Old Testament Textual Criticism: A Practical Introduction

Synopsis

Now in its second edition, this accessible introduction to Old Testament textual criticism guides students through the principles and practice of establishing the best reading of the Hebrew Bible. Brotzman and Waltke cover the scripts and writings of the ancient Near East, the significance of the Dead Sea Scrolls, the history of Hebrew manuscripts, and the textual apparatus of the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia and Biblia Hebraica Quinta. The book walks readers through methods for identifying scribal changes and uncovering original readings, concluding with a practical worked example from the book of Ruth. Essential reading for anyone who wants to move beyond surface-level engagement with Old Testament text-critical questions.