The thesis that the books of Deuteronomy to 2 Kings have undergone a redaction that made them into a 'Deuteronomistic History' has become since Martin Noth (1943) a widely accepted idea in Old Testament scholarship. But there is no consensus when this history was edited: under Josiah (622 BCE), during the exile (c. 560 BCE) or even later? And what was the intention of its redactors? Can we rely on the so-called Deuteronomistic History for the reconstruction of Israelite history? Or should we give up the thesis of a Deuteronomic redaction of the Former Prophets? This volume explores these and many other questions about this key topic in Old Testament scholarship. It results from a research seminar organized by the Swiss universities of Fribourg, Geneva, NeuchGtel and Lausanne. It contains contributions by the following scholars: R. Albertz, J. Briend, M. Detienne, W. Dietrich, J.J. Glassner, S. Japhet, E.A. Knauf, A.D.H. Mayes, S.L. McKenzie, S. Pisano, M. Rose, A. Schenker, F. Smyth, A. de Pury and T. R++mer. Articles in French were translared by J. Edward Crowley

English summary: This introduction to the Old Testament not only presents the structure and content of the various books but also their central topics, historical background, and questions of authorship. It also contains essays on the history of research and the current discussion around the Pentateuch and the so-called Deuteronomistic historical oeuvre. All essays are written by well-known Old Testament specialists. German text. German description: Diese Einleitung bespricht neben Aufbau und Inhalt der Bucher des Alten Testaments auch ihre zentralen Themen, den geschichtlichen Hintergrund und die Verfasserfrage. Besonders behandelt werden zudem die Forschungsgeschichte und die aktuelle Diskussion um den Pentateuch und das sogenannte deuteronomistische Geschichtswerk. Neu hinzugekommen in der 2. Auflage des franzosischen Originals sind ein ausfuhrlicher Abriss uber die Geschichte Israels und Judas sowie das Kapitel Das Alte Testament der Ostkirchen. Die Beitrage stammen von ausgewiesenen Spezialisten des Alten Testaments: Philippe Abadie, Olivier Artus, Alain Buhlmann, Simon Butticaz, Philippe Guillaume, David Hamidovic, Innocent Himbaza, Ernst Axel Knauf, Michael Langlois, Corinne Lanoir, Thierry Legrand, Jean-Daniel Macchi, Christophe Nihan, Dany Nocquet, Albert de Pury, Thomas Romer, Martin Rose, Adrian Schenker, Konrad Schmid, Arnaud Serandour, Christoph Uehlinger, Jacques Vermeylen. Thomas Romer, Dr. theol., Jahrgang 1955, ist Professsor fur Hebraische Bibel am College de France, Paris, und an der Universitat Lausanne. Jean-Daniel Macchi, Dr. theol., Jahrgang 1963, ist Professor fur Altes Testament an der Faculte de theologie protestante der Universitat Genf. Christophe Nihan, Dr. theol., Jahrgang 1972, ist Professor fur Hebraische Bibel und Geschichte des Alten Israel an der theologischen und religionswissenschaftlichen Fakultat der Universitat Lausanne. DE