DIE late Dr. G. Buchanan Gray's Critical Introduction to the Old Testament was first published in this Series in 1912. In many ways the situation in this, as in other fields of Old Testament study, is far more difficult to assess to-day. The present volume attempts to describe and appraise the most important theories which have been advanced about the nature and composition of the Old Testament books. The scope of the Series has made it necessary to omit much that would tightly find a place in a larger volume, and sometimes to dismiss in a sentence or two hypotheses which have been advanced by their authors with detailed supporting argu- ments. I have tried to be as fair as the requisite brevity permitted.
But the book is also intended to be an introduction to the Old Testament itself, and to give the reader some impression of the structure and contents of the several books. It is impossible either to understand or to estimate the soundness of the various hypotheses without a grasp of the texts. More- over, if the hypotheses do not help us to a deeper understand- ing of the Old Testament itself, they are better forgotten.
're The writing of this volume has taken far longer than I 4expected when I undertook the task. I wish to thank the 4. General Editor of the Series, Dr. Nathaniel Mieldem, for the 'greatpatiencewhichhehasshownduringlongdelaysandfor his unfailing courtesy and helpfulness. To Professor H. H. 'Rowley I am indebted for the constant encouragement and help which he has given me in this as in other enterprises. He has read a considerable part of the typescript and given J. me the benefit of his discerning criticism. But the demerits of the book and any errors which it may contain are not to be laid at his door. My thanks are also due to Mrs. M. Noble who shared with my wife the task of preparing the typescript for the printer, and to Mr. Martin Reid, who checked the refer- ences and helped in the preparation of the indexes. At almost every stage I received encouragement and help from the one to whose memory the volume is dedicated.
G.W.ANDERSON.
IN this reprint a number of slips have been corrected and a few additions made to the bibliography.
