R. J. Coggins – författare

Study of the Old Testament has long been dominated by what is sometimes called the `historical-critical method': careful analysis of individual books in order to discover their component sources, with great emphasis on historical context and concern, especially in the prophetic books, to isolate what was original and (it was therefore assumed) most important. In recent years people have asked whether this approach is the only proper one, and whether there may not be alternative understandings which are equally valid. This book attempts to outline some of those alternatives while retaining the values of the traditional methods. Nine separate chapters set out the importance of sociology and anthropology, of liberation and feminist perspectives, and of literary criticism, as well as the more traditional approaches, in a way that will be comprehensible to those approaching the Old Testament for the first time as well as for those who are not satisfied with existing conventions of study.

The Chronicles, divided into two books purely for convenience, have long suffered from neglect; this is partly because much of their content can be found elsewhere in the Old Testament and partly because their presentation, emphasizing genealogies and ritual ceremonies, has lacked appeal for modern man over the last few hundred years. Yet these books, with their theological interpretation of historical events, are a valuable source of illumination about the Judaean community living under Persian rule about 350 B.C. and its special relationship with Jerusalem and its temple and with God. In his introductory section, Mr Cog ,ins discusses the probable origins and the nature and purpose of 'the Chronicler's' work (whether that of a single writer or a group) and then examines each book separately. In the established style of the series the N.E.B. translation of the text then follows, divided into brief sections and alternating with passages of commentary. The results of recent Old Testament scholarship and modern theological thought are conveyed in simple language to the student and layman.

Unlike the First and Second Books of the Chronicles, the Books of Ezra and Nehemiah have received considerable attention; partly because their presentation is more attractive, but more importantly because they illuminate a period of history about which very little is known: Jerusalem in the context of the Persian domination of South-West Asia from 539 to 336 B.C. In other respects, however, there are striking similarities between these books, textually, linguistically and theologically: the opening of Ezra repeats the end of 2 Chronicles, suggesting that the works were originally continuous and possibly by the same hand or hands; and there is constantly a theological motivation in the recording of 'historical' events.