This critically acclaimed series provides fresh and authoritative treatments of important aspects of Old Testament study through commentaries and general surveys. The authors are scholars of international standing.

The fifteen essays were written by leading biblical scholars in Europe between 195o and 196o. The editor is a Professor at Heidelberg, and author of a recent book on 'our time in the Old Testament', A Thousand Tears and a Day (us). As he points out, the contributors agree that the Old Testament must be allowed to tell its own story. They are all concerned, however, with the relation between Israel's religious self-interpretation and its history as the research of our time sees it, and they seek valid ways of connecting the two Testaments which together constitute the Christian Bible. The whole intensive discussion shows that Old Testament commentary and Christian theology are no longer kept separate. The contributors include Gerhard von Rad and Walther Eichrodt on the typological interpretation of the Old Testament, Rudolf Bultmann and Walther Zimmerli on prophecy and fulfilment, Martin Noth on the 'representation' in proclamation, J. J. Stamm on Jesus Christ and his Scripture, and Th. C. Vriezen on the biblical doctrine of salvation. There is a bibliography.

In this book, Claus Westermann argues that Israel's early wisdom literature grew out of an oral tradition reflecting an agrarian setting. Dealing primarily with Proverbs 10-31, Westermann demonstrates how the wisdom literature evolved into a form of poetry that had greater universal appeal as the people of Israel became more urbanized. A distinctive feature of Roots of Wisdom is Westermann's use of other wisdom sayings, particularly those from ancient Africa, to illustrate the logical progression of wisdom poetry being simply observational in character to becoming more universal in character.

The prophetic message awakens the people of God and calls them back from their perverse ways. But the history of the investigation of prophecy shows that the understanding of these messages has changed profoundly over time. Claus Westermann provides indications of the astonishing differences in the conceptions of prophecy in the history of its interpretation.

The comprehensive introductions from Westermann's great three-volume commentary on Genesis are now presented in a convenient form for both students and scholars. Three major parts--primeval events, the patriarchal story, and the Joseph story--include historical discussion, theological reflection, and detailed bibliographies. The result is an authoritative introduction to the composition, interpretation, and theology of the first book of the Hebrew Bible.

"Prophetic Oracles of Salvation in the Old Testament" is a comprehensive and innovative assessment of these often ignored or misunderstood canonical texts. Claus Westermann shows that these oracles occur in distinct forms and make up a coherent tradition. He goes on to demonstrate that these texts, often percieved only as a message of judgement and doom, in fact proclaim hope and deliverance as well.

Praise and lament are two major approaches to praying to God. In this book, Claus Westermann investigates these primary categories of the Psalms and shows their meaning for prayer and worship. He contrasts the Old Testament Psalms with those of Babylon and Egypt indicating their distinctive characteristics. Sensitively written and carefully reasoned, Westermann's book will be valued for the clear-cut way it brings light to the character of the ancient Psalms of Israel.

With this second volume of Westermann's large-scale commentary on Genesis, English-speaking readers have ready access to a masterful analysis of the patriarchal narratives. Professor Westermann offers an extensive introduction to the social and religious setting of the patriarchal period and an analysis of the shaping of the text of Genesis 12-36.

Introduction: A Call to Praise The Community Psalm of Lament (CL) The Community Psalm of Narrative Praise (CP) The Individual Psalm of Lament (IL) The Individual Psalm of Narrative Praise (IP) The Psalm of Descriptive Praise of Hymn (H) Creation Psalms Liturgical Psalms Royal Psalms Enthronement Psalms Wisdom Psalms Psalm 119 Conclusion: Psalm 90 The Psalms and Christ Selected Bibiography

This book, a volume in the Old Testament Library series, explores chapters 40-66 of the book of Isaiah.

The Old Testament Library provides fresh and authoritative treatments of important aspects of Old Testament study through commentaries and general surveys. The contributors are scholars of international standing.