Ancient Israel: What Do We Know and How Do We Know It?

✍ Scribed by Lester L. Grabbe

• Publisher: Bloomsbury T&T Clark
• Year: 2017
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 394
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

In Ancient Israel Lester L. Grabbe sets out to summarize what we know through a survey of sources and how we know it by a discussion of methodology and by evaluating the evidence. The most basic question about the history of ancient Israel, how do we know what we know, leads to the fundamental questions of Grabbe’s work: what are the sources for the history of Israel and how do we evaluate them? How do we make them ‘speak’ to us through the fog of centuries?
Grabbe focuses on original sources, including inscriptions, papyri, and archaeology. He examines the problems involved in historical methodology and deals with the major issues surrounding the use of the biblical text when writing a history of this period. Ancient Israel provides an enlightening overview and critique of current scholarly debate. It can therefore serve as a ‘handbook’ or reference-point for those wanting a catalogue of original sources, scholarship, and secondary studies. Grabbe’s clarity of style makes this book eminently accessible not only to students of biblical studies and ancient history but also to the interested lay reader.
For this new edition the entire text has been reworked to take account of new archaeological discoveries and theories. There is a major expansion to include a comprehensive coverage of David and Solomon and more detailed information on specific kings of Israel throughout. Grabbe has also added material on the historicity of the Exodus, and provided a thorough update of the material on the later bronze age.

✦ Table of Contents

Cover
Half-Title
Title
Copyright Page
Dedication
Contents
Abbreviations
Preface to the Second Edition
Preface to the First Edition
Part I: Introduction
Chapter 1: The Principles and Methods of Investigating the History of Ancient Israel
1.1 Aims
1.2 Concepts and Complications: The Question of Sources and Methods
1.2.1 The Place of the Social Sciences
1.2.2 The Longue Durée
1.2.3 The Model and Method of Classical Studies
1.2.4 Using Archaeology as a Source
1.2.4.1 General Comments
1.2.4.2 Terminology of Archaeological Periods
1.2.4.3 Use of Survey Data
1.2.4.4 The Debate Over the ‘Low Chronology’
1.2.4.5 Estimating Population
1.2.4.6 The Stratigraphy of Samaria
1.2.4.7 Reinterpretation of the Jochan Seal
1.2.4.8 Problems with Forgeries
1.2.5 Ethnicity
1.2.6 Ideology and Neo-Fundamentalism
1.2.7 ‘Maximalists’, ‘Minimalists’ and the ad hominem Argument
1.3 The Contemporary Practice of Writing Israel’s History
1.3.1 Developments in General Historiography
1.3.2 Forty Years of Debate Among Biblical Scholars
1.3.3 Principles of Historical Method Used in this Book
Part II: Historical Investigations
Chapter 2: Second Millennium: Middle and Late Bronze Ages (2000–1300 BCE)
2.1 Sources
2.1.1 Archaeology
2.1.2 Egyptian Texts
2.1.2.1 Execration Texts
2.1.2.2 Amarna Letters
2.1.2.3 The Story of Sinuhe
2.1.3 Ugaritic Texts
2.1.4 Mesopotamian Texts
2.1.5 Biblical Text
2.2 Analysis
2.2.1 Peoples/Ethnic and Social Groups
2.2.1.1 Hyksos
2.2.1.2 Amorites (Amurru)
2.2.1.3 ‘Apiru/Ḫaberu
2.2.1.4 Shasu (Shosu, Š3św, Sutu)
2.2.1.5 Canaanites
2.2.2 Question of the Patriarchs
2.3 Synthesis
2.3.1 First Part of Second Millennium (ca. 2000–1600/1500 BCE)
2.3.1.1 Egypt
2.3.1.2 Old Assyrian Period (ca. 2000–1750)
2.3.1.3 Old Babylonian Period (2000–1600)
2.3.1.4 Hittites
2.3.1.5 Northern Syria
2.3.2 Second Part of the Second Millennium (1600/1500–1200 BCE)
2.3.2.1 Egypt
2.3.2.2 Mesopotamia
2.3.2.3 Hittite Empire (ca. 1400–1200 BCE)
2.3.2.4 Mitanni Kingdom (ca. 1600–1350 BCE)
2.3.2.5 Ugarit
2.3.3 Palestine
Chapter 3: Late Bronze to Iron IIA (ca. 1300–900 BCE): From Settlement to Statehood
3.1 Sources
3.1.1 Archaeology
3.1.1.1 Analysis
3.1.2 Merenptah Stela
3.1.3 Medinet Habu and Related Inscriptions
3.1.4 Report of Wenamun
3.1.5 Shoshenq I’s Palestinian Inscription
3.1.6 Biblical Text
3.1.6.1 Pentateuch
3.1.6.2 Deuteronomistic History (DtrH)
3.2 Analysis
3.2.1 The Question of the Exodus
3.2.2 The Sea Peoples and the Philistines
3.2.2.1 The Coming of the Sea Peoples
3.2.2.2 The Development of the Philistines
3.2.3 Transjordan
3.2.4 From Settlement to Statehood
3.2.4.1 Joshua and Judges
3.2.4.2 The Settlement
3.2.4.3 ‘Tribes’ and ‘Nomads’
3.2.4.4 Anthropological Models of Statehood
3.2.4.5 The Early Monarchy: Saul, Samuel, David, and Solomon Traditions
3.2.5 Writing, Literacy and Bureaucracy
3.3 Synthesis
Chapter 4: Iron IIB (900–720): Rise and Fall of the Northern Kingdom
4.1 Sources
4.1.1 Archaeology
4.1.2 Hebrew Inscriptions
4.1.3 Aramaic Inscriptions
4.1.3.1 Tel Dan
4.1.3.2 Melqart Inscription
4.1.3.3 Zakkur Inscription
4.1.4 Mesha Stela
4.1.5 Assyrian Sources
4.1.6 Phoenician History of Menander of Ephesus
4.1.7 Biblical Text
4.1.7.1 1 Kings 16.15–2 Kings 17.41 (2 Chronicles 18–28): Outline of the Contents
4.1.7.2 Analysis
4.2 Analysis
4.2.1 Dividing of the Kingdom (1 Kings 12–14)
4.2.2 Rulers of Judah and Israel to Omri (1 Kings 15.1–16.20)
4.2.3 Ahab
4.2.4 Israel and Moab
4.2.5 The Aramaeans
4.2.6 From Jehu to the End of the Northern Kingdom (2 Kings 9–16)
4.2.7 Fall of Samaria
4.2.8 Development of Religion
4.2.8.1 The God Yhwh
4.2.8.2 Other Deities and Worship
4.2.8.3 Temple Religion versus ‘Popular’/‘Folk’/‘Family’ Religion
4.2.8.4 Development of Monotheism
4.3 Synthesis
4.3.1 Biblical Data Confirmed
4.3.2 Biblical Data Not Confirmed, Though They May Be Correct
4.3.3 Biblical Picture Incorrect
4.3.4 Biblical Picture Omits/has Gaps
Chapter 5: Iron IIC (720–539 BCE): Peak and Decline of Judah
5.1 Sources
5.1.1 Archaeology
5.1.1.1 Conclusions with Regard to Archaeology
5.1.2 Palestinian Inscriptions
5.1.2.1 The Adon Papyrus
5.1.2.2 Meṣad Ḥashavyahu
5.1.2.3 Arad Ostraca
5.1.2.4 Lachish Letters
5.1.2.5 The Ashyahu Ostracon
5.1.2.6 Seals and Bullae
5.1.3 Assyrian Sources
5.1.3.1 Sargon II (721–705 BCE)
5.1.3.2 Sennacherib (705–681 BCE)
5.1.3.3 Esarhaddon (681–669 BCE)
5.1.3.4 Ashurbanipal (669–627 BCE)
5.1.4 Babylonian Sources
5.1.4.1 Nabopolassar (626–605 BCE)
5.1.4.2 Nebuchadnezzar II (605–562 BCE)
5.1.4.3 Jehoiachin Documents
5.1.4.4 Texts from āl-Yāhūdu and Našar
5.1.5 Egyptian Source: Psammetichus Inscription
5.1.6 The Biblical Story: 2 Kings 21–25 and Parallels
5.1.6.1 2 Kings//2 Chronicles
5.1.6.2 Jeremiah
5.1.6.3 Ezekiel
5.1.6.4 Ezra
5.1.6.5 Daniel
5.1.6.6 Analysis of the Text
5.2 Analysis
5.2.1 Hezekiah
5.2.2 Manasseh
5.2.3 Amon
5.2.4 Josiah
5.2.5 Jehoahaz
5.2.6 Jehoiakim
5.2.7 Jehoiachin
5.2.8 Zedekiah
5.2.9 The Case of Jeremiah
5.2.10 The Case of Nebuchadnezzar
5.2.11 The ‘Exile’
5.3 Synthesis
5.3.1 Biblical Data Confirmed
5.3.2 Biblical Data Not Confirmed, Though They May Be Correct
5.3.3 Biblical Picture is Most Likely Incorrect
5.3.4 Biblical Picture Omits/Has Gaps
Part III: Conclusions
Chapter 6: ‘The End of the Matter’: What Can We Say about Israelite and Judahite History?
Bibliography
Index of References
Index of Authors
Index of Subjects