Ben-Tor, Ammon, ed. The Archaeology of Ancient Israel. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1992.

Dorsey, David A. The Literary Structure of the Old Testament: A Commentary on Genesis-Malachi. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Books, 1999.

Heschel, Abraham Joshua. The Prophets: An Introduction. 2 vols. New York: Harper and Row, 1969 71.

Bray, Gerald. Biblical Interpretation: Past and Present. Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 2000.

As far as an overall LDS Old Testament commentary or history goes I might agree. However for single books in OT I think Abraham Gileadi’s Isaiah Decoded: Ascending the Ladder to Heaven is a particularly insightful treatment. I believe our buddy Dave Seeley gave it a nice plug in FARMS a while back. Although I don’t jump on the Gileadi bandwagon he does good work. The two Parry boys handled Isaiah well although I wouldn’t put it up there with others. Martin Buber also did a nice job covering the prophets unfortunately it was written in German.

Using a DSS commentary for OT study (#1)? Did you say that just to sound cool or do you really think it helps? I have found that there’s hardly any variation between the BHS and the DSSs, outside of the “secular” texts, and your BHS apparatus makes notes of DSS variations anyway.

And Nitsav, I liked your first comment: the most helpful OT study tool – PUT DOWN YOUR KJV AND PICK UP A TRANSLATION THAT ACTUALLY MAKES SOME SENSE. I use the NRSV and NASB for English translations.

(Note: this post written instead of posting a lengthy comment over here. )

In teaching GD last year with an OT focus, I found *Scripture Study, James E. Faulconer to be helpful, especially the two appendix in the back re: Greek vs. Jewish thought. I know this is only the tip of the iceburg on this issue and found it remarkably interesting and enlightening, esp. re: temple experiences. If anyone can point me to a book following Jim’s springboard, I’d appreciate it.

I LOVE the Old Testament and I don’t think that’s a common sentiment in the LDS church. Too often we cop out with the “as far as it’s translated correctly” disclaimer and put all that we don’t immediately understand in this box as being mis-translated or mis-copied. I think a lot of our misunderstanding stems from the issues Jim brings up in his book. I am excited to read Alter’s Art of Biblical Narrative. This book appears to be something that will help me appreciate and understand the OT better.

David: I haven’t read that particular book of Smith, but I like the others. A bit dry, sometimes, but I know they have been well-received.

Gilgamesh- I second the ABD, although it might be too much information or too scholarly for someone just jumping in. It’s expensive too. Perhaps something like the Oxford Companion to the Bible. We used Kuhrt in a history class, good stuff. More, perhaps, for a second stage of reading than an intro.

Ronan: I know Friedman took some criticism, and revised some ideas (which he discusses in The Bible with Sources Revealed), but still find it very useful. There’s nothing else that explains narratively how OT source criticism came about.

That said, parts of it really bug me, when he seems to be working backwards. I feel that he commits some of the same errors he warns others against.

BRad: I think Alter’s Art of Biblical Narrative was on my original list of 5 (which I made in Sacrament mtg. a few weeks back.) It’s extremely useful for understanding why the stories are told as they are, what details are included, etc. I cn’t comment on his other work, since I haven’t read it, but it’s probably worth reading. I’m not familiar with Jack Miles at all