The Old Testament

Here are the greatest and best-loved stories from the Old Testament of the Bible, stories which can be read as much for their human, literary and historical appeal as for their religious meaning. The selection ranges from childhood favourites like David and Goliath, to key moments in Jewish history such as the Exodus, and also includes some of the finest poetry in the Old Testament – the Song of Solomon, for example. Until the invention of the printing press and the coming of the Reformation, the Bible was effectively the preserve of the clergy.