granted--make up your own mind as to what the work means.)
Once you've finished the assigned sections, you may want to review
them right away, so you can firm up your ideas of what the text
means. You may want to leaf through the assigned readings
concentrating on passages you marked with reference to major themes
or historical patterns. This is also a good time to reread the Book
Notes introductory material, which pulls together insights on
specific topics.
When it comes time to prepare for a test or to write a paper, you'll
already have formed ideas about the work. You'll be able to go back
through it, refreshing your memory as to the exact words and events
described, so that you can support your opinions with evidence drawn
straight from the work. Patterns will emerge, and ideas will fall
into place; your essay question or term paper will almost write
itself. Give yourself a dry run with one of the sample tests in the
guide. These tests present both multiple-choice and essay questions.
An accompanying section gives answers to the multiple-choice
questions as well as suggestions for writing the essays. If you have
to select a term paper topic, you may choose one from the list of
suggestions in the book. This guide also provides you with a reading
list, to help you when you start research for a term paper, and a
selection of stimulating or provocative passages from commentators,
to spark your thinking before you write.
The Bible has been translated into English many times and in many
different styles. Unless otherwise noted, all biblical quotations in
this Barron's Book Notes volume are from the Authorized (King James)
Version, the translation in which the Old Testament has made its
greatest impact on English language and literature. Personal
pronouns relating to God (Me, Thou, He, Him, etc.) have been
consistently capitalized. You can read more about the different
versions of the Old Testament in the section "Translations and
Editions," which can be found in the bibliography for this book.
OLD TESTAMENT: BRIEF CHRONOLOGY OF OLD TESTAMENT TIMES
BRIEF CHRONOLOGY OF OLD TESTAMENT TIMES
AGE OF THE PATRIARCHS -- Mesopotamia: Ur
destroyed by Semitic
Abraham leaves Ur for -- 2000 B.C. invaders
Egypt and Canaan
---------
/ 1900
/ ---------
Isaac, Jacob, Joseph / 1800
\ --------- -- Egypt: Hyksos take
\ 1700 power
