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

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.

• ContentsIntroduction    Jonathan S. Greer, John W. Hilber, and John H. WaltonPart One: Elements of the DramaI. The Stage: Historical Geography1. Introduction to Historical Geography    Paul H. Wright2. Regions and Routes in the Levant    Carl G. Rasmussen3. Climate and Environment of the Levant    Elizabeth Arnold4. Plants and Animals of the Land of Israel    Daniel Fuks and Nimrod MaromII. The Sets and Props: Archaeology5. Introduction to Biblical Archaeology    Seymour Gitin6. Archaeology of the Late Bronze Age    Joe Uziel7. Archaeology of the Iron Age I    Aren M. Maeir8. Archaeology of the Iron Age II    Amihai Mazar9. Archaeology of the Neo-Babylonian and Persian Periods    Constance E. C. Gane10. Archaeology of the Hellenistic Period    Jordan RyanIII. The Scripts: Ancient Near Eastern Literature11. Introduction to Ancient Near Eastern Literature    Adam E. Miglio12. Hebrew Inscriptions    Judith M. Hadley13. Mesopotamian Literature    Dave C. Deuel14. Egyptian Literature    Nili Shupak15. Hittite Literature    Alice Mouton16. Northwest Semitic Inscriptions    Margaret E. Cohen17. Ugaritic Literature    William D. Barker18. Early Jewish Literature    Ryan StokesIV. The Frames: Ancient Near Eastern Iconography19. Introduction to Ancient Near Eastern Iconography    Izak Cornelius20. Egyptian Iconography    Laura Wright21. Mesopotamian and Anatolian Iconography    Daniel Bodi22. Canaanite/Israelite Iconography    Brent A. StrawnPart Two: Acts and Scenes of the DramaV. Acts: Integrated Approaches to Broad Historical Contexts23. The Ancestral Period    Richard S. Hess24. The Egyptian Sojourn and the Exodus    David A. Falk25. The Settlement Period    Pekka Pitkänen26. The United Monarchy    Steven M. Ortiz27. The Divided Monarchy: Israel    Jens Bruun Kofoed28. The Divided Monarchy: Judah    Eric L. Welch29. The Exile and the Exilic Communities    Deirdre N. Fulton30. Persian Period Yehud    Kenneth A. Ristau31. The Maccabean Revolt and the Hasmonean Kingdom    Joel WillittsVI. Scenes: Integrated Approaches to Event-Based Historical Contexts32. Akhenaten and the Amarna Period    Mark D. Janzen33. The Late Bronze Age Collapse and the Sea Peoples' Migrations    Gregory D. Mumford34. Sheshonq's Levantine Conquest and Biblical History    Yigal Levin35. The Battle of Qarqar and Assyrian Aspirations    Mark W. Chavalas36. The Mesha Inscription and Relations with Moab and Edom    Juan Manuel Tebes37. 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. Keimer39. Eighth-Century Levantine Earthquakes and Natural Disasters    Ryan N. Roberts40. The Battle of Carchemish and Seventh-Century Regional Politics    Sara L. Hoffman41. Alexander the Great and Levantine Hellenism    D. Brent SandyPart Three: Themes of the DramaVII. God: Integrated Approaches to Themes in Israelite Religion 42. Monotheism in Ancient Israel    Matthew J. Lynch43. Biblical Texts Studied in Comparison with Other Ancient Near Eastern Documents    John H. Walton44. The Temple in Context    John H. Walton45. Priests in the Ancient Near East    Gerald Klingbeil46. Worship, Sacrifice, and Festivals in the Ancient Near East    Roy E. Gane47. Family Religion in Ancient Israel    Andrew R. Davis48. Prophecy, Divination, and Magic in the Ancient Near East    John W. Hilber49. Death and Burial in the Iron Age Levant    Christopher B. HaysVIII. Family: Integrated Approaches to Themes in Family Networks50. Tribes and Nomads in the Iron Age Levant    Thomas D. Petter51. Women in Ancient Israel    Carol Meyers52. Family, Children, and Inheritance in the Biblical World    Victor H. MatthewsIX. Sustenance: Integrated Approaches to Themes in Economic Contexts53. Seasons, Crops, and Water in the Land of the Bible    Oded Borowski54. Trade in the Late Bronze and Iron Age Levant    Joshua T. Walton55. Slavery in the World of the Bible    Richard E. Averbeck56. The Local Economies of Ancient Israel    Peter Altmann57. Metallurgy in the World of the Bible    Brady Liss and Thomas E. Levy58. Ancient Technologies of Everyday Life    Gloria London59. Food Preparation in the Iron Age Levant    Cynthia Shafer-Elliott60. Feasting in the Biblical World    Janling Fu61. Music and Dance in the World of the Bible    Annie F. CaubetX. Governance: Integrated Approaches to Themes in Social Organization62. Kingship and the State in Ancient Israel    Nili S. Fox63. Social Stratification in the Iron Age Levant    Avraham Faust64. Law and Legal Systems in Ancient Israel    David W. Baker65. Wisdom Traditions in Ancient Israel    Paul Overland66. Warfare in the World of the Bible    Mark SchwartzIndexes