Westminster Bible Companion volumes are written mainly by American Presbyterian scholars for a lay readership. They include the NRSV text and avoid footnotes. This one also covers further matters in excursuses, e.g. reflections on ‘The Fall’, Biblical Chronology, Human Alienation, and Biblical Interpretation. Towney’s brief introduction notes important themes (cosmology, anthropology, human evolution, sin, sexual rivalry, sibling rivalry, treatment of women, family saga), lists relevant ANE myths, discusses oral transmission, and tabulates J, E and P sources. He describes his hermeneutic as primarily historical-critical, but also one of ‘contemporary faith enrichment’ (9).

Towney writes well, and engages with hymnody, poetry, literature, film and wider culture (Barbour on science, Dubos on early civilization). He makes interesting and stimulating comments on the text. But throughout his approach is that of critical scholarship and liberal theology: ‘there is no Fall in this chapter’ (53), ‘the numbers given in Genesis are purely legendary’ (76), ‘God did not plan the death of Jesus’ (291). To be used discerningly!

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