Book Synopsis: Academic approach: West’s introduction explores the Old Testament through a historical-critical lens. Rather than focusing on a devotional interpretation, the book analyzes the texts in their original historical and cultural context. Focus on source material: West evaluates the contents of the Old Testament and the Apocrypha against the vast body of knowledge from ancient Near Eastern life and culture. Structure: The book is organized into two main parts: Part 1: The Pentateuch ("The Books of Moses"): This section covers the first five books of the Old Testament (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy). It delves into themes such as the narrative of the deliverance from Egypt, the covenant at Sinai, and the laws within the Pentateuch. Part 2: The Prophets: This part addresses the prophetic books of the Old Testament, including the era after the death of Moses, the rise of the monarchy, and the split into the kingdoms of Israel and Judah.
