"This book is an abridgment edition of Introduction to the Hebrew Bible with CD-ROM, published by Fortress Press in 2004"--Preface.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

The Near Eastern context -- The nature of the Pentateuchal narrative -- The primeval history -- The Patriarchs -- The Exodus from Egypt -- The revelation at Sinai -- The priestly theology : Exodus 25-40, Leviticus, and Numbers -- Deuteronomy -- Joshua -- Judges -- 1 Samuel -- 2 Samuel -- 1 Kings 1-16 : Solomon and the divided monarchy -- 1 Kings 17-2 Kings 25 : tales of prophets and the end of the kingdoms of Israel and Judah -- Amos and Hosea -- Isaiah -- The Babylonian era : Jeremiah and Lamentations -- Ezekiel -- The additions to the Book of Isaiah -- Postexilic prophecy : Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi, Joel -- Ezra and Nehemiah -- The Books of Chronicles -- The Psalms and Song of Songs -- Proverbs -- Job and Qoheleth -- The Hebrew short story : Ruth, Jonah, Esther -- Daniel, 1-2 Maccabees -- The deuterocanonical wisdom books : Ben Sira, Wisdom of Solomon -- From tradition to canon.