This commentary is an innovative interpretation of one of the most profound texts of world literature: the book of Genesis. The first book of the Bible has been studied, debated, and expounded as much as any text in history, yet because it addresses the weightiest questions of life and faith, it continues to demand our attention. The author of this new commentary combines older critical approaches with the latest rhetorical methodologies to yield fresh interpretations accessible to scholars, clergy, teachers, seminarians, and interested laypeople. It explains important concepts and terms as expressed in the Hebrew original so that both people who know Hebrew and those who do not will be able to follow the discussion. 'Closer Look' sections examine Genesis in the context of cultures of the ancient Near East. 'Bridging the Horizons' sections enable the reader to see the enduring relevance of the book in the twenty-first century.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction; 2. Suggested readings on Genesis; 3. Commentary part one: the primeval history - Genesis 1-11; 4. Commentary part two: the ancestral narratives - Genesis 12-50.

Author Biography

Bill T. Arnold is Director of Hebrew Studies and the Paul S. Amos Professor of Old Testament Interpretation at Asbury Theological Seminary. He has authored, co-authored, or co-edited eight books, including most recently the Dictionary of the Old Testament: Historical Books (with H. G. M. Williamson, 2005); Who Were the Babylonians? (2004); A Guide to Biblical Hebrew Syntax (with John H. Choi, Cambridge University Press, 2003); and 1 and 2 Samuel: The NIV Application Commentary (2003).