Philip S. Johnston

An image rich, passage-by-passage commentary that integrates textual and artifactual context from the ancient Near East to inform our understanding and interpretation of the Hebrew Bible—while remaining respectful to the inerrancy of Scripture. Without a deep knowledge of the ancient cultures the Old Testament was born from, we can be tempted to impose our own culture on the text, potentially distorting it. This unique Bible backgrounds commentary examines: The history of the ancient Near East as a means of recovering knowledge of the events that shaped the lives of the people. The archaeology as a means of recovering the lifestyle reflected in the material cultures. The literature of the ancient Near East as a means of understanding the heart and soul of the people who inhabited the ancient world that Israel shared. Detailed exegetical notes are combined with comparative discussions of the cultural settings that help scholars interpret the writings of the minor prophets (Hosea through Malachi) and books of wisdom and poetry; Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs. This volume of the celebrated Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary series brings these 17 books of the Bible into sharper focus—enabling scholars, pastors, and laity to access rich data from over one hundred and seventy years of explorations and excavations in the Near East. THE ZONDERVAN ILLUSTRATED BIBLE BACKGROUNDS COMMENTARY SERIES Invites you to enter the world of the Old Testament with a company of seasoned guides, experts who will give new insights into these cherished writings. Features: Over 2000 photographs, drawings, maps, diagrams, and charts provide a visual feast that breathes fresh life into the text. Passage-by-passage commentary presents archaeological findings, historical explanations, geographic insights, notes on manners and customs, and more. Analysis into the literature of the ancient Near East will open your eyes to new depths of understanding both familiar and unfamiliar passages. Written by an international team of 30 specialists, all top scholars in background studies.

Reading the Bible is meant to be exciting, but for many of us the reality falls short of the ideal. We try to study it, but cannot see how it all fits together, or understand the ancient context and unfamiliar concepts. And what on earth does it mean for us now? Perhaps we long for a guide to help us in our reading - one that will not take longer to read than the Bible itself! The IVP Introduction to the Bible is a reference tool specifically designed to provide the key information we need to study the Bible effectively. Written by experts in biblical studies, it is reliable and rigorous, but also concise and accessible. The book begins with an introduction to the Bible as a whole. It then tells the stories of the Old and New Testaments, explains their background, identifies their key themes and outlines their significance for today. One chapter also surveys the bridging period between them. Central to the volume is an analysis and discussion of every main section of each testament, and of each individual book. So for every part of the Bible, we will find essential information to assist our understanding, and to share with others in our home or study group. If we want to go deeper, we will also find suggestions for further reading.

"For in death there is no remembrance of you; in Sheol who can give you praise?" (Psalm 6:5)Death is a profound and complex subject. How did the Israelites respond to it? The dead apparently went to Sheol. Where and what was it? The inhabitants of Sheol are sometimes called "shades." What does this indicate? Many ancient peoples venerated their ancestors. Did Israelites do this? Did anyone hope for a positive afterlife? If so, in what form? What about resurrection? How and when did this belief emerge? Philip S. Johnston explores these and other issues. He examines Israelite views on death and afterlife as reflected in the Hebrew Bible and in material remains, and sets them in their cultural, literary and theological contexts. Johnston argues in detail that the Israelites were not as preoccupied with the underworld or the dead as some scholars have recently alleged. Instead, their faith that Yahweh was the God of the living, and that Sheol was cut off from him, led eventually to the hope of a positive afterlife. This important study sheds fresh light on Israelite beliefs in an area central to the later development of the Christian faith.