-- An indispensable resource, accessibly providing the cultural background of the first five books of the Old Testament. -- A one-of-a-kind commentary on the Pentateuch, written in clear, nontechnical language. -- Includes a glossary of historical terms, ancient people, texts and inscriptions. -- Has maps and charts of important historical resources. -- Expanded explanations of background issues and introductory essays on the background of each book. Why is the serpent singled out as "more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made"? Why was pork considered unclean and forbidden? What is the cultural significance of the golden calf? These And Many More Questions Arise as we read the first five books of the Old Testament. The answers won't be found merely by searching the text more carefully. They call for knowledge apart from the text of Scripture. Fortunately in recent decades much has been learned about ancient Near Eastern culture. But much of that knowledge is buried in archaeological studies and academic texts to which scholars alone have access. In The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Genesis-Deuteronomy, John Walton and Victor Matthews unearth a wealth of historical and cultural information and make it available to readers and teachers of the Old Testament. Sidebar articles describe the archaeological background of biblical regions and cultural customs of the early Israelite community. This commentary is an indispensable resource for any student of Scripture. It will enrich your study of these biblical books in a way that no other single work can do.