Introducing the Bible STARTING WITH THE BIBLE14 The Books of the Bible18 What is the Bible?22 Reading the Bible THE BIBLE IN ITS SETTING 26 Making connections – the Bible and world history28 The Bible in its time30 Bringing the past to life36 The land of Israel38 Animals and birds40 Trees and plants42 Israel’s calendar UNDERSTANDING THE BIBLE46 Keys to understanding50 Understanding the Bible52 The Bible as story53 Interpreting the Bible down the ages58 The text and the message PASSING ON THE STORY62 Storykeepers – the oral tradition64 The scribes66 Editors at work68 The Hebrew Bible70 An approved list – the ‘canon’ of Scripture74 Spreading the word – the task of translation THE BIBLE TODAY80 Cultural perspectives – East and West83 Jesus in a plural society86 The Qur’an and the Bible89 The Bible through women’s eyes92 A scientist looks at the Bible95 Our world – their world The Old Testament 98 Introducing the Old Testament100 Chart: The Old Testament story104 Map: Israel in Old Testament times105 The Old Testament and the ancient Near East THE FIVE BOOKSGenesis to Deuteronomy108 Introduction115 Genesis117 Creation stories119 People as God’s caretakers121 Personal names in Genesis 1 – 11123 Flood stories131 Hagar132 Abraham136 Where were Sodom and Gomorrah?138 Sarah143 Women of faith144 Jacob149 Joseph154 Egypt159 Exodus162 The names of God170 A way of life: the Ten Commandments176 The significance of the Tabernacle180 Leviticus182 Sacrifice185 Priesthood in the Old Testament190 The great festivals193 Numbers196 The quail198 Nomadic life205 Deuteronomy206 Moses210 Covenants and Near Eastern treaties214 The promised land ISRAEL’S HISTORYJoshua to Esther220 Introduction225 Joshua228 Cities of the conquest231 Canaanites and Philistines234 ‘Holy War’238 Judges242 Settled life247 Understanding Judges251 Ruth252 A portrait of Ruth254 A story through women’s eyes255 1 & 2 Samuel257 Hannah265 Magic in theOld Testament269 David276 1 & 2 Kings279 Solomon’s Temple and its successors283 King Solomon’s fortified cities287 Unravelling the chronology of the kings296 The Black Obelisk301 Sennacherib’s Prism302 The siege of Lachish305 The lost Ark306 Chart: Kings of Israel and Judah308 1 & 2 Chronicles325 Hezekiah’s conduit328 Ezra332 The scribe334 Nehemiah340 Esther341 Portrait of Esther POETRY AND WISDOMJob to Song of Solomon344 Introduction349 Job352 Understanding Job359 Psalms363 The Psalms in their setting367 A poet looks at Psalms379 God and the universe382 Self-justification, cursing and vengeance in Psalms388 Christ in the psalms393 Proverbs395 Wisdom in Proverbs and Job397 Important themes in Proverbs 10 – 31400 Ecclesiastes403 Song of Solomon THE PROPHETS Isaiah to Malachi408 Introduction414 Chart: The prophets in their setting417 Isaiah420 Understanding Isaiah423 Prophets and prophecy432 The Assyrians439 Jeremiah441 Portrait of Jeremiah456 The Babylonians459 Lamentations461 Ezekiel473 Daniel478 Old Testament views of the afterlife480 The Persians483 Hosea486 Understanding Hosea488 Joel490 Amos491 Justice and the poor495 Obadiah496 Jonah498 Micah500 Nahum502 Habakkuk504 Zephaniah505 Haggai507 Zechariah512 Malachi515 Deuterocanonical books521 The Greeks THE NEW TESTAMENT 526 Map: Israel in New Testament times527 What is the New Testament?528 Jewish religion in New Testament times532 Herod’s Temple534 Jews under Roman rule: the province of Judea536 Chart: The New Testament story THE GOSPELS AND ACTSMatthew to Acts538 Introduction: The Gospels and Jesus Christ542 The life of Jesus545 Studying the Gospels549 Matthew551 ‘God with us’ – the incarnation553 The star of Bethlehem557 The twelve disciples of Jesus563 Jesus and the kingdom of God566 Jesus and money569 Jesus and the Old Testament574 Passover and the Last Supper577 Mark581 Fishing in Lake Galilee587 Jesus and the cities589 Jesus and women592 Roman soldiers in the New Testament593 Pilate595 Luke596 The virgin birth600 The census602 Mary, the mother of Jesus603 Women’s perspectives in the Gospels605 The New Testament miracles608 Martha and Mary619 Jesus’ resurrection621 John627 The Herod family630 Jerusalem in New Testament times636 The peace of God637 Love641 Mary Magdalene643 Acts650 A historian looks at the New Testament655 ‘Good News!’ – from the first Christians659 The city of Athens661 The Holy Spirit in Acts670 Roman rule, Greek culture THE LETTERSRomans to Revelation674 Introduction: The Letters680 Chart: The New Testament Letters681 Romans684 The city of Rome689 Paul692 God’s sovereign choice694 1 Corinthians696 The city of Corinth701 Sexual issues in the church at Corinth703 Spiritual gifts706 2 Corinthians711 Galatians714 Ephesians716 The city of Ephesus720 Philippians723 Colossians724 Understanding Colossians727 Angels in the Bible728 1 & 2 Thessalonians732 1 & 2 Timothy737 Titus739 Philemon740 Hebrews742 The Old Testament in the New Testament746 Understanding Hebrews749 James752 1 & 2 Peter753 The Jewish Dispersion758 1, 2 & 3 John762 Jude763 Revelation765 The seven churches of Revelation766 Emperor worship and Revelation771 Understanding Revelation Nazareth, hometown of Jesus.

Still the best book to have next to the Bible. The Lion Handbook to the Bible was first published in 1973 and has been continuously in print ever since, selling over 3 million copies worldwide. This fascinating guide to the book that has intrigued and inspired millions of people for thousands of years comprises an authoritative yet accessible commentary on the Bible, book by book and chapter by chapter, alongside over 100 articles by leading scholars around the world on areas of special interest. Beautifully illustrated throughout with more than 700 photographs, maps and illustrations, the Handbook is a pleasure to browse and read, and a mine of information and insight about this crucially important book. This new fifth edition has a total refresh of over 700 photographs, maps, and illustrations.

"The Lion Handbook to the Bible has been on the nearest shelf to my desk for a few decades - my 'go to' introduction for preaching and teaching but also to browse in a relaxed way amongst its many gems."