The Old Testament

Text and Context

Victor H. Matthews, James C. Moyer

• Publisher: Baker Academic
• Year: 2026
• eBook ISBN: 9781493453436
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Biblical Commentary

This substantially updated fourth edition of a classroom standard provides students with an accessible introduction to the literature, history, and social context of the Old Testament.

Written by two seasoned Old Testament professors with distinguished careers, this book pays attention to methodology, archaeology, history, and literary genre. The fourth edition brings archaeology up to date with current discoveries and methods and incorporates new insights from current scholarship. This edition has been restructured to increase its usability in one-semester classes on the Old Testament, improving the book's usefulness for instructors. The book also maintains its student-focused orientation, with revisions throughout to increase its readability.

The Old Testament: Text and Context is designed to assist students who are encountering the material for the first time. It includes helpful illustrations, sidebars, maps, study questions, and enrichment activities, making it well suited for undergraduate-level Old Testament courses in university and college settings.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half-Title Page
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Dedication
• Contents
• List of Figures and Maps
• Preface to Fourth Edition
• Abbreviations
• Chapter 1. Introduction
• Part 1: The Premonarchic Period
• Part 2: The Early Monarchic Period
• Part 3: The Late Monarchic Period
• Part 4 : The Exile and the Persian Period
• Part 5 : The Hellenistic Period
• Glossary of Terms and Concepts
• Index of Names and Subjects
• Index of Ancient Sources
• Back Cover