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Old Testament Research Guide

Reference Works

Specialized reference works like the ones listed below are very useful for research. Specialized encyclopedias can provide useful overviews or convenient explanations. Specialized dictionaries give a more precise definition of terms as they are used by a particular field of study. Concordances can help you locate exactly where particular words appear in sacred texts. All of the print titles listed here are located on the first floor of the Library. Browse around the same areas to find other useful titles. Online books are available with a Library card.

Encyclopedias

Civilization of the Ancient Mediterranean

Greece and RomeReference DE 59 .C55 1988

Credo 

Has both general and subject specific encyclopedias and dictionaries. Also has online version of the King James' Bible

Encyclopaedia Judaica 

Reference DS 102.8 .E496 1996

Encyclopaedia of Religion and Ethics 

Reference BL 31 .E62 1955

Encyclopedia of Religion 

Reference BL 31 .E46 1987

Encyclopedia of the Dead Sea Scrolls 

Reference BM 487 .E53 2000

Jewish Encyclopedia (1901-1906)

New Catholic Encyclopedia 

Reference BX 841 .N44

Oxford Encyclopedia of Archaeology in the Near East 

Reference DS 56 .O9 1997

Religions of the Ancient World 

Reference BL 687 .R47 2004

World Eras

Amcient Mesopotamia, 3300-331 B.C.E : Reference DS 69.5 .W35 2005

Concordances

Eerdman's Analytical Concordance to the Revised Standard Version of the Bible 

Reference BS 425 .W48 1988

The NRSV Concordance Unabridged 

Reference BS 425 .K645 1991

Strongs Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible 

Reference BS 425 .S8 1984

Dictionaries

Anchor Bible Dictionary 

Reference BS 440 .A54 1992

Dictionary of Ancient Near Eastern Mythology 

Reference BL 1060 .L44 1991

Dictionary of Biblical Imagery 

Reference BS 537 .D48 1998

Dictionary of Biblical Interpretation 

Reference BS 500 .D5 1999

Works in the General Collection

Search the Library Catalog to locate print and audio-visual materials.

Some things to remember when doing a subject search on the Bible:

• The Bible can be searched as Bible; that will be general works on the Bible as a whole. If you are looking for information on a particular book in the Bible you need to search it as Bible O. T. (or N. T. ) and then the name of the book. For example: Bible O. T. Genesis.
• There are several useful subheadings for the study of religious sources. They are
  • Commentaries
  • Criticism, Interpretation, Etc.
  • Introductions.

For example: Bible O T Criticism Interpretation Etc.

• Some other subheadings that are useful are:
  • Antiquities
  • History
  • Social Life and Customs .

For example:

• • Israel Antiquities
  • Jews History
  • Palestine Social Life and Customs

Some good series of commentaries are The New Interpreter's Bible and The Anchor Bible Series, PS Bible Commentary, and JPS Torah Commentary.

Books from Other Libraries

You have many choices for locating books not owned by College of DuPage.

You can of course check your local public library. Make sure the books are scholarly in nature.

You can also search World Cat. World Cat lists books from all over the United States. These books can be ordered via Inter Library Loan. While in the World Cat record just click on Find This! You will be able to search the C.O.D. Catalog and then fill out the Inter Library Loan request form if not available from C.O.D.

We also have reciprocal borrowing arrangements with our four local liberal arts colleges: Wheaton, Elmhurst, Benedictine, and North Central.

Online Books

The Library Catalog contains access to many eBooks. Use the same suggested search above, but limit or modify your search to the location eBook or Reference eBook. These online books were chosen with the same care as other books in the collection. You may also want to check some of the titles on the Online Books page.

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Ken Orenic
Reference Librarian
630.942.2338
orenick@cod.edu

February, 2013

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