The Literary Guide to the Bible
Robert Alter
Rediscover the incomparable literary richness and strength of a book that all of us live with an many of us live by. An international team of renowned scholars, assembled by two leading literary critics, offers a book-by-book guide through the Old and New Testaments as well as general essays on the Bible as a whole, providing an enticing reintroduction to a work that has shaped our language and thought for thousands of years.
General introduction / Robert Alter and Frank Kermode
The Old Testament:
Introduction / Robert Alter ;
Genesis / J.P. Fokkelman ;
Exodus / J.P. Fokkelman ;
Leviticus / David Damrosch ;
Numbers / James S. Ackerman ;
Deuteronomy / Robert Polzin ;
Joshua and Judges / David M. Gunn ;
1 and 2 Samuel / Joel Rosenberg ;
1 and 2 Kings / George Savran ;
Isaiah / Luis Alonso Schökel ;
Jeremiah and Ezekiel / Joel Rosenberg ;
The twelve prophets / Herbert Marks ;
Jonah / James S. Ackerman ;
Psalms / Robert Alter ;
Proverbs and Ecclesiastes / James G. Williams ;
Job / Moshe Greenberg ;
The song of songs / Francis Landy ;
Ruth / Jack M. Sasson ;
Lamentations / Francis Landy ;
Esther / Jack M. Sasson ;
Daniel / Shemaryahu Talmon ;
Ezra and Nehemiah / Shemaryahu Talmon ;
1 and 2 Chronicles / Shemaryahu Talmon
The New Testament:
Introduction / Frank Kermode ;
Matthew / Frank Kermode ;
Mark / John Drury ;
Luke / John Drury ;
John / Frank Kermode ;
Acts / James M. Robinson ;
The Pauline epistles / Michael Goulder ;
The epistle to the Hebrews and the catholic epistles / Gabriel Josipovici ; Revelation / Bernard McGinn
General Essays:
The Hebrew Bible and Canaanite literature / John C. Greenfield
The New Testament and Greco-Roman writing / Helen Elsom ;
Fishing for men on the edge if the wilderness / Edmund Leach ;
The canon / Frank Kermode ;
The characteristics of ancient Hebrew poetry / Robert Alter ;
Midrash and allegory / Gerald L. Bruns ;
English translations of the Bible / Gerald Hammond