This ought to be the first book an Old Testament seminary professor assigns and the primary or sole textbook for an undergrad 'Introduction to the Old Testament' class. Pastors and priests should scoop it up and pour over it with pen in hand, pausing after every chapter to muse over the points the author makes, and the ways the biblical faith stands out against other traditions and metanarratives.

A rare combination of deep and wide learning and a compelling and clear writing style. Provan is as comfortable in Mesopotamian texts as in Agatha Christie, the Rig Veda, Lord of the Rings, or the Qur’an. He opens the Old Testament onto a world he believes needs to hear its distinctive notes in a creative and engaging presentation.

Iain Provan thinks and writes outside the academic box. He asks questions that matter for life, and he shows what is at stake in taking seriously a biblically-rooted vision of reality.

This ought to be the first book an Old Testament seminary professor assigns and the primary or sole textbook for an undergrad 'Introduction to the Old Testament' class. Pastors and priests should scoop it up and pour over it with pen in hand, pausing after every chapter to muse over the points the author makes, and the ways the biblical faith stands out against other traditions and metanarratives.

This is an incredible book…unlike anything else out there.

I highly recommend this book to readers who want a read a solid defense of the Old Story, of biblical faith, of God's work in the world.

What does the Old Testament—one of the foundational texts of western civilization—really say and what is its relevance for us today? Iain Provan's scholarly and practical answers to these questions will challenge Old Testament critics, enlighten believers, and provide guidance in bringing faith perspectives to bear on the challenges of the modern world.