What books would you reccomend for a Freshman university class on the Old Testament?

Question

I'd like to require two or three textbooks for this class - one scholarly and one or two popular level.

Answer 1

Take a look at the website below for one of the best Intro to Hebrew Scriptures courses I've seen.

This professor (my departmental colleague) uses Frank Frick, A Journey Through the Hebrew Scriptures. Don't miss the rest of her syllabus, though. There are gems here.

http://www.users.muohio.edu/bidmeaj/REL_211_Fall_05%20syllabus.pdf#search=%22bidmead%20syllabus%20hebrew%20scripture%22

For other very nice sample syllabi, take a look at these websites:

http://www.aarweb.org/syllabus/syllabi/a/allison/literature_and_history/intro_to_literature_history_religion.htm

http://www.aarweb.org/syllabus/syllabi/h/haas/RS106_syl.htm

http://www.aarweb.org/syllabus/syllabi/v/vmatthews/lit_and_world/literature_and_world.html

Answer 2

I can recommend this bible.

Old Testament:
In fact, the New World Translation is a scholarly work. In 1989, Professor Benjamin Kedar of Israel said:
"In my linguistic research in connection with the Hebrew Bible and translation, I often refer to the English edition as what is known as the New World Translation. In doing so, I find my feeling repeatedly confirmed that this kind of work reflects an honest endeavor to achieve an understanding of the text that is as accurate as possible. Giving evidence of a broad command of the original language, it renders the original words into a second language understandably without deviating unnecessarily from the specific structure of the Hebrew....Every statement of language allows for a certain latitude in interpreting or translating. So the linguistic solution in any given case may be open to debate. But I have never discovered in the New World Translation any biased intent to read something into the text that it does not contain."

Answer 3

i would do a few searches on Textbook411.com , its the best palce to find any textbook, and the best prices too

Answer 4

Start with the basics ...

http://www.aish.com/literacy/clueless/