'A work of commanding range and penetration. . . . The skilful translation has made von Rad 's book accessible to a greatly enlarged circle of readers. This, the most distinctive of modern Old Testament Theologies, has already exercised and will continue to exercise a profound influence on the study of the Old Testament' (The Expository Times). Until his death, Gerhard von Had was Professor of Old Testament in the University of Heidelberg. The companion to this volume is Vol 2: The Theology of Israel's Prophetic Traditions.