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