This is the second volume in the IVP (InterVarsity Press) Old Testament dictionary series. The first volume, published in 2003 and edited by T. Desmond Alexander and David W. Baker, covered the Pentateuch - the first five books of the Bible. This volume covers the historical books of the Bible. Both volumes, in the traditional A to Z format, define and discuss various Old Testament topics, providing short commentaries on the various books of the Bible in the areas they cover.

The editors have collected biblical scholars from around the world from various denominations; some are Jewish. The articles of varying length end with bibliographical references. Cross-referencing is provided for other articles within the volume and also to other volumes in IVP reference sets, including New Testament sets. The longer articles start with an introduction followed by an outline and the body of the article. There are no illustrations and very few maps. In the back of the volume are indices: scripture, subject, and articles.

Bill T. Arnold is the director of Hebrew studies and professor of Old Testament and Semitic languages at Asbury Theological Seminary. He is the co-editor of the New Cambridge Bible commentaries. He is the author of Who were the Babylonians (2005), 1 & 2 Samuel (2003) and Encountering the Book of Genesis (2003) and co-editor of Readings from the Ancient Near East (2002).

Hugh G. M. Williamson is a professor of Hebrew at Oxford University and on the faculty of the Oriental Institute. He is the author of Isaiah 1-5 (2006), Book of Isaiah (2005), Studies in Persian Period History and Historiography (2004), Variations on a Theme (2002), 1 & 2 Chronicles (1982), Israel in the Book of Chronicles (1977), and other books and articles.

This volume on the historical books and the volume on the Pentateuch are recommended to those looking for a reference source in their studies of the Old Testament. Academic and theological libraries will want these for their reference sections.