Samuel E. Balentine is Professor of Old Testament at Union Presbyterian Seminary, Richmond, VA. In addition to articles, essays, edited collections, and reviews, his publications include The Hidden God, Prayer in the Hebrew Bible, The Torah's Vision of Worship, Leviticus, and Job. He has served on the Editorial Board of The New Interpreter's Bible, and is currently General Editor (OT) for the Smyth and Helwys Bible Commentary, Editor of the Smyth and Helwys Theological Issues series, and Editor of Interpretation. He is presently at work on two volumes, Job (Personalities of the Old Testament, University of South Carolina Press) and Lamentations (NICOT, Eerdmans).

"I thoroughly enjoyed reading the articles in these two volumes...I commend the two volumes to potential readers, knowing that especially the discussions of topics in terms of biblical theology will provide helpful overviews of these topics for students as well as for scholars looking for orientation to particular topics. Further, I think the scholarly guild would be remiss not to note that the production of this encyclopedia offers a subtle reminder that questions of what constitutes the Bible, the relationship of the Bible to theology, and the future of biblical theology are, as always, continuously in process."--Review of Biblical Literature

"Quality of scholarship, clarity of writing, and careful editing guarantees these volumes will be a much sought after resource. Suitable for undergraduate, graduate, and seminary students and experienced scholars. A triumphant achievement." --Library Journal

"...the OEBT presents comprehensive and detailed discussion of major biblical topics and its sub-topics... the OEBT is an excellent addition to any academic, or personal, library. It enriches the depth of knowledge available to students by presenting a vast array topics and times covered within individual topics. Whether one is using the OEBT as a starting point for research or referencing it to show tendencies in biblical scholarship, it is beneficial to libraries and will allow students to penetrate the infinite depths of the bible and theology." --The Biblical Review

"Brilliant scholars have been recruited to author one or more articles on subjects they have mastered, while editor Balentine (Union Presbyterian Seminary) has performed the complicated task of organizing and editing the contributions to this fine two-volume work. The writing is both accessible and comprehensive, so beginning students and seasoned scholars alike will find it extremely useful... The work makes a worthy addition to all university library reference collections, not merely those supporting theology programs... Highly recommended." --CHOICE

"A major strength of this grand reference work lies in its coverage of both traditional theological topics, like Sin, and modern subjects, such as Identity. This two-volume set has the most to offer a wide audience. Anyone seeking a readable and carefully researched take on the Bible and theology should start here."-Religious Studies Review