Designed as a supplementary resource for students who have an interest in the ancient Near East and biblical history, this volume provides a basic introduction to the historical, archaeological, and socio-contextual aspects of ancient Israel during its early foundation period through the end of the monarchy in Judah. Victor Matthews integrates extra-biblical information on the physical realities of geo- and super-power politics, international and interregional movement of peoples, and the evolutionary process of complex states in the ancient Near East with information from biblical narratives in order to explore the development of ancient Israelites' identity, cultural traditions, and interactions with other major cultures. In particular, he examines aspects of everyday life in both village culture and urban settings as a key to the development of social, legal, and religious traditions and practices. The History of Bronze and Iron Age Israel features an easy to navigate format, fairly non-technical language, and a series of informative insets that highlights important methodological concepts and comparative material.
Dean of the College of Humanities and Public Affairs and Professor of Religious Studies at Missouri State University, Victor H. Matthews is a specialist in Hebrew Bible and the social world of the ancient Near East, and has published seventeen books and dozens of articles. Among his research interests are ancient Near Eastern legal traditions, social scientific criticism, and gender studies in the ancient world.
Series IntroductionChapter 1: Placing Ancient Israel in its Ancient Near Eastern ContextChapter 2: Israel's Earliest Historical Traditions- The Middle and Late Bronze PeriodChapter 3: Settlement and Competition in Iron Age I Canaan- An Archaeological, Political, and Social PerspectiveChapter 4: Transition from Iron I to Iron II- The Early MonarchyChapter 5: Super Power Politics in Iron II and the Role of Vassal States- From Jeroboam to JosiahBibliography
All in all, this book provides a good introduction to study of the history of Israel and will prepare beginners to go on to more substantial treatments of various parts or all of this history...it will serve as a useful classroom guide and will be extremely helpful as a text in the hands of a good teacher.
David A. deSilva, Ashland Theological Seminary) deSilva, David A. (Trustees' Distinguished Professor of New Testament and Greek, Trustees' Distinguished Professor of New Testament and Greek
David A. deSilva, Ashland Theological Seminary) deSilva, David A. (Trustees' Distinguished Professor of New Testament and Greek, Trustees' Distinguished Professor of New Testament and Greek, David A. Desilva, David A Desilva
Harry O. Maier, Vancouver School of Theology) Maier, Harry O. (Professor of New Testament and Early Christian Studies, Professor of New Testament and Early Christian Studies, MAIER, Maier
Harry O. Maier, Vancouver School of Theology) Maier, Harry O. (Professor of New Testament and Early Christian Studies, Professor of New Testament and Early Christian Studies, Harry O Maier
Jeffrey Siker, Loyola Marymount University) Siker, Jeffrey (Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity, Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity, SIKER, Siker
Jeffrey Siker, Loyola Marymount University) Siker, Jeffrey (Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity, Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity, SIKER, Siker
David A. deSilva, Ashland Theological Seminary) deSilva, David A. (Trustees' Distinguished Professor of New Testament and Greek, Trustees' Distinguished Professor of New Testament and Greek
David A. deSilva, Ashland Theological Seminary) deSilva, David A. (Trustees' Distinguished Professor of New Testament and Greek, Trustees' Distinguished Professor of New Testament and Greek, David A. Desilva, David A Desilva
Alicia D. Myers, Campbell University Divinity School) Myers, Alicia D. (Associate Professor of New Testament and Greek, Associate Professor of New Testament and Greek