament: a Very Short Introduction [Online] by Michael Coogan
Coogan explains the differences between the Bible of Jewish tradition (the "Hebrew Bible") and the Old Testament of Christianity, and also examines the different contents of the Bibles used by Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox Christians, and Protestants. He looks at the rise of modern biblical scholarship as well as the recovery of ancient Near Eastern literatures and their significance for biblical interpretation.
The Hebrew Bible for Beginners by Joel N. Lohr; Joel S. Kaminsky
Call Number: TML Stacks BS1171.3 .K39 2015
Jews call the Hebrew Scriptures the "Tanakh" and Christians call them the "Old Testament." It doesn't take long to see that Jews and Christians view the same set of books differently and interpret these scriptures in unique and at times conflicting ways. The Hebrew Bible for Beginners introduces students to the tremendous influence the Hebrew Bible has had on western society for over two millennia and explores the complexities of reading ancient religious literature today.
Hebrew Bible or Old Testament? by Roger Brooks (Editor); John Collins (Editor)
Call Number: TML Stacks BS1160 .H45 1990

Introductory Works to Exegesis

While a professor may assign specific pericopes and outlines to their students, it may be beneficial to familiarize yourself with scholastic suggestions and overviews regarding the exegetical process. The following are resources that may be useful to students unfamiliar with exegesis or looking to expand their understanding:

Elements of Biblical Exegesis by Michael J. Gorman
Designed for students, teachers, and ministers, this hands-on guide breaks the task down into seven distinct elements. For each of these, Gorman supplies a clear explanation, practical hints, and suggested exercises to help the reader develop exegetical proficiency.
Biblical Exegesis, Fourth Edition by John H. Hayes; Carl R. Holladay
This is a beginner's guide to biblical exegesis, providing exegetical methods, practices, and theories. This book provides simple, helpful information and guidance about doing exegesis, without being overly prescriptive; succinctly introduces students to various methods; provides basic bibliographies that take students beyond an introductory discussion; and emphasizes exegesis as an everyday activity based on commonsense principles rather than as an esoteric enterprise.
Old Testament Exegesis by James D. Nogalski (Translator); Odil Hannes Steck
This translation of the German 12th edition of this book is a training manual in exegetical work for advanced students studying the Old Testament.