Full Description
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.
Contents
I. INTRODUCTION
LESTER L. GRABBE
Introduction
II. ARTICLES
A. GRAEME AULD
Samuel, Sources, and Historiography
MARK BRETTLER
The David Tradition
PHILIP R. DAVIES
The Beginnings of the Kingdom of Judah
LESTER L. GRABBE
From Merneptah to Shoshenq: If We Had Only the Bible . . .
ERNST AXEL KNAUF
History in Joshua
ERNST AXEL KNAUF
History in Judges
NIELS PETER LEMCHE
How to Deal with 'Early Israel'
ROBERT D. MILLER, II
A 'New Cultural history' of Early Israel
JOHN 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
