F

or more than twenty-five years students have used Eugene Merrill's An Historical Survey of the Old Testament as a comprehensive but concise study of the first thirty-nine books of the Bible. The fifteen printings of the first edition attest to the enduring usefulness of his work.

This second edition retains much of the appeal of the first, but is updated to reflect discussion and research.

Assured of the accuracy of the Old Testament. Merrill approaches it as God's revelation to the world through Israel, his chosen people. This historical structure provides the basic framework for his text, enriched by:

* Insights from the history of the Middle East

* Geographic backgrounds

* Archaeological perspectives

* Cultural, religious, and social points of view

Introductory material examines the nature of the Old Testament and its literary genre, recounting a history of challenges to that credibility. Sub-sequent chapters isolate each epoch covered by the Old Testament, from creation through the postexilic period. Hebrew words are set in linguistic context. A short review of intertesta-mental history is also included.