Product Description

This classic textbook, widely used for over two decades, constructs a history of ancient Israel and Judah through a thorough investigation of epigraphical, archaeological, and biblical sources. Approaching biblical history as history, Miller and Hayes examine the political and economic factors that give context to the Israelite monarchy’s actions and the biblical writers’ accounts. Now updated with the latest research and critical discoveries, including the Tell Dan Inscription, and considering the lively debate surrounding the reliability of biblical accounts, Miller and Hayes’s judicious and evenhanded portrayal gives detailed attention to the nature, strengths, and limitations of various forms of evidence for understanding Israel’s origins and early history. The new edition also includes thirty-four new maps, helpful notes, and numerous charts and photographs.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #51718 in Books
• Published on: 2006-10-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 552 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780664223588
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
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From Library Journal
With a sense of the importance of geographical detail, thorough knowledge of archaeological research, and a feel for history as "people," the authors bring enormous assets to their present task: recounting Old Testament history to the close of the Persian Period. But how effectively do they accomplish this task? In their view a critically acceptable historiography would pare away myth, miracle story, folk tradition, and theological overlay, relying instead on cause and effect. Further, since little of the relevant biblical material found before the 11th century B.C. is credible, the result can only be "our best guess." Unless the reader shares this view, he or she will likely find John Bright's History of Israel (Westminster, 1981. 3rd ed.) more satisfactory. Vernon Ritter, formerly with Religious Studies Dept., Westmont Coll., Santa Barbara, Cal. Home Economics 2 please note: The Christian Teubner book reviewed in the LJ 8/86 cookery column is Desserts , published by Barron'snot HP's Best of Cooking for All Occasions , as indicated in the bibliographic information.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author
John H. Hayes is Franklin N. Parker Professor of Old Testament at Candler School of Theology, Emory University.

J. Maxwell Miller is Professor Emeritus of Old Testament at Candler School of Theology, Emory University, and Archaeologist at Fernbank Museum of Natural History.

Customer Reviews

A Nice Introduction to Ancient Israel
J. Maxwell Miller and John H. Hayes' A History of Ancient Israel and Judah provides a solid introduction to the methods and problems of studying the development of the kingdoms that came to be known as Israel and Judah. The book deals with events from the time of Israel's origins (the Late Bronze and Early Iron Ages) to the work of Ezra and Nehemiah (the fifth and fourth centuries BCE). On the whole, A History is more cautious with the biblical texts than other histories of ancient Israel, such as John Bright's A History of Israel. Miller and Hayes spend less time offering guesses about the more speculative aspects of Israel's history, such as the patriarchs and exodus, and concentrate their efforts on the later period (tenth to fifth centuries BCE) for which conclusions are more certain. From its beginning, this study is very much set within the geographical, political, economic, and religious context of the ancient Near East and Egypt as a whole. Perhaps the most attractive feature of this work is the inclusion of both photographs and fairly complete translations of extra-biblical documents pertinent to various stages of Israel's history. A History is divided into chronological segments, and the authors proceed by summarizing the biblical texts germane to the time period, critically examining these accounts along with extra-biblical and archaeological evidence, and then drawing conclusions. If the book has a major weakness, it is the absence of either footnotes or endnotes, but the authors provide a sizable topical bibliography at the conclusion of the book, and overall, A History of Ancient Israel and Judah is sound, readable scholarship.

Very Good Standard Book
It's true that the OT is often the only source for the early history of Israel and Judah, but Miller and Hayes tactfully duck the question of the historicity of the many legendary early events, and begin where they can start to tie the OT account to external and archaeological sources. I found this book to be a good introduction to the topic and a useful reference to have on the shelf.

has little to add to the old testament
This is a great book, very readable and scholarly. There exists one problem though: this book has practically nothing to add to what is written, just as clearly and just as easily accessible, in the old testament.

I read this book seeking to find a modern perspective on the old testament narrative, which would include all the findings of modern archeology and other sciences. What I found is that modern scholarship has precious little to add to what is already set down in the bible because the OT remains, with very few and mostly modest exceptions, our only source for this period. This is not the fault of the authors, of course, who are very noteworthy scholars. A few bits of history are scattered throughout the book which are not obvious from a reading of the bible, but the vast majority is just summary and interpretation (not usually very revealing) of the OT.

It goes without saying that if you are interested in the history of this period and have not read the bible, open the good book to Genesis 1 and start reading.