Each book in this series gives the reader a thorough introduction to a particular book of the Bible or the Apocrypha and includes: • An introduction to the contents of the particular biblical book • A balanced survey of the important critical issues • Attention to literary, historical, sociological, and theological perspectives • Suggestions about critical appropriation of the text by the contemporary reader • Reference to other standard works through annotated bibliographies. All the books in the series, formerly published by Sheffield Academic Press, are by leading biblical scholars and the authors have drawn on their scholarly expertise as well as their experience as teachers of university and college students.

Robert Carroll is Professor of Hebrew Bible and Semitic Studies in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies at the University of Glasgow.