The Bible's Cultural Context Commentary: Old Testament

The narratives, genealogies, laws, poems, proverbs, and prophecies of the Old Testament are deeply rooted in history. Archaeologists, historians, and social scientists have contributed to our understanding of the biblical world. When we illuminate the stories of Abraham or David, the language of the Psalms or Proverbs, or the prophecies of Isaiah or Jeremiah against the backdrop of culture and history, these texts gain meaning and relevance.

Among other things, this book helps to answer several questions, such as:

1. How can we explain that the Book of the Law was found during the repair of the temple in the days of Josiah? (2 Chronicles 34:14) "The discovery of ancient documents found during the repair of temples in both Egypt and Mesopotamia is well known. One of the purposes of these documents was to offer information to any king who wished to undertake the restoration of the building in the future. The Book of the Law could have been a document preserved in a hidden box within the temple walls."

2. What does it mean that God examines (weighs) hearts? (Proverbs 21:2) "In Egyptian religious tradition, the dead had to face a final judgment before the gods, who weighed the heart of the deceased on a scale against a feather that symbolized truth. If the answers were correct and the heart did not weigh more than the feather, the soul could enter the kingdom and live forever."

The Cultural Context Commentary of the Bible: Old Testament offers us the historical, social, and cultural background of each passage of the Old Testament. It contains abundant specialized material presented in language understandable to all readers.

An indispensable tool for anyone who reads and wishes to grasp the eternal message of God's Word with fresh insight.