Description
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.
About the Author
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.
Reviews
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. * Lester L. Grabbe, University of Hull, Review of Biblical Literature *
For the religious historian, then, as a companion to other works focusing more on mythology, theology, and cultic practices,The History of Bronze and Iron Age Israelis highly recommended. * David Belcheff, Reading Religion *
Book Information
ISBN 9780190231149
Author Victor H. Matthews
Format Hardback
Page Count 216
Imprint Oxford University Press Inc
Publisher Oxford University Press Inc
Weight(grams) 363g
Dimensions(mm) 145mm * 211mm * 18mm
About the Author
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.
Reviews
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. * Lester L. Grabbe, University of Hull, Review of Biblical Literature *
For the religious historian, then, as a companion to other works focusing more on mythology, theology, and cultic practices,The History of Bronze and Iron Age Israelis highly recommended. * David Belcheff, Reading Religion *
Book Information
ISBN 9780190231149
Author Victor H. Matthews
Format Hardback
Page Count 216
Imprint Oxford University Press Inc
Publisher Oxford University Press Inc
Weight(grams) 363g
Dimensions(mm) 145mm * 211mm * 18mm
