The origin of Israel, their settlement in the land of Canaan and transformation into an organized kingdom is one of the most stimulating and controversial chapters in the history of ancient Israel. In this volume, three of the researchers who have presented key models regarding this era—Finkelstein, Whitelam, and Kitchen—offer their latest thinking and are critiqued by a panel of other scholars, using biblical, historical, archaeological, anthropological and comparative Near Eastern data. An important introduction to the debate over this crucial question.

Embark on a captivating journey through ancient history with "Early Israel and the Surrounding Nations" by A. H. Sayce, a groundbreaking exploration of the origins and development of Israel and its neighboring civilizations. Join Sayce as he delves into the rich tapestry of ancient Near Eastern history, tracing the rise of Israel and its interactions with the surrounding nations. Through meticulous research and engaging prose, Sayce brings to life the vibrant cultures, political intrigues, and religious beliefs of the ancient world. Themes of conquest, diplomacy, and cultural exchange resonate throughout the narrative, inviting readers to explore the complex relationships between Israel and its neighbors, from the mighty empires of Egypt and Assyria to the smaller city-states of Canaan and Mesopotamia. Sayce's keen insights shed light on the social, political, and economic factors that shaped the course of ancient history. Delve into the depths of archaeological discovery as Sayce uncovers the evidence of ancient civilizations buried beneath the sands of time. From the ruins of ancient cities to the deciphered inscriptions of forgotten languages, Sayce offers readers a glimpse into the lives of those who lived millennia ago, illuminating the human stories behind the archaeological artifacts. The overall tone of "Early Israel and the Surrounding Nations" is one of scholarly inquiry and intellectual curiosity, as Sayce's meticulous research and thoughtful analysis invite readers to engage with the complexities of ancient history. Whether you're a seasoned scholar or an enthusiastic amateur, Sayce's accessible writing style makes the ancient world come alive in vivid detail. Critically acclaimed for its depth of research and breadth of knowledge, "Early Israel and the Surrounding Nations" has earned praise from historians and archaeologists alike for its comprehensive coverage of ancient Near Eastern history. Sayce's ability to synthesize complex historical data into a compelling narrative makes it an invaluable resource for anyone interested in the origins of civilization. Whether you're fascinated by the mysteries of the ancient world or simply curious about the origins of Israel and its neighbors, "Early Israel and the Surrounding Nations" offers a fascinating journey through time and space. Let A. H. Sayce be your guide on a journey of discovery and exploration. Don't miss your chance to uncover the secrets of the ancient Near East. Grab your copy of "Early Israel and the Surrounding Nations" today and embark on an epic adventure through the annals of history.

Argues that ancient Israel has been invented by scholars in the image of a European nation state, influenced by the Israeli state created in 1948; Biblical scholars have contibuted to dispossessing the Palestinians of their land and their past.

Encapsulating as it does research that has been undertaken on the sociological, anthropological and political aspects of the history of ancient Israel, this important book is designed to follow in the tradition of works in the series sponsored by The Society for Old Testament Study which began with the publication of The People and the Book in 1925. The World of Ancient Israel is especially concerned to explore in greater depth than comparable studies the areas and degrees of overlap between approaches to the subject of Old Testament research adopted by scholars and students of theology and the social sciences. Increasing numbers of scholars have recognised the valuable insights that can be gained from a cross-disciplinary approach, and it is becoming clear that the early biblical traditions about the formation of the Israelite state must be examined in the light of comparative anthropology if useful historical conclusions are to be drawn from them.

The series Beihefte zur Zeitschrift für die alttestamentliche Wissenschaft (BZAW) covers all areas of research into the Old Testament, focusing on the Hebrew Bible, its early and later forms in Ancient Judaism, as well as its branching into many neighboring cultures of the Ancient Near East and the Greco-Roman world.

Considered by many to be a modern classic, Ancient Israel offers a fascinating, full-scale reconstruction of the social and religious life of Israel in Old Testament times. Drawing principally on the text of the Old Testament itself, as well as from archaeological evidence and information gathered from the historical study of Israel's neighbors, de Vaux first provides an extensive introduction to the nomadic nature of life in ancient Israel and then traces in detail the developments of Israel's most important institutions--family, civil, military, and religious--and their influence on the nation's life and history.

The Hebrew narrative art achieves its highest level in the stories of Saul, David, and Solomon. But beyond that, the description of these all-too-human characters and the dramatic events of the birth of the Israelite state depicts a change of eras that became determinative for half a millennium of Israelite history. In this volume Dietrich introduces readers to the stories of the early Israelite state from a variety of perspectives: literary-critical, historical, and theological. After tracing how biblical and extrabiblical texts describe the period, Dietrich skillfully untangles the knotty questions related to the history of the period and perceptively examines the development of this literary corpus as well as the other biblical material that came to be associated with it. In a concluding chapter Dietrich revisits the stories of Saul, David, and Solomon to explore what they teach about theological issues of enduring significance, what they teach about God, humanity, the state, the use of force, and the relationship between women and men.

In his pathbreaking Israel in Egypt James K. Hoffmeier sought to refute the claims of scholars who doubt the historical accuracy of the biblical account of the Israelite sojourn in Egypt. Analyzing a wealth of textual, archaeological, and geographical evidence, he put forth a thorough defense of the biblical tradition. Hoffmeier now turns his attention to the Wilderness narratives of Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers. As director of the North Sinai Archaeological Project, Hoffmeier has led several excavations that have uncovered important new evidence supporting the Wilderness narratives, including a major New Kingdom fort at Tell el-Borg that was occupied during the Israelite exodus. Hoffmeier employs these archaeological findings to shed new light on the route of the exodus from Egypt. He also investigates the location of Mount Sinai, and offers a rebuttal to those who have sought to locate it in northern Arabia and not in the Sinai peninsula as traditionally thought. Hoffmeier addresses how and when the Israelites could have lived in Sinai, as well as whether it would have been possible for Moses to write down the law received at Mount Sinai. Building on the new evidence for the Israelite sojourn in Egypt, Hoffmeier explores the Egyptian influence on the Wilderness tradition. For example, he finds Egyptian elements in Israelite religious practices, including the use of the tabernacle, and points to a significant number of Egyptian personal names among the generation of the exodus. The origin of Israel is a subject of much debate and the wilderness tradition has been marginalized by those who challenge its credibility. In Ancient Israel in Sinai, Hoffmeier brings the Wilderness tradition to the forefront and makes a case for its authenticity based on solid evidence and intelligent analysis.

This volume assembles for the first time a representative statement of Judaic learning on the Old Testament as it is studied today by many of the most important Jewish Bible scholars of the age. A host of internationally known scholars - American, European, and Israeli - here present a variety of rich perspectives on the study and interpretation of the Scriptures revered by both Judaism and Christianity. These studies make clear that no single Jewish school of biblical scholarship exists. Rather there is a Jewish approach, involving appreciation for Hebrew as a living language; the reality of Jewish settlement in the Land of Israel; the continuity of Scripture in the life of Israel, the Jewish people, and the state of Israel; and a complete and healthy adaptation of the critical perspectives of contemporary scholarship. This unique and stimulating volume vividly demonstrates the importance and value of critical scholarly discourse on the Hebrew Scripture (Old Testament) by Jewish scholars for both Christian and Jewish communities.

Early Urbanizations in the Levant examines the first cycle of urbanization, collapse and reurbanization in the 4th-2nd millennium BCE Levant. The core of the study is a detailed analysis of settlement fluctuations and material culture development in the Hula Valley, at the crossroads between modern Israel, Syria and Lebanon. Focusing on field data and a close reading of the material text, the book emphasizes the variety exhibited in patterns of cultural and social change when small, densely settled regions are carefully scrutinized. Using the concepts of time-space edges and shifting loci of power, the study suggests new scenarios to explain changes in the regional archaeological record, and considers the implications these have for existing reconstructions of social evolution in the larger region. The Levant is shown to be composed of a fluid mosaic of polities that moved along multiple, if often parallel, paths towards and away from complexity. This book should be of interest to anyone studying the archaeology of early state formation in the Near East, particularly in areas of secondary urbanization - Palestine, Syria and Anatolia. With its detailed consideration of settlement patterns and ceramic production, it is also indispensable for the study of the early history of the two major sites in the area, Tel Dan and Tel Hazor, being the first attempt to integrate the results of excavations at these sites with the information obtained in archaeological surveys of the valley which sustained them.