This volume gives extracts from and introductions to twelve writings
dealing with prominent Old Testament figures. The writings tell what
happened to them, what God revealed to them and try to bring home to
their readers what can be learned from their example. They give many
explicit exhortations; often there is an outlook on the future intended
to comfort and to encourage the readers in difficult circumstances.
These writings belong to the so-called 'Pseudepigrapha of the Old
Testament', a term used, rather loosely, to cover writings connected
with biblical books, personalities or themes, which were not included in
the Hebrew or Greek Old Testament canon. The various contributions to
this volume, written by experts in the field, aim at introducing readers
to this fascinating collection of documents and at showing them the ways
to explore this area a little further.