Since its first appearance in English in 1984, Schmidt's book has been recognized as "solid," "readable," "balanced," and "judicious." It provides a comprehensive introduction to the complexities of the Hebrew Scriptures, along with the basic knowledge required for students of Old Testament theology. Now in a new second English edition, this widely used textbook appears under the joint imprint of Walter de Gruyter, publisher of the fifth German edition (1995), and Westminster John Knox Press. Among the most important revisions the author has performed are a thorough reexamination of persistent controversies in Pentateuch source research; a wholly new interpretive section, delving into current biblical hermeneutics and theological controversies on the reception and meanings of the Hebrew Bible; and an up-to-date bibliography that is essential for Old Testament scholarship.
