Contents: V.1: Hearing the voices of traditions from the Ancestral Period to the Eighth Century Prophets

Chp. I: Getting acquainted with the Bible as Filipinos: forming an initial perspective

A preliminary way of understanding the Bible: The Bible is is

A theological description of the Bible

Possible approaches in the study of the Bible

Some precautions for the reader and interpreter: a review

Elements in biblical study and interpretation

Some basic assumptions to bring in the process of interpretation

An example from Philippine history

stating the objectives and tasks

Chpt. II: The Geography of the Bible Historic Arena of the biblical drama

An introduction to the Geography of Palestine and the Fertile Crescent

Chp. III: The Old Testament Canon: collection of varied but affirmed voices of faith

A brief history of the development of the Hebrew Canon

The Book of Old Testament

General stages in the History of the formation of the Jewish canon

Chpt. IV: Hearing the voices of Israel's basic faith testimony

Israel's "Credo" an alternative mode in reconstructing Israel's history

Chp. V: The voices from the early traditionists of Israel

The texts as testimonies and confessions of faith

The oral traditions and the development of variety of traditions

Historical prelude to the Exodus

Some reflections and implications

Chp. VI: Exodus voices of liberation from bondage to freedom

Introduction: the Exodus as "Good News"

The nature and flow of the accounts

Possible implications for our time: a God who fights for his people!

Chp. VII: Voices of covenants partners at Sinai

Introduction: a theological review and preview

The Exodus as gospel of Israel

The Sinai covenant

On the substance of the Torah

Implications

Chp. VIII: Voices of struggle and assurance in the desert

Brief summary of the wilderness experience of the people

Theological significance of the wilderness experience

Implications

Chp. IX: Triumphant voices in the Promise Land

The geopolitics of the fertile crescent

The socio political context of Canaan

The nature of the takeover as gleaned through the biblical evidence

Rahab and her role in the Israelite takeover of the land

On Jericho and collapse of its walls

The ceremony at Shechem

On Judge I

Theological implications

Chp. X: Voices of Early faith traditions

On the teaching and sources of Oral tradition

The prehistory (Genesis 2-11)

The creation story in Genesis 2:4B-25

The garden story (Genesis 3: 1-24, " The Fall")

The story of Abel and Cain (Genesis 4: 1-6)

The story of Noah and the flood

The story of tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-9)

The Ancestral history (Genesis 12-50)

The Divine promise as guiding theme

Threats to the fulfillment of the promise

The Matriarchs of Israel

On reading the Bible from a Woman's perspective

Summary and implications

Chp. XI: Voices of struggle and survival in the Promised Land

The Deuteronomistic history as source of materials for the period

The Deuteronomic formula

Baalism vs Yahwism: its implications to the agricultural and total economic life and politics of the people

The Judge of Israel and the continuing Deuteronomic cycle

Life under the Judges

The road to the Monarchy

The rise of Samuel and popular demand for a king

Some implications of Israel's shift from a tribal system to a Monarchy: negative and positive

Chp. XII: David and Solomon voices of radical change in the early days of the Monarchy

The situation of the religion at the time

The down fall of Saul, the rise of David

The nature of the literature as propaganda

The propaganda evolving into an ideology

David's establishment of Jerusalem as a political and Religious Center of the Kingdom

Signs of unrest and protest in the time of David

The succession narratives and David's human side

The other agenda of the succession narratives: a propaganda for Solomon

Implications of Solomon's cleansing of the land

Solomon's innovations

Solomon: the royal comprador

Discerning traces of mass reactions to the royal policies

The Temple factor

Some theological implications of Solomon's Temple building

Possible contemporary implications

Chp. XIII: Prophetic voices of judgment in Monarchic Israel

Introductory notes on the prophets

Classification of Prophets

The Elohist tradition and its themes

The time of the divided Kingdom: the Northern Kingdom

A period of political instability and Prophetic interventions

The Elijah - Elisha stories as prophetic legends

Theological reflections and summary

Possible implications for our time

Chp. XIV: Amos and Hosea: Eighth Century voices of Justice and Judgment on the Norther Kingdom

Socioeconomic and political setting of the period

The Book of Amos

The Book of Hosea

Sociohistorical context of Hosea

Theological invention of Hosea

Literary features of Hosea and theological implications

Chp. XV: Isaiah and Micah: Prophetic responses to the crisis of the Judean Monarchy

Isaiah and his time

Isaiah's view of God

The message of Isaiah

Hezekiah and the revival of court propaganda

Theological implications of Isaiah's ministry and message to the rulers of his time

Some theological implications of Isaiah's message for today

The background of message of the Book Micah

The class Bias of Micah

Micha's synthesis of the message of the eighth century Prophets

Implications of Micah's message for today