The Old Testament in archaeology and history
By: Jennie Ebeling, J. Edward Wright, Mark Elliott, and Paul V.M. Flesher, editors
Publisher: Baylor University Press
Published: 2017
Place of publication: Waco, Texas
Language: eng
Number of pages: 650
ISBN-13: 9781481307390; 9781481307406; 9781481307413; 9781481307429; 9781481307437
Subjects: Criticism, interpretation; Bible; History of Biblical events; Antiquities
Description: One hundred and fifty years of sustained archaeological investigation has yielded a more complete picture of the ancient Near East. The Old Testament in Archaeology and History combines the most significant of these archaeological findings with those of modern historical and literary analysis of the Bible to recount the history of ancient Israel and its neighboring nations and empires. Eighteen international authorities contribute chapters to this introductory volume. After exploring the history of modern archaeological research in the Near East and the evolution of "biblical archaeology" as a discipline, this textbook follows the Old Testament's general chronological order, covering such key aspects as the exodus from Egypt, Israel's settlement in Canaan, the rise of the monarchy under David and Solomon, the period of the two kingdoms and their encounters with Assyrian power, the kingdoms' ultimate demise, the exile of Judahites to Babylonia, and the Judahites' return to Jerusalem under the Persians along with the advent of "Jewish" identity.Each chapter is tailored for an audience new to the history of ancient Israel in its biblical and ancient Near Eastern setting. The end result is an introduction to ancient Israel combined with and illuminated by more than a century of archaeological research. The volume brings together the strongest results of modern research into the biblical text and narrative with archaeological and historical analysis to create an understanding of ancient Israel as a political and religious entity based on the broadest foundation of evidence. This combination of literary and archaeological data provides new insights into the complex reality experienced by the peoples reflected in the biblical narratives.
Notes: "A century ago it was true that if you wanted to understand the ancient Israelites you had to read the Bible, the Old Testament. Today, if you want to understand the Old Testament, you need to study the history and archaeology of the ancient people of Israel"--Preface.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 567-605) and indexes.
Table of contents: title: Archaeology, the Bible, and epigraphy: discovery, techniques, and development.; title: Introduction to the geography and archaeology of the ancient Near East  -- Gary P. Arbino; title: Introduction to the Old Testament and its character as historical evidence  -- Mark Elliott, -- Paul V.M. Flesher; title: The West's rediscovery of the Holy Land  -- Victor H. Matthews; title: "Bible lands archaeology" and "biblical archaeology" in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries  -- Rachel Hallote; title: A critique of biblical archaeology : history and interpretation  -- William G. Dever -- Israel before settling in the land.; title: In the beginning, archaeologically speaking : archaeology and the Bronze Ages in Canaan  -- K.l. Noll; title: Archaeology and the Canaanites  -- Jill Baker; title: The book of Genesis and Israel's ancestral traditions  -- Mark Elliott, -- J. Edward Wright; title: Israel in and out of Egypt  -- J. Edward Wright, -- Mark Elliott, -- Paul V.M. Flesher -- Israel settles in the land of Canaan.; title: Looking for the Israelites : the archaeology of Iron Age I  -- J.P. Dessel; title: Looking for the Israelites : the evidence of the biblical text  -- Paul V.M. Flesher; title: The Philistines during the period of the Judges  -- Ann E. Killebrew -- The Kingdoms of the people Israel.; title: The united monarchy : David between Saul and Solomon  -- Baruch Halpern; title: Israel : the prosperous Northern Kingdom  -- Randall W. Younker; title: The Southern Kingdom of Judah : surrounded by enemies  -- Aren M. Maeir; title: Daily life in Iron Age Israel and Judah  -- Jennie Ebeling; title: Israel and Judah under Assyria's thumb  -- J. Edward Wright, -- Mark Elliott; title: The religions of the people Israel and their neighbors  -- Richard S. Hess -- Judah as a province : from the Babylonians to the Persians.; title: Destruction and exile : Israel and the Babylonian Empire  -- Bob Becking; title: Persia and Yehud -- Charles Isbell.