"An excellent resource for those interested in taking seriously all the evidence, both biblical and extrabiblical, bearing on the history of ancient Israel and in thinking carefully about how to weigh that evidence and integrate it into a coherent account."  
\--__Iain Provan__, Regent College, Vancouver  
  
"An engaging examination of the current state of research, _Ancient Israel's History_ finely balances the biblical text and extrabiblical sources while exploring critical interpretive issues and methodological questions. It is comprehensive and readable and will be a valuable addition to the library of students and researchers alike. This volume will be part of my students' curriculum."  
\--__Lissa M. Wray Beal__, Providence University College and Theological Seminary  
  
"In this incredibly thorough volume, an international and esteemed team of contributors offer us exactly what was promised: a state-of-the-art review of research relating to the history of ancient Israel. This book picks its way between the Scylla of overwrought skepticism and the Charybdis of naïve fideism. The result is a copiously documented, user-friendly, and up-to-date treatment that will prove to be a most useful textbook for both introductory students and seasoned teachers alike."  
\--__Brent A. Strawn__, Emory University  
  
"A superb collection orienting readers to historical data and debates relevant to ancient Israel--judiciously weighed, accessibly presented."  
\--__Mark J. Boda__, McMaster Divinity College and McMaster University  
  
"Debates surrounding the history of ancient Israel are lively these days, making this volume most welcome. Substantive essays penned by leading authorities in their respective subject areas not only provide convenient summaries of available evidence but also offer mature reflections on what all this evidence means for the historian. The attractiveness of the volume is enhanced by the inclusion of numerous charts, maps, photos, and sidebars. To have so much learning and sensible analysis collected in one volume is a significant achievement. I shall be recommending this book!"  
\--__V. Philips Long__, Regent College, Vancouver  
  
"This is an outstanding work that will provide students and scholars alike with a fine introduction to the multifaceted issues and sources that are crucial to interpreting and reconstructing a history of ancient Israel. This is achieved through an impressive cadre of scholars contributing their individual expertise."  
\--__K. Lawson Younger Jr.__, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

__Bill T. Arnold__ (PhD, Hebrew Union College) is Paul S. Amos Professor of Old Testament Interpretation at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky. He is the author or editor of nine books and coauthor (with Bryan E. Beyer) of _Encountering the Old Testament_. __Richard S. Hess__ (PhD, Hebrew Union College) is Earl S. Kalland Professor of Old Testament and Semitic Languages at Denver Seminary in Littleton, Colorado, and editor of the _Denver Journal_. He is the author or editor of more than twenty-five books, including _Israelite Religions_ and _Song of Songs_ in the Baker Commentary on the Old Testament Wisdom and Psalms.

The history of Israel is a much-debated topic in Old Testament studies. On one side are minimalists who find little of historical value in the Hebrew Bible. On the other side are those who assume the biblical text is a precise historical record. Many serious students of the Bible find themselves between these two positions and would benefit from a careful exploration of issues in Israelite history.  
  
This substantive history of Israel textbook values the Bible's historical contribution without overlooking critical issues and challenges. Featuring the latest scholarship, the book introduces students to the current state of research on issues relevant to the study of ancient Israel. The editors and contributors, all top biblical scholars and historians, discuss historical evidence in a readable manner, using both canonical and chronological lenses to explore Israelite history.  
  
Illustrative items, such as maps and images, visually support the book's content. Tables and sidebars are also included.

Leading experts offer a substantive history of Israel textbook that values the historical contribution of the Bible without overlooking critical issues and challenges.

__Contents__ Preface _Bill T. Arnold and Richard S. Hess_  
Introduction: Foundations for a History of Israel _Richard S. Hess_ 1. The Genesis Narratives _Bill T. Arnold_ 2. The Exodus and Wilderness Narratives _James K. Hoffmeier_ 3. Covenant and Treaty in the Hebrew Bible and in the Ancient Near East _Samuel Greengus_  
4. Early Israel and Its Appearance in Canaan  _Lawson G. Stone_  
5. The Judges and the Early Iron Age _Robert D. Miller II_  
6. The Story of Samuel, Saul, and David _Daniel Bodi_ 7. United Monarchy: Archaeology and Literary Sources _Steven M. Ortiz_ 8. The Biblical Prophets in Historiography _James K. Mead_  
9. Late Tenth- and Ninth-Century Issues: Ahab Underplayed? Jehoshaphat Overplayed? _Kyle Greenwood_  
10. Eighth-Century Issues: The World of Jeroboam II, the Fall of Samaria, and the Reign of Hezekiah _Sandra Richter_  
11. Judah in the Seventh Century: From the Aftermath of Sennacherib's Invasion to the Beginning of Jehoiakim's Rebellion _Brad E. Kelle_  
12. Sixth-Century Issues _Peter van der Veen_  
13. Fifth- and Fourth-Century Issues: Governorship and Priesthood in Jerusalem _André Lemaire_  
14. The Hellenistic Period _David A. deSilva_ Indexes

This textbook offers a comprehensive exploration of ancient Israel's history, balancing biblical texts with critical scholarship. Includes maps, images, tables, and sidebars for clarity.

\["For students and scholars of Old Testament studies", "Clarifies historical debates on Israel's biblical record", "You will gain a deeper understanding of Israel's past"\]

This textbook offers a comprehensive exploration of ancient Israel's history through a biblical lens.

Cover

Title Page

Copyright Page

Preface

Abbreviations

Introduction

Purpose

Definition and Methods

Early Study (ca. 1850 to 1970)

1970s and 1980s

1990 to the Present

"SUSPICIOUS" HISTORIES

CRITICAL ORTHODOXY IN HISTORIES

HISTORIES BALANCING BIBLICAL AND EXTRABIBLICAL SOURCES

Chronology

Layout

1. The Genesis Narratives

Methodology and the Refinement of Our Task

Mytho-Historical/Pre-Ancestral Accounts (Gen. 1–11)

Ancestral Narratives (Gen. 12–36)

The Joseph Narrative

2. The Exodus and Wilderness Narratives

Israel in Egypt

The Oppression of the Hebrews

Geography and the Exodus

Raamses/Rameses

Pithom

"The Way of the Land of the Philistines"

Succoth

Etham

Turn Back!

Pi-Hahiroth

Migdol

Baal-Zephon and Yam Suf

Wilderness Narratives

Geography of the Wilderness Narratives

The Tabernacle, Israel's Desert Sanctuary

Conclusion

3. Covenant and Treaty in the Hebrew Bible and in the Ancient Near East

Secular Covenants: Personal

Secular Covenants: Political and Group

Divine Covenants with Individuals

Divine Covenants with a People or Group

Sinai

Deuteronomy

Renewal of Divine Covenant

Implications for Historiography

4. Early Israel and Its Appearance in Canaan

The Biblical Material

The Extrabiblical Evidence

The LBA/IA1 Transition: The Perfect Storm

Documentary Evidence

Of Cities, Kings, and Campaigns

Elements of Israelite Material Culture

Israelite Religious Remains

Settlement Patterns

Toward a History of Israel's Possession of Canaan

Elements of a Reconstruction

Sketching a Narrative

5. The Judges and the Early Iron Age

The Book of Judges and the Bible's Treatment of the Early Iron Age

Identification and Evaluation of Archaeological and Other Sources

The Archaeology of the Israelite Highlands

Ancient Near Eastern Sources on Highland Israel

Summary of Historical Understanding

Society and Economy

Gender

Religion

Philistines

6. The Story of Samuel, Saul, and David

The Biblical Accounts

Samuel

Saul

David

Critical Issues

The House of Saul Pitted against the House of David

The Conflict between Two Houses: The Mari Historical Analogy

Saul and David as Tribal Chiefs instead of Kings

Saul and a Mari Text

David and the Pattern of Seizing Power in the Ancient Near East

THE ḪAPIRU/ʿAPIRU

TAKING THE WIVES OF THE VANQUISHED PREDECESSOR

THE HETEROGENEOUS CHARACTER OF ZIMRĪ-LĪM'S AND DAVID'S ARMIES

THE SEIZING OF POWER BY IDRIMI FROM ALALAḪ IN THE MID-FOURTEENTH CENTURY BCE

THE SEIZING OF POWER BY ʿABDI-AŠIRTA OF AMURRU

7. United Monarchy

The Biblical Portrait of David and Solomon

David: Transition from Shepherd Boy to King

Solomon

Biblical and Historical Sources

Biblical Texts

Historical Texts

Methodological Approaches

Biblical Text/Historical Data

Archaeological Data

Anthropological Models

Conclusion: Uniting the Biblical Text and Archaeological Data

The United Monarchy: A Synopsis of Recent Research

\["For students seeking a deeper understanding of Israel's past", "Clarifies debates around the historical value of the Bible", "You will gain critical insights into ancient Israel's history"\]

This comprehensive textbook offers an insightful exploration of Ancient Israel's history and its relevance in biblical studies.

An Introduction to Issues and Sources

Ancient Israel's History

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