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, including The Lost World of Genesis One and The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament.

• ContentsPart 1: Comparative Studies1. History and Methods2. Comparative Studies, Scholarship, and TheologyPart 2: Literature of the Ancient Near East3. Summary of the Literature of the Ancient Near EastPart 3: Religion4. The Gods5. Temples and Rituals6. State and Family ReligionPart 4: Cosmos7. Cosmic Geography8. Cosmology and CosmogonyPart 5: People9. Understanding the Past: Human Origins and Role10. Understanding the Past: Historiography11. Encountering the Present: Guidance for Life--Divination and Omens12. Encountering the Present: Context of Life--Cities and Kingship13. Encountering the Present: Guidelines for Life--Law and Wisdom14. Pondering the Future on Earth and after DeathConcluding RemarksAppendix: Individual GodsIndexes

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, including The Lost World of Genesis One and The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament.

• ContentsPart 1: Comparative Studies1. History and Methods2. Comparative Studies, Scholarship, and TheologyPart 2: Literature of the Ancient Near East3. Summary of the Literature of the Ancient Near EastPart 3: Religion4. The Gods5. Temples and Rituals6. State and Family ReligionPart 4: Cosmos7. Cosmic Geography8. Cosmology and CosmogonyPart 5: People9. Understanding the Past: Human Origins and Role10. Understanding the Past: Historiography11. Encountering the Present: Guidance for Life--Divination and Omens12. Encountering the Present: Context of Life--Cities and Kingship13. Encountering the Present: Guidelines for Life--Law and Wisdom14. Pondering the Future on Earth and after DeathConcluding RemarksAppendix: Individual GodsIndexes

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, including The Lost World of Genesis One and The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament.

• ContentsPart 1: Comparative Studies1. History and Methods2. Comparative Studies, Scholarship, and TheologyPart 2: Literature of the Ancient Near East3. Summary of the Literature of the Ancient Near EastPart 3: Religion4. The Gods5. Temples and Rituals6. State and Family ReligionPart 4: Cosmos7. Cosmic Geography8. Cosmology and CosmogonyPart 5: People9. Understanding the Past: Human Origins and Role10. Understanding the Past: Historiography11. Encountering the Present: Guidance for Life--Divination and Omens12. Encountering the Present: Context of Life--Cities and Kingship13. Encountering the Present: Guidelines for Life--Law and Wisdom14. Pondering the Future on Earth and after DeathConcluding RemarksAppendix: Individual GodsIndexes