Old Testament Theology: Basic Issues in the Current Debate (review)

Hebrew Studies 33 (1992) 135 Reviews those who accept the virtues of that paradigm, this work will be seen as a major contribution to the study of Genesis. John Sailhamer Trinity Evangelical Divinity School Deerfield. IL 60015 OLD TESTAMENT THEOLOGY: BASIC ISSUES IN THE CURRENT DEBATE. Gerhard F. Hasel. 4th ed. Pp. x + 262. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1991. Paper, $14.95. Previous editions of this work have served admirably as a remarkably comprehensive textbook that surveys the vast and diverse landscape of the field of OT theology. This revised and expanded edition brings the survey up to the date of publication, making it even more eminently useful. The revisions and expansions are more extensive than those made between the second and third editions and often involve issues that are crucial in the current discussion. While the basic orientation of the volume is the same, it has now taken into account almost ten new years that have witnessed a proliferation of works on OT theology. Additions include discussions of literary and reader-oriented approaches, Jewish theologians, and a more complete treatment of the canonical approach. The perspective of the book is Christian, generally conservative, and evangelical. Like many of the works authored by facuIty members of the Andrews University Theological Seminary, it has gained acceptance among OT theologians across denominational lines. The first chapter surveys the history of OT theological study from the Reformation to the present. The second chapter addresses the issue of methodology and concludes that neither a wholly diachronic nor a wholly synchronic approach is sufficient, nor is there any single concept around which a comprehensive OT theology may be arranged. What is needed is a multiplex approach based on the canon and incorporating diachronic, synchronic , and thematic studies, finally synthesizing all the results and placing them in the context of a biblical theology that includes the NT as well. The third, fourth, and fifth chapters examine more closely the topics of history, the center of OT theology, and the relationship between the OT and NT, respectively. Hebrew Studies 33 (1992) 136 Reviews The sixth and fmal chapter outlines Hasel's proposal for a multiplex approach to OT theology. In theory, his proposal is laudable for taking into consideration all the different types of approaches and synthesizing them. However, it remains to be seen whether anyone will be able to carry it out. No doubt numerous fruitful studies on various aspects of OT theology will continue to be published, but incorporating all of them into a unified whole would seem to be a Herculean task. I have used the third edition as a text for seminary classes and found it to be most helpful. I look forward to using this new edition in the future. Christopher W. Mitchell Concordia Seminary St. Louis. MO 63105 THE JEWISH LAW ANNUAL. Vol. 9. Bernard S. Jackson, ed. Pp. 300. New York: Harwood Academic, 1991. Cloth, $65.00. As with previous volumes in this series, the present one, too, is devoted to a symposium on a specific topic: criminal law as it bears specifically on the relationship between husband and wife. This topic occupies Part One of the tripartite volume. Part Two is the "Chronicle" section and is devoted to a survey of "both contemporary developments in Jewish law and legal issues in other systems (national and international) particularly affecting Jewish concerns" (p. 1). Here we find a survey by J. D. Bleich of "Contemporary Halakhah" regarding the treatment of checks in years of shemitah (pp. 235-250) and a survey by D. B. Sinclair of "Jewish Law in the State of Israel" which deals with (1) "Custody and the Role of Women in Their Children's Education"; (2) "Brain Death"; (3) "Conscientious Objection"; and (4) "Registration of a Convert" (pp. 251-267). Part Three offers the reader a succinct "Survey of Recent Literature" organized in topics (pp. 271-300). We are promised by the editor that the next volume will contain an index of the surveys published to date. A "Review Column" will also be initiated in the next volume. Part One opens with the voluminous article of S. M. Passamaneck, "Aspects of Physical Violence against Persons in Karo's Shu...