"Rolf Knierim has long been known as a master of exegetical method. These essays reveal him as a master practitioner of Old Testament theology - and a deep spirit. He reformulates basic problems with a clarity that reinvigorates the discipline. His case studies pursue the presuppositions underlying the ancient texts in magnificent fashion. This is a book to read and reread."

-RAYMOND C. VAN LEEUWEN

Eastern College

"Rolf Knierim's challenging and provocative text offers practical theologians a much-needed and richly nuanced approach to biblical theology. Knierim's incisive exegetical skills allow him to uncover fascinating theological subtle-ties within texts. These insights, along with Knierim's dynamic approach to the diverse theologies within the Bible, offer homileticians, religious educa-tors, and scholars in pastoral care and counseling ways of bringing additional vitality and depth to their work with biblical texts. Given the challenges facing practical theologians as they wrestle with diversity in the church, in the seminary, in academia, and in the world, Knierim's approach to the diver-sity of theologies within the Bible has a significant contribution to make to many different conversations in practical theology today."

-JANET L WEATHERS

Princeton Theological Seminary

"An effective theology of the Old Testament is urgently needed for bringing humankind to face new perils in the millennium that lies just ahead. More than a theology of the New Testament, it is needed because it directly ad-dresses the concrete problems of human society and cosmic survival. In this rich book Knierim assesses the progress and the failures of past generations and challenges biblical scholars and theologians to apply authentically bibli-cal concepts and concerns to the construction of a truly relevant Old Testa-ment theology,the goal of exegesis and the precondition of a valid hermeneutic of sacred Scripture."

-SIMON J. DE VRIES

Methodist Theological School

ROLF P. KNIERIM is emeritus professor of Old Testament, School of Theol-ogy at Claremont, and Avery Professor of Religion, Claremont Graduate School, Claremont, California. He is the author of numerous books and ar-ticles on topics in the area of Old Testament and related fields and is coeditor of The Forms of the Old Testament Literature series.