The Old Testament is a cornerstone of western civilization. However, reading it can become a wrestling match with a very eccentric and challenging text. This collection of essays by noted modern biblical scholars presents the methods and findings of current biblical scholarship for a general audience. Whether you are a seasoned reader of the Bible or encountering this remarkable book for the first time, here you will find the current scholarship about the history, transmission, background, development, and interpretation of the Old Testament.Scholars include Karl Sandberg, William Dozeman, Diana Edelman, Marvin Sweeney, William Dever, Russell Fuller, Richard Clifford, Carole Fontaine, and Sheldon Greaves.