An image rich, passage-by-passage, five-volume commentary box set of the entire Old Testament.

The Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary integrates textual and artifactual context from the ancient Near East to inform our understanding and interpretation of the Hebrew Bible--while remaining respectful to the inerrancy of Scripture.

Without a deep knowledge of the ancient cultures the Old Testament was born from, we can be tempted to impose our own culture on the text, potentially distorting it. This unique Bible backgrounds commentary set examines:

• The history of the ancient Near East as a means of recovering knowledge of the events that shaped the lives of the people.
• The archaeology as a means of recovering the lifestyle reflected in the material cultures.
• The literature of the ancient Near East as a means of understanding the heart and soul of the people who inhabited the ancient world that Israel shared.

Detailed exegetical notes are combined with comparative discussions of the cultural settings that help scholars interpret the Old Testament. This set brings all five volumes together into one beautiful package:

• Volume 1: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy
• Volume 2: Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 and 2 Samuel
• Volume 3: 1 and 2 Kings, 1 and 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther
• Volume 4: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel
• Volume 5: Minor Prophets, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs

THE ZONDERVAN ILLUSTRATED BIBLE BACKGROUNDS COMMENTARY SERIES

Invites you to enter the world of the Old Testament with a company of seasoned guides, experts who will give new insights into these cherished writings. Features:

• Over 2000 photographs, drawings, maps, diagrams, and charts provide a visual feast that breathes fresh life into the text.
• Passage-by-passage commentary presents archaeological findings, historical explanations, geographic insights, notes on manners and customs, and more.
• Analysis into the literature of the ancient Near East will open your eyes to new depths of understanding both familiar and unfamiliar passages.
• Written by an international team of 30 specialists, all top scholars in background studies.

Are the prophets speaking about their own times, about our present, or about some still-unrealized future? Applying his signature method, John Walton provides a clear, helpful guide to the nature of biblical prophecy and apocalyptic literature that will help us avoid potential misuse and reclaim the message of the prophets for our lives.

With an astute mix of cultural critique and biblical scholarship, John H. Walton presents and defends twenty propositions supporting a literary and theological understanding of Genesis 1 within the context of the ancient Near Eastern world and unpacks its implications for our modern scientific understanding of origins.

What if reading Genesis 2-3 in its ancient Near Eastern context shows that the creation account makes no claims regarding Adam and Eve's material origins? John Walton's groundbreaking insights into this text create space for a faithful reading of Scripture along with full engagement with science, creating a new way forward in the human origins debate.

This proven Old Testament text with a wealth of full-color images helps readers connect the world of the Old Testament with today's world. Old Testament Today, 2^nd Edition, newly revised, includes a book-by-book survey, new maps and graphics, and other updates throughout.

Unique among Old Testament surveys, Old Testament Today, 2^nd Edition not only provides an orientation to the world of the Old Testament, but also builds a bridge between the original audience and modern readers, demonstrating why the ancient message is important for faith and life today. It goes beyond basic content to help students understand what the Scriptures mean and how to apply them personally.

Taking readers progressively through the Old Testament, this text: (1) presents the details of the content, focusing on the story line, historical background, and literary information that address the original setting and audience; (2) focuses on theology perspectives and on issues of the author's purpose and the universal message of the text, building a bridge between the original audience and today's audience; and (3) develops an understanding of the relevance of the Old Testament writings to today's Christian, showing how they can be applied in personal faith and practice.

Updating and expanding upon his previous work on origins, this riveting volume from John H. Walton marks the eighth entry in his bestselling Lost World Series, which has sold more than 125,000 copies.

For over a decade, John Walton's books The Lost World of Genesis One and The Lost World of Adam and Eve have shaped readers' understanding of the ancient Near Eastern world and its implications for modern scientific origins debates. But more than simply engaging the creation/evolution debate, these works explored questions related to interpretation of Genesis through ancient eyes, the theological purpose of a seven-day creation account, the historicity of Adam and Eve, and the history of interpretation of the creative narratives.

In New Explorations in the Lost World of Genesis, Walton provides comprehensive and timely updates on the latest developments and research, including:

• a summary of positions addressed in his previous books on origins
• new insights, clarifications, and illustrations based on current scholarship
• answers to frequently asked questions

Engaging the latest scholarship as well as questions that his proponents and critics alike have raised, New Explorations in the Lost World of Genesis provides a relevant update that will benefit students, professors, and pastors as they continue to explore questions of origins and their implications for the Christian life.

Preaching's Preacher's Guide to the Best Bible Reference

An Expansive Old Testament Resource You Can Trust

How can we account for the Book of the Law suddenly being discovered during Josiah's renovation of the temple (2 Chron 34:14)? We know from Egypt and Mesopotamia that it was common to seal important documents--including theological documents--in the masonry or foundations of a palace or temple in order to inform a future king who might undertake restoration of the building.

What might the psalmist have had in mind when praising God for removing our transgressions as far as the east is from the west (Ps 103:12)? In an Egyptian hymn to Amun-Re, the deity is praised for his judgment of the guilty. As a result of the god's discernment the guilty are assigned to the east and the righteous to the west.

What is meant by God weighing the heart (Prov 21:2)? In Egyptian religious tradition we find the notion of the dead being judged before the gods. As the soul is examined, the dead person's heart is weighed in a scale against a feather symbolizing Truth. If the answers are correct and the heart does not outweigh the feather, the soul may enter the realm of everlasting life.

The narratives, genealogies, laws, poetry, proverbs and prophecies of the Old Testament are deeply rooted in history. Archaeologists, historians and social scientists have greatly advanced our knowledge of the ancient world of the Bible. When we illuminate the stories of Abraham or David, the imagery of the Psalms or Proverbs, or the prophecies of Isaiah or Jeremiah with this backlight of culture and history, these texts spring to new life. The unique commentary joins The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament in providing historical, social and cultural background for each passage of the Old Testament. From Genesis through Malachi, this single volume gathers and condenses an abundance of specialized knowledge--making it available and accessible to ordinary readers of the Old Testament. Expert scholars John Walton, Victor Matthews and Mark Chavalas have included along with the fruits of their research and collaboration

• a glossary of historical terms, ancient peoples, texts and inscriptions
• maps and charts of important historical resources
• expanded explanations of significant background issues
• introductory essays on each book of the Old Testament

The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament will enrich your experience of the Old Testament--and your teaching and preaching from Scripture--in a way that no other commentary can do.

Discover profound insights with ease: The Essential Bible Companion is your indispensable guide to unlocking and truly understanding the core teachings of the Bible. Developed by world-renowned biblical scholars, this compact reference tool presents the key information about every book in the Bible in an easy-to-digest format.

The Essential Bible Companion is a visual guide to Scripture's key concepts and teachings that empowers you with:

1. Background information that uncovers the purpose, key terms, concepts, and teachings about God in each Bible book.
2. A user-friendly timeline featuring key events for each book.
3. A who's-who of essential Biblical figures to know.
4. Must-read verses, illustrative maps, and enlightening historical introductions.

Ideal for those seeking greater understanding of the Bible without getting lost in overbearing detail, The Essential Bible Companion strikes the perfect balance of informative yet manageable content that enhances, not detracts from, the biblical text.

Embark on a journey towards a well-grounded and deeply enriched biblical faith with The Essential Bible Companion. Whether you are a new believer stepping into the vast landscape of biblical teachings for the first time, or a seasoned student of the word seeking to deepen your knowledge, The Essential Bible Companion serves as your roadmap.

Grab your copy today and simplify your path to deeper biblical understanding.

How do Sunday school teachers lead children through the stories of Cain and Abel or Judas's betrayal in a way that reflects the authority of Scripture? Sunday school curricula often glosses over difficult lessons or focuses too much on characters in Bible stories, neglecting God's self-revelation in Scripture. John and Kim Walton have created this handbook for 175 Bible stories to assist teachers and parents in knowing what each story teaches and how to present it in a God-centered way.

As they work their way through the Bible, the Waltons examine seven elements in each story: focus, theme, application, place in the Bible, interpretational issues, historical and cultural background, and age-group appropriateness. The Bible Story Handbook includes introductory articles on why we teach the Bible and right and wrong ways to use the Bible. Every parent and Sunday school teacher will find this unique resource to be invaluable in teaching children to know and love God.

To modern eyes, what we call the biblical law, or Torah, seems either odd beyond comprehension (not eating lobster) or positively reprehensible (executing children). Using a consistent methodology to look at the Torah through the lens of the ancient Near East, Walton and Walton offer a restorative understanding that will have dramatic effects in interpreting the text and in discerning the significance of the Torah for today.

Perhaps no biblical episode is more troubling than the conquest of Canaan. But do the so-called holy war texts of the Old Testament portray a divinely inspired genocide? John Walton and J. Harvey Walton take us on an archaeological dig, reframing our questions and excavating the layers of translation and interpretation that cloud our perception of these difficult texts.

At your fingertips: the most vital information you need for reading and truly understanding the Bible. The Essential Bible Companion is a unique, easy-to-use reference guide that gives you clear, crisp insights into the Bible, book by book.

Developed by two world-class Bible scholars and the creator of The Bible in 90 Days curriculum, this compact reference tool visually lays out the key details for each book of the Bible, including:

• Essential background information, such as the underlying purpose, the key terms and concepts, and the key teachings about God in that book.
• An easy-to-reference timeline of the book with callouts for notable events.
• Important people to know.
• Key verses, maps, and historical introductions.

Between the brief introductions you might find in a study Bible and the overwhelming amount of detail in an exhaustive reference handbook or commentary, The Essential Bible Companion strikes the perfect balance of manageable information that doesn't distract or detract from Scripture itself.

This richly informative volume will assist you on your journey toward a well-grounded biblical faith.

The church has often lost its way in reading the Old Testament for lack of sound principles of interpretation. John Walton offers a consistent approach to give us confidence as faithful interpreters, laying out his tried-and-true practices developed over four decades in the classroom. You may never read the Old Testament the same way again.

We often turn to the book of Job when we encounter suffering. But what if the book is not only about Job's suffering? Written by two respected commentators, this matchless guide to reading and appreciating the book of Job covers all relevant aspects-literary, historical, theological and hermeneutical-for the student, teacher and busy pastor.

Walton and Sandy summarize what we know of orality and oral tradition as well as the composition and transmission of texts in the ancient Near East and the Greco-Roman world, and how this shapes our understanding of the Old and New Testaments. The authors then translate these insights into a helpful model for understanding the reliability of Scripture.