Description: The Old Testament is an ancient collection of theological reflections on life with God that the church has claimed as authoritative Scripture. Whereas most introductory books march from Genesis to Malachi, this book engages four prominent themes across the breadth of the Old Testament canon: creation, covenant, cultus, and character. By taking this approach, Stevens is articulates key issues that impact the reading of the entire Old Testament. This engaging volume is intended for laypeople who want to know more about the Old Testament, whether in personal study, church groups,...

The temple in Jerusalem was both the center of ancient Israel's religious life and also an economic center for the nation.

In this groundbreaking study of the economic functions of the Jerusalem temple, Marty E. Stevens, who worked for fifteen years as a certified public accountant prior to getting a PhD in Old Testament, demonstrates that the temple acted as the central bank, internal revenue collector, source of loans, and even debt collector for ancient Israel. Applying a broad knowledge of temple-systems throughout the ancient Near East, Stevens sheds light on the roles played by...

Synopsis:
The Old Testament is an ancient collection of theological reflections of life with God that the church has claimed as authoritative Scripture. Whereas most introductory books march from Genesis to Malachi, this book engages four important leadership roles across the breadth of the Old Testament canon: king, prophet, priest, and sage. Despite the obvious differences between the societies of ancient Israel and modern America, lessons can be learned from our ancestors in the faith. This engaging volume is intended for people who want to know more about the Old Testament, whether in...