I have tried to arrive at a tenable conception of the history of canonization, and have given particular attention to the causes and motives which were operative in it. It seemed to me desirable that a volume of moderate size should be published on the origin of the Canon of the Old Testament. I hope that it may prove to be a plain guide for students in their studies, and one that, at the same time, stimulates them to go further into the history of the origin of the books of the Bible. How closely both the external and the internal history of the Canon is connected with this, will be apparent at every step. - Author's preface to the first edition.