MIQRA Institute of Biblical Studies
Reading Scripture, Hearing God
Bullock, C. H. An Introduction to the Old Testament Poetic Books: The Wisdom and Songs of Israel. Moody, 1979 (281 pp.). A theologically conservative introduction to Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs by a Wheaton College professor. Attempts, in typical historicist fashion, to set the biblical books in the context of ancient Near Eastern comparative material, with all the standard limitations of that speculative enterprise. Includes a helpful chapter on “Theology in the Wisdom Books” and proceeds book by book with introductory, survey, and interpretive discussions.
Clifford, R. J. The Wisdom Literature. Abingdon, 1998 (181 pp.). From the Interpreting Biblical Texts series. An introduction to Proverbs, Job, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs and the deuterocanonical books Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) and The Wisdom of Solomon by a professor at the Weston Jesuit School of Theology. Seeks to help readers, lay and clergy, understand these texts through a combination of literary and historical-critical analysis, professedly emphasizing the former. Additional chapters point out the similarities these texts bear with other ancient and modern “wisdom literature,” as well as briefly highlighting the use of the biblical wisdom literature in Judaism and Christianity.
Kidner, D. The Wisdom of Proverbs, Job & Ecclesiastes. InterVarsity, 1985 (175 pp.). Kidner offers a helpful introduction to the wisdom literature of Proverbs, Job, and Ecclesiastes in an extremely resourceful research tool for its size. The integrative approach will be appreciated by serious-minded teachers and the discussion is well-rounded with chapters 3, 5, and 7 containing helpful introductory comments on critical issues surrounding the respective books. Three appendices briefly treating extra-canonical wisdom literature and a book-specific bibliography have been included for those who wish to do further research.
Morgan, D. F. Between Text and Community: The “Writings” in Canonical Interpretation. Fortress, 1990 (164 pp.). The only book-length treatment of this canonical division. An Anglican scholar considers the hermeneutical implications for all Jewish and Christian communities of faith in the dialogue between the post-exilic community and the text of the Law and the Prophets that produced the Writings. Some helpful insights on the inner-canonical dialogue, or intertextuality, but pride of place is given to the extracanonical dialogue. Ironically, seeks justification to this approach concluding, “although it is not the history that is being canonized but the paradigmatic responses to Torah and Prophets they represent, nevertheless, the theological richness and diverseness of the Writings are enhanced by the historical study in which we have engaged” (p. 128).
OT introductions and surveys which treat the Writings as a meaningful canonical division (i.e., as serving the interests of canon, not merely a catchall of books not fitting elsewhere)
Birch, B. C.; W. Brueggemann; T. E. Fretheim; and D. L. Petersen. A Theological Introduction to the Old Testament. Abingdon, 1999 (475 pp.; 373-448). Attempts an eclectic methodological treatment of the Writings in two groups under the titles “Wisdom, Order, Protest” (Proverbs, Job, Ecclesiastes, selected Psalms) and “New Life, Renewed Community, New Crises” (the remaining books plus portions of the Twelve and Isaiah).
Childs, B. S. Introduction to the Old Testament as Scripture. Fortress, 1979 (688 pp.; 501-655). The most programmatic treatment of the canonical role of the Writings relative to the Law and the Prophets and the manner in which “the canonical process left its impact in fixing the scope of the section and in the shaping of the individual books.”
Craigie, P. C. The Old Testament: Its Background, Growth, & Content. Abingdon, 1986 (351 pp.; 211-51). Describes the Writings as “a miscellaneous collection of books that did not clearly fit into either of the other canonical collections.” Sees no thematic unity, regards the sequence as having “no particular importance,” and treats the books “as independent works.”
Crenshaw, J. L. Old Testament Story and Faith: A Literary and Theological Introduction. Hendrickson, 1986 (472 pp.; 287-385). Regards the Writings as “a catchall for those additional books that had come to mean a great deal to the religious community.” Touches on literary and thematic contributions of each book individually, with little attention to how each serves the interests of canon.
Harrison, R. K. Introduction to the Old Testament. Eerdmans, 1969 (1325 pp.; 963-1171). Old historical approach with conservative theological stance. Treats “The Sacred Writings” in three parts: “The Book of Truth” (Psalms, Proverbs, Job), “The Megilloth” (Song, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Esther), and “Daniel, Ezra-Nehemiah, and Chronicles.”
House, P. R. Old Testament Survey. Broadman & Holman, 1992 (270 pp.; 201-70). Brief survey treatment with some canonical awareness. Sees the Writings as addressing “how Israel applied their faith,” with these books guiding readers through “a broad range of human emotions, experiences, and thoughts” having to do with such things as worship, doubts, wisdom, life’s harsh realities, grief, love, and so on.
LaSor, W. S.; D. A. Hubbard; F. W. Bush. Old Testament Survey: The Message, Form, and Background of the Old Testament. 2nd ed. Eerdmans, 1996 (860 pp.; 423-582). A helpful overview of the division and book-by-book survey. Views the Writings as “essential for the edification of God’s people,” as books which “analyze from different angles the rich and rewarding theme of human life in relation to God.”
Rendtorff, R. The Old Testament: An Introduction. Fortress, 1986 (308 pp.; 245-88). Comments on the contours and fluctuating sequence of the division, then proceeds book-by-book with short introductions in the standard order of printed editions.
