Steven L. McKenzie and M. Patrick Graham, editors, The Hebrew Bible Today: an Introduction to Critical Issues.

Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 1998. Pp. xiv + 240. Paper, $24.00.

Contained within this volume are eight essays by leading scholars, who endeavor to summarize the significant critical issues of debate and emerging viewpoints in the various segments of First Testament literature. Included in the volume are the following articles: (1) John Van Seters, The Pentateuch, pp. 3-49; (2) A. Graeme Auld, The Former Prophets, pp. 53-68; (3) Marvin Sweeney, The Latter Prophets, pp. 69-94; (4) David Peterson, The Book of the Twelve, pp. 95-126; Kathleen Farmer, The Wisdom Books, pp. 129-51; (6) John Hayes, The Songs of Israel, pp. 153-71; (7) Kirsten Nielsen, Other Writings, pp. 173-99; and (6) Patrick Graham, The Chronicler's History, pp. 201-15.

Each of the essays is well crafted and contains detailed information articulated in a terse yet clear form. The target audience of these collected essays includes teachers, pastors, seminarians, and graduate students in religion. Even critical scholars, however, who may be familiar with much of this material, will find that the essays provide a good, refreshing summary of the issues, especially in areas outside their own particular specializations. In sum, the volume will perform excellently in courses designed to cover the critical scholarship done in First Testament studies. The editors refer to their volume as an "update" on the field comparable to the earlier (1985) work The Hebrew Bible and Its Modern Interpreters, edited by Douglas Knight and Gene Tucker; only this volume is addressed to a much wider audience. If this was their goal, they have succeeded admirably.

In this reviewer's opinion the real strength of the collection is found in the first essay--that of Van Seters on the Pentateuch. Van Seters not only summarizes very nicely the content of the Pentateuch and the assumptions of a critical approach to the biblical text, he also presents in precise fashion his own very significant critical theory of Pentateuchal development. Anyone interested in reviewing Van Seters' impressive scholarly contributions must include this well crafted essay in that consideration.

Two other essays that also impressed this reviewer are those by David Petersen and Kathleen Farmer. Petersen reviews the critical issues and scholarship connected with the minor prophets, providing a very fine summary on each of the prophets in turn. This format makes the article most beneficial for reference by students. Farmer has undertaken a very thorough summary of critical scholarship on the books of Job, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes during the past fifty years. Her overview covers the wide range of scholarly reflection on wisdom literature in a way that is one of the best for students dais reviewer has ever observed.

A third essay to be complimented for its presentation is the one on the Chronicler by Patrick Graham, who has summarized very clearly the scholarly contributions of the past generation.

Perhaps the only essay that disappointed this reviewer is the one by Graeme Auld. Even though it is well written and discusses certain key topics in lucid fashion, the article fails to cover enough of the many issues connected with the Deuteronomistic History in the fashion they deserve. The article should have been equal in length to Van Seters' to do justice to this literature.

The article on the Psalms is inordinately devoted to Sigmund Mowinckel; it could have profited by additional reflection upon the scholarship of the Myth and Ritual School of a former generation and its more recent British and Scandinavian advocates. In all honesty, however, it must be admitted that when different scholars are commissioned to write articles without benefit of seeing what their peers are doing, it is logical to expect a certain unevenness in length and depth of the surveys in those various contributions.

In conclusion, the volume must be commended for providing very well written articles, which clearly set forth a great deal of information in a communicable form for a wide audience. In addition, the endnotes (would that they were at the end of each chapter instead of at the end of the book!) provide the reader with an excellent reference to the significant works in the field. The editors have provided us with an excellent textbook and reference work.

Robert Gnuse
Loyola University
New Orleans LA 70118