Exploring the old testament : a guide to the historical books.

1. What are the Histories? A survey of recent scholarship -- Overview of the Histories -- Some questions -- The Histories in their ancient Near Eastern context -- The Histories as literary texts -- Literary-critical approaches -- Narrative criticism -- The Histories as historical documents -- Are the Histories history writing? -- Are the Histories historically reliable? -- The Histories as part of a larger story -- The Histories and biblical theology -- The Histories, theology and ethics -- Yhwh in the Histories -- The Histories and ethics -- Conclusion -- The Outline' sections in Chapters 3---11 -- Further reading -- 2. The ancient Near East, 1550-63 bc -- 1550--1200 bc -- 1200--934 bc -- 934--610 bc -- 610--539 bc -- 539--332 bc -- 332--63 bc -- Conclusion -- Further reading -- 3. Joshua -- Introduction -- Outline -- 1:1---8:35. Crossing into Canaan; initial victories -- 9:1---12:24. Further victories and summary.

Contents note continued: 13:1---21:45. Division of the land -- 22:1---24:33. Conclusion -- Key themes -- Critical issues -- Literary-critical issues -- Historical issues -- War and killing -- Joshua in the canon -- Further reading -- 4. Judges -- Introduction -- Outline -- 1:1---3:6. Introduction to the judges period -- 3:7---16:31. The judges of Israel -- Narratives from early in the judges period (17:1---21:25) -- Key themes -- Critical issues -- Literary-critical issues -- Historical issues -- Judges in the canon -- Further reading -- 5.1 and 2 Samuel -- Introduction -- Outline -- 1 Samuel 1---7 Samuel's rise and Eli's demise; the journeys of the ark (I) -- 1 Samuel 8---15 Saul becomes king; Saul's reign -- 1 Samuel 16---31 David's rise and Saul's demise -- 2 Samuel 1---7 David becomes king; the journeys of the ark (II) -- 2 Samuel 8---20 David as king -- 2 Samuel 21---24 Conclusion -- Key themes -- Critical issues -- Literary-critical issues -- Historical issues.

Contents note continued: Critical issues -- Literary-critical issues -- Historical issues -- Theology -- Ezra-Nehemiah in the canon -- Further reading -- 11.1 and 2 Chronicles -- Introduction -- Outline -- 1 Chronicles 1:1---9:44 From Adam to the restoration from Babylon -- 1 Chronicles 10:1---2 Chronicles 9:31 The reigns of David and Solomon -- 2 Chronicles 10:1---36:23 From Rehoboam to the restoration from Babylon -- Key themes -- Critical issues -- Literary-critical issues -- Historical issues -- Chronicles in the canon -- Further reading.

Contents note continued: Critical issues -- Literary-critical issues -- Ruth and biblical law -- Ruth in the canon -- Further reading -- 9. Esther -- Outline -- 1:1-22.A queen deposed -- 2:1-23. Esther is queen, Mordecai a hero -- 3:1-15. Haman's plot, Mordecai's dilemma -- 4:1-17. Esther's dilemma -- 5:1-14. Esther's dinner party for the king -- and Haman! -- 6:1-14. Mordecai is rewarded -- 7:1-10. Haman is condemned -- 8:1-17. The decree overturned -- 9:1-32. Purim -- 10:1-3. Mordecai honoured -- Key themes -- Critical issues -- Text -- Literary-critical issues -- Esther in the canon -- Further reading -- 10. Ezra and Nehemiah -- Introduction -- Outline -- Ezra 1:1---6:22 Return from exile and rebuilding the temple -- Ezra 7:1---10:44 Ezra's mission: torah, temple and the problem of mixed marriages -- Nehemiah 1:1---7:73a Rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem -- Nehemiah 7:73b---10:39 Covenant renewal -- Nehemiah 11:1---13:31 Dedication of walls, and further reforms -- Key themes.

Contents note continued: Samuel in the canon -- Further reading -- 6.1 and 2 Kings -- Introduction -- Outline -- 1 Kings 1---11 Solomon's reign -- 1 Kings 12---16 Division of the kingdom; early history of Israel and Judah -- 1 Kings 17---2 Kings 10 The two kingdoms; Elijah and Elisha -- 2 Kings 11---17 The last years of Israel -- 2 Kings 18---25 The last years of Judah -- Key themes -- Critical issues -- Literary-critical issues -- Historical issues -- Kings in the canon -- Further reading -- 7. Joshua-Kings and theories of Deuteronomistic historiography -- Introduction -- The Deuteronomistic History: a survey of scholarship -- Noth's theory -- Scholarship after Noth -- Later developments -- Evaluation -- Points of agreement -- Points of disagreement -- Final comments -- Further reading -- 8. Ruth -- Introduction -- Outline -- 1:1-22. Famine and bereavement -- 2:1-23. Ruth meets Boaz -- 3:1-18. Naomi seeks a resting-place' for Ruth -- 4:1-22.A redeemer -- Key themes.

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