Joseph Blenkinsopp investigates three forms of biblical Israel's intellectual and religious leadership: the sage, the priest, and the prophet. The people who occupied these roles were directly responsible for what has appeared in the Old Testament texts. Blenkinsopp looks at the development and character of these roles and how they functioned in their particular time and place.

Based on sociological insights regarding role theory and audience expectations, the book demonstrates how Israel's prophets, priests, and sages represented their own traditions while responding to the political and professional pressures of their unique situations. These persons were responsible for the intellectual leadership of Israel and of formative Judaism, including matters of religion as well as the wider culture. This investigation will lead to a keener understanding of the literature of the Old Testament and the society in which it evolved.

It will also shed light on how certain religious traditions originated and how they have developed.