Ancient Near Eastern Thought and the Old Testament: Introducing the Conceptual World of the Hebrew Bible

Much of the Old Testament seems strange to contemporary readers. However, as we begin to understand how ancient people viewed the world, the Old Testament becomes more clearly a book that stands within its ancient context as it also speaks against it. John Walton provides here a thoughtful introduction to the conceptual world of the ancient Near East.

Walton surveys the literature of the ancient Near East and introduces the reader to a variety of beliefs about God, religion, and the world. In helpful sidebars, he provides examples of how such studies can bring insight to the interpretation of specific Old Testament passages. Students and pastors who want to deepen their understanding of the Old Testament will find this a helpful and instructive study.

• The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament
• The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament
• Hidden Riches: A Sourcebook for the Comparative Study of the Hebrew Bible and Ancient Near East
• Honor, Patronage, Kinship & Purity: Unlocking New Testament Culture
• The Lost World of the Israelite Conquest: Covenant, Retribution, and the Fate of the Canaanites
• The Lost World of Adam and Eve: Genesis 2-3 and the Human Origins Debate
• The Lost World of Genesis One: Ancient Cosmology and the Origins Debate
• The Essential Companion to Life in Bible Times: Key Insights for Reading God's Word (Essential Bible Companion Series)
• The World of the New Testament: Cultural, Social, and Historical Contexts
• The Lost World of Scripture: Ancient Literary Culture and Biblical Authority