This concise volume introduces readers to the three main sections of the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh) and to the biblical books found in each. It is organized around two primary "stories": the story that scholars tell about the Old Testament and the story the literature itself tells. Concluding with a reconsideration of the Old Testament as more like poetry than a story, three main chapters cover:

• The Pentateuch (Torah)


• The Prophets (Nevi¿im)


• The Writings (Ketuvim)

With key summaries of what the parts of the Old Testament "are all about," and including suggestions for further reading, this volume is an ideal introduction for students of and newcomers to the Old Testament.

Brent A. Strawn is Professor of Old Testament at Duke University, USA. He has edited more than 20 volumes to date, including the award-winning The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Bible and Law (2015). His most recent book is The Old Testament Is Dying: A Diagnosis and Recommended Treatment (2017). He was a member of the translation team and editorial board for The Common English Bible.

1 The Story of the Old Testament and the Old Testament as Story

2 The Pentateuch (Torah)

3 The Prophets (Nevi¿im)

4 The Writings (Ketuvim)

5 From Story to Song