Bookstore

This authoritative volume brings together a team of world-class scholars to cover the full range of Old Testament backgrounds studies in a concise, up-to-date, and comprehensive manner. With expertise in various subdisciplines of Old Testament backgrounds, the authors illuminate the cultural, social, and historical contexts of the world behind the Old Testament. They introduce readers to a wide range of background materials, covering history, geography, archaeology, and ancient Near Eastern textual and iconographic studies.

Meant to be used alongside traditional literature-based canonical surveys, this one-stop introduction to Old Testament backgrounds fills a gap in typical introduction to the Bible courses. It contains over 100 illustrations, including photographs, line drawings, maps, charts, and tables, which will facilitate its use in the classroom.

Behind the Scenes of the Old Testament - Cultural, Social, and Historical Contexts

Contents



Introduction Jonathan S. Greer, John W. Hilber, and John H. Walton

Part One: Elements of the Drama

I. The Stage: Historical Geography

1. Introduction to Historical Geography Paul H. Wright

2. Regions and Routes in the Levant Carl G. Rasmussen

3. Climate and Environment of the Levant Elizabeth Arnold

4. Plants and Animals of the Land of Israel Daniel Fuks and Nimrod Marom

II. The Sets and Props: Archaeology

5. Introduction to Biblical Archaeology Seymour Gitin

6. Archaeology of the Late Bronze Age Joe Uziel

7. Archaeology of the Iron Age I Aren M. Maeir

8. Archaeology of the Iron Age II Amihai Mazar

9. Archaeology of the Neo-Babylonian and Persian Periods Constance E. C. Gane

10. Archaeology of the Hellenistic Period Jordan Ryan

III. The Scripts: Ancient Near Eastern Literature

11. Introduction to Ancient Near Eastern Literature Adam E. Miglio

12. Hebrew Inscriptions Judith M. Hadley

13. Mesopotamian Literature Dave C. Deuel

14. Egyptian Literature Nili Shupak

15. Hittite Literature Alice Mouton

16. Northwest Semitic Inscriptions Margaret E. Cohen

17. Ugaritic Literature William D. Barker

18. Early Jewish Literature Ryan Stokes

IV. The Frames: Ancient Near Eastern Iconography

19. Introduction to Ancient Near Eastern Iconography Izak Cornelius

20. Egyptian Iconography Laura Wright

21. Mesopotamian and Anatolian Iconography Daniel Bodi

22. Canaanite/Israelite Iconography Brent A. Strawn

Part Two: Acts and Scenes of the Drama

V. Acts: Integrated Approaches to Broad Historical Contexts

23. The Ancestral Period Richard S. Hess

24. The Egyptian Sojourn and the Exodus David A. Falk

25. The Settlement Period Pekka Pitkanen

26. The United Monarchy Steven M. Ortiz

27. The Divided Monarchy: Israel Jens Bruun Kofoed

28. The Divided Monarchy: Judah Eric L. Welch

29. The Exile and the Exilic Communities Deirdre N. Fulton

30. Persian Period Yehud Kenneth A. Ristau

31. The Maccabean Revolt and the Hasmonean Kingdom Joel Willitts

VI. Scenes: Integrated Approaches to Event-Based Historical Contexts

32. Akhenaten and the Amarna Period Mark D. Janzen

33. The Late Bronze Age Collapse and the Sea Peoples' Migrations Gregory D. Mumford

34. Sheshonq's Levantine Conquest and Biblical History Yigal Levin

35. The Battle of Qarqar and Assyrian Aspirations Mark W. Chavalas

36. The Mesha Inscription and Relations with Moab and Edom Juan Manuel Tebes

37. The Tell Dan Inscription, Jehu's Revolt, and Aramaean Campaigns in Israel and Judah K. Lawson Younger Jr.

38. Sennacherib's Invasion of Judah and Neo-Assyrian Expansion Kyle H. Keimer

39. Eighth-Century Levantine Earthquakes and Natural Disasters Ryan N. Roberts

40. The Battle of Carchemish and Seventh-Century Regional Politics Sara L. Hoffman

41. Alexander the Great and Levantine Hellenism D. Brent Sandy

Part Three: Themes of the Drama

VII. God: Integrated Approaches to Themes in Israelite Religion

42. Monotheism in Ancient Israel Matthew J. Lynch

43. Biblical Texts Studied in Comparison with Other Ancient Near Eastern Documents John H. Walton

44. The Temple in Context John H. Walton

45. Priests in the Ancient Near East Gerald Klingbeil

46. Worship, Sacrifice, and Festivals in the Ancient Near East Roy E. Gane

47. Family Religion in Ancient Israel Andrew R. Davis

48. Prophecy, Divination, and Magic in the Ancient Near East John W. Hilber

49. Death and Burial in the Iron Age Levant Christopher B. Hays

VIII. Family: Integrated Approaches to Themes in Family Networks

50. Tribes and Nomads in the Iron Age Levant Thomas D. Petter

51. Women in Ancient Israel Carol Meyers

52. Family, Children, and Inheritance in the Biblical World Victor H. Matthews

IX. Sustenance: Integrated Approaches to Themes in Economic Contexts

53. Seasons, Crops, and Water in the Land of the Bible Oded Borowski

54. Trade in the Late Bronze and Iron Age Levant Joshua T. Walton

55. Slavery in the World of the Bible Richard E. Averbeck

56. The Local Economies of Ancient Israel Peter Altmann

57. Metallurgy in the World of the Bible Brady Liss and Thomas E. Levy

58. Ancient Technologies of Everyday Life Gloria London

59. Food Preparation in the Iron Age Levant Cynthia Shafer-Elliott

60. Feasting in the Biblical World Janling Fu

61. Music and Dance in the World of the Bible Annie F. Caubet

X. Governance: Integrated Approaches to Themes in Social Organization

62. Kingship and the State in Ancient Israel Nili S. Fox

63. Social Stratification in the Iron Age Levant Avraham Faust

64. Law and Legal Systems in Ancient Israel David W. Baker

65. Wisdom Traditions in Ancient Israel Paul Overland

66. Warfare in the World of the Bible Mark Schwartz

Indexes