This is a classic work of biblical criticism, providing a comprehensive introduction to the Old Testament. The author discusses the historical and cultural context of the Old Testament texts, and analyzes their literary and theological features. He also examines the formation and transmission of the Old Testament canon, and the history of biblical interpretation. The book is of interest to biblical scholars, theologians, and anyone interested in the history of religion. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.