The Lost World of the Torah: Law as Covenant and Wisdom in Ancient Context

Written by John H. Walton and J. Harvey Walton

Narrated by Tom Parks

Our handling of what we call biblical law veers between controversy and neglect. On the one hand, controversy arises when Old Testament laws seem either odd beyond comprehension (not eating lobster) or positively reprehensible (executing children). On the other, neglect results when we consider the law obsolete, no longer carrying any normative power. Even those who do attempt to make use of the Old Testament "law" often find it either irrelevant, hopelessly laden with "thou shalt nots," or simply confusing. Despite these extremes, people continue to propose moral principles from these laws as "the biblical view" and to garner proof texts to resolve issues that arise in society. The result is that both Christians and skeptics regularly abuse the Torah, and its true message often lies unheard.

Walton and Walton offer in The Lost World of the Torah a restorative vision of the ancient genre of instruction for wisdom that makes up a significant portion of the Old Testament. In the ancient Near East, order was achieved through the wisdom of those who governed society. The objective of torah was to teach the Israelites to be wise about the kind of order needed to receive the blessings of God's favor and presence within the context of the covenant. Here listeners will find fresh insight on this fundamental genre of the Old Testament canon.

• Language: English
• Publisher: ChristianAudio.com
• Release date: Aug 10, 2021
• ISBN: 9781545918319

John H. Walton

John H. Walton (PhD, Hebrew Union College) is professor emeritus of Old Testament at Wheaton College Graduate School. He is the author or coauthor of numerous books, including Old Testament Today, with Andrew E. Hill; volumes on Job and Genesis in the NIV Application Commentary series; the six-volume Lost World series; and Genesis 1 as Ancient Cosmology. He was also coeditor, with Craig Keener, of the ECPA 2017 Bible of the Year winner, the NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible.

Reviews for The Lost World of the Torah

[John Neale · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Excellent exploration of the Torah in its ANE context. Well narated

[Nderitu Pius · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The book is majorly founded on Deuteronomy 4:6.
You will understand a lot about why the BIBLE which may seem conflicting in and of itself is not so. That the data within the BIBLE is about WISDOM not as legislation. Grab a copy and even better listen to the audio version. It will definitely clear a lot of air in believers and non-believers alike.