Produced by Al Haines THE CHRISTIAN VIEW OF THE OLD TESTAMENT BY FREDERICK CARL EISELEN Professor in Garrett Biblical Institute THE METHODIST BOOK CONCERN NEW YORK ---- CINCINNATI ---- CHICAGO Copyright, 1912 FREDERICK CARL EISELEN Printed in the United States of America First Edition Printed September, 1912 Second Printing, June, 1913 Third Printing, May, 1916 Fourth Printing, November, 1917 Fifth Printing, September, 1921 Sixth Printing, September, 1923 Seventh Printing, October, 1925 Eighth Printing, July, 1928 {5} CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE PREFACE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 I. THE NEW TESTAMENT VIEW OF THE OLD TESTAMENT . . . . 9 II. THE OLD TESTAMENT AND MODERN SCIENCE . . . . . . . 38 III. THE OLD TESTAMENT AND MODERN CRITICISM . . . . . . 66 IV. THE OLD TESTAMENT AND ARCHAEOLOGY . . . . . . . . . 110 V. THE OLD TESTAMENT AND COMPARATIVE RELIGION . . . . 160 VI. THE PERMANENT SIGNIFICANCE OF THE OLD TESTAMENT . . 227 INDEX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264 OTHER WORKS BY PROFESSOR EISELEN PROPHECY AND THE PROPHETS THE MINOR PROPHETS THE WORKER AND HIS BIBLE THE BOOKS OF THE PENTATEUCH THE PSALMS AND OTHER SACRED WRITINGS THE PROPHETIC BOOKS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT (Two Volumes) {7} PREFACE During the past half century the attitude of many men toward the Bible has undergone a decided change. The old confidence seems to be gone; a feeling of uncertainty and of unrest has taken its place. This small volume is intended to set forth the Christian view of the Old Testament, and to furnish answers to some of the questions men are asking concerning the Sacred Scriptures of the Hebrews, which the early Christians included in the canon of Christian sacred writings. The old foundations are not shaken. The Old Testament has stood the tests of the past, which have been severe and often merciless; and there is to-day stronger ground than ever for believing that in its pages "men spake from God, being moved by the Holy Spirit." FREDERICK CARL EISELEN. Evanston, Illinois. {9} CHAPTER I THE NEW TESTAMENT VIEW OF THE OLD TESTAMENT