David L. Baker

"The heart of this book is a study of all the Old Testament laws concerned with wealth and poverty. Baker groups these laws together by topic, considering the similarities and differences between the Decalogue, Book of the Covenant, Holiness Code, and Deuteronomic Laws. He places these in the wider context of ancient Near Eastern law in order to make clear which attitudes are distinctively biblical ... Each section of Tight Fists or Open Hands? includes an extended conclusion that summarizes the main ideas, considers relationships with other biblical texts, and points to the significance of the laws for today's world. Baker's combination of thorough exegesis and modern application makes this book relevant to pastors, scholars, and students in a variety of courses"--Back cover.