The Faith of the Old Testament tackles a problem fundamental to the serious student's understanding of the Bible: the historical evolution of Israel's concept of God from the patriarchal period to the diaspora. Drawing upon a wide range of recent comparatives studies of the ancient Near East, the author sets out the factors that made the religion of the Old Testament like, and yet crucially unlike, that of its neighbours. In particular, he examines the importance of the first commandment in shaping Israel's awareness of God and hence its faith and perception of history as unique.