__"Authoritative but eminently readable"__ "No sound interpretation of the Old Testament can afford to ignore the world from which the text came. Physical, historical, archaeological, cultural, social, and religious features all need to be taken into account. Available information, however, is usually scattered through many publications and difficult for students to access. In this volume the editors have done sterling work in gathering a galaxy of leading specialists to collect and present all such relevant information in modest-length chapters that present the data in an authoritative but eminently readable manner. Coursework and personal study stand to be hugely enriched by this valuable compendium."  
--__H. G. M. Williamson__, University of Oxford  
  
"Featuring an outstanding range of international contributors, Behind the Scenes of the Old Testament is an up-to-date introduction to the theological, social, and historical contexts of the Hebrew Scriptures. The attention paid to neglected topics, such as climate, economy, foodways, historical geography, iconography, music/dance, social stratification, trade, and women--in addition to the substantial attention given to archaeology, history, kingship, literature, prophecy/divination, and worship--is most welcome."  
--__Gary Knoppers__, University of Notre Dame  
  
"As the editors of Behind the Scenes of the Old Testament remind us, the Old Testament, while written for us, was not written to us. We must understand the world in which the Old Testament was written to interpret it for our world today. For this reason, I highly recommend this book as a reference or textbook for all serious readers of the Old Testament. Each chapter provides background to and comparative analysis of the biblical text and is written by foremost experts in the field."  
--__Tremper Longman III__, Westmont College  
  
"The publishers and editors are to be commended for making this compendium of up-to-date essays available to students of the Old Testament. It is an ideal text for courses in Old Testament backgrounds and an excellent supplement for survey courses. Specialists needing a summary of the latest thinking regarding background issues will also find it a handy tool."  
--__Robert B. Chisholm Jr.__, Dallas Theological Seminary  
  
"A unique opportunity to learn from leading scholars of the world in which the Old Testament events took place and the Old Testament texts were written. Accessible, accurate, and engaging, Behind the Scenes of the Old Testament will serve as a key resource for interpreting biblical texts."  
--__Mark J. Boda__, McMaster Divinity College

__Jonathan S. Greer__ (PhD, Pennsylvania State University) is associate professor of Old Testament and director of the Hesse Memorial Archaeological Laboratory at Grand Rapids Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids, Michigan.  
  
__John W. Hilber__ (PhD, University of Cambridge) is professor of Old Testament at McMaster Divinity College in Hamilton, Ontario, and is the author of several books.  
  
__John H. Walton__ (PhD, Hebrew Union College) is professor of Old Testament at Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois. He speaks extensively on reading the Old Testament in its ancient context and has authored or edited numerous books.

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.

A team of world-class scholars covers the full range of Old Testament backgrounds studies in a concise, authoritative, and comprehensive manner.

__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 Pitkänen  
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

Back Cover

\["For Church leaders, deeper readers, and students","This book is a deep well of Old Testament insights and information","A great way to learn more of the contexts of the Old Testament"\]

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 Pitkänen  
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

A wealth of information and contexts of the Old Testament, this study brings together a broad range of facts that breathe life into the world of the Bible.

Behind the Scenes of the Old Testament

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