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.

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 Pitknen 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