It is nice, as a reviewer, to be able to wholeheartedly commend a book from time to time … this is an excellent addition to an excellent series. SPCK’s Exploring the Old Testament series aims to provide a comprehensive, challenging and interactive introduction to the OT for undergraduate students of theology, and Wenham’s work does that and more. The format of the book is very ‘reader friendly’ (text in columns, charts, diagrams, maps, call-out boxes with additional information or questions) and the content is pitched perfectly by one who knows the primary and secondary literature extremely well. This volume (like the others in the series) is very readable and yet leads the reader well beyond the superficial in its discussion. The book covers questions concerning the Pentateuch in general (its formation, themes etc.) and each of the books in particular (e.g., Genesis, its structure, themes, use in the NT etc.). In the course of this discussion Wenham introduces the reader to the main foci of academic debate in Pentateuchal studies—so we come across discussion of spatial concepts of holiness in Leviticus and suzerain-vassal treaties in Deuteronomy. Each section ends with a brief bibliography which highlights the most important works in that area for those who wish to delve deeper. Anyone interested in the Pentateuch, its content, theology and continued relevance will benefit greatly from this volume.

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