The Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Esther.
These five Old Testament books, traditionally known simply as The Scrolls, are among the most neglected parts of the Christian Bible.  Each raises particular difficulties with regard to how it relates to the rest of Scripture, and the manner in which it should be understood and used as the Word of God for us today.
In Judaism, these books were adopted as lectionary readings for five of the major festivals - but no comparable solution has emerged in Christianity.
Barry Webb explores Christian interpretation of these problematic writings.  Each book is allowed to set its own agenda, and is then examined in relation to the wider Old Testament context and to the New Testament gospel with its basic structure of promise and fulfilment.
In this way, Dr Webb offers fresh and illuminating perspectives on these 'festival garments' of love, kindness, suffering, vexation and deliverance.

Reviews

His work, while brief, is fascinating, stimulating, fresh and up to date. Some may feel this is a more scholarly work suited to the minister or theological student, but any serious student of Scripture .. will profit here.
Norris Wilson
Covenanter Witness

Barry Webb opens up these five .. Books, with differing pictures of who God is and what God is about in the world.
This book isn't popular, easy to read stuff. It is scholarly writing without being too technical, and is pastoral without being trite.
James Gordon
Baptist Union Scotland