The Scientific Study of the Old Testament

Book excerpt: From the Preface: These lectures are easily understood and do not require a knowledge of the Hebrew language. Originally they were not intended for publication, but merely to be delivered to about seventy teachers, successful as religious instructors in elementary schools ... Whilst delivering them, at the local University College, towards the close of September 1909, my audience expressed a wish - which was repeated at the end of the course - to have the lectures published, and thus enable them to study them further, and at the same time give an opportunity to those teachers who were either unable to be present or had not been summoned, who nevertheless had evinced a keen interest in them, to read the lectures.... May these lectures be found a useful contribution to the solution of the great and important problems which confront our state schools - and with them the German and Christian schools generally.