Synopses & Reviews
Israel in Transition 2 is the second in a two-volume work addressing some of the historical problems relating to the early history of Israel, from its first mention around 1200 BCE to the beginnings of the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. During this four century transition period Israel moved from a group of small settlements in the Judean and Samarian hill country to the two kingdoms of Israel and Judah, occupying much of the land on the west side of the Jordan.
The present volume engages with the relevant texts. These include various inscriptions, such as the Tel Dan inscription and the Assyrian inscriptions, but also an examination of the biblical text. The articles discuss various individual problems relating to Israelite history, but ultimately the aim is to comment on historical methodology.
The debate among Seminar members illustrates not only the problems but also suggests solutions and usable methods. The editor provides a perspective on the debate in a Conclusion that summarizes the contributions of the two volumes together.
Synopsis
Essays relating primarily to written sources (inscriptions and biblical text) forming a companion to volume 1 which was primarily on the archaeology of this period.
Synopsis
Israel in Transition 2 is the second in a two-volume work addressing some of the historical problems relating to the early history of Israel, from its first mention around 1200 BCE to the beginnings of the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. During this four century transition period Israel moved from a group of small settlements in the Judean and Samarian hill country to the two kingdoms of Israel and Judah, occupying much of the land on the west side of the Jordan.
The present volume engages with the relevant texts. These include various inscriptions, such as the Tel Dan inscription and the Assyrian inscriptions, but also an examination of the biblical text. The articles discuss various individual problems relating to Israelite history, but ultimately the aim is to comment on historical methodology.
The debate among Seminar members illustrates not only the problems but also suggests solutions and usable methods. The editor provides a perspective on the debate in a Conclusion that summarizes the contributions of the two volumes together.
About the Author
Lester L. Grabbe is Professor of Hebrew Bible and Early Judaism at the University of Hull.He is founder and convenor of the European Seminar in Historical Methodology.A recent book is Ancient Israel:What Do We Know and How Do We Know it?
Table of Contents
I. INTRODUCTION
LESTER L. GRABBE Introduction
II. ARTICLES
A. GRAEME AULD Samuel, Sources, and HistoriographyMARK BRETTLER The David TraditionPHILIP R. DAVIES The Beginnings of the Kingdom of JudahLESTER L. GRABBE From Merneptah to Shoshenq: If We Had Only the Bible . . .ERNST AXEL KNAUF History in JoshuaERNST AXEL KNAUF History in Judges NIELS PETER LEMCHE How to Deal with ‘Early Israel'ROBERT D. MILLER, II A ‘New Cultural history' of Early IsraelJOHN VAN SETERS David the Mercenary
III. CONCLUSIONS
LESTER L. GRABBE Reflections on the Discussion: Text and Archaeology
APPENDIX
ERNST AXEL KNAUF The Exodus and Settlement
List of Contributors