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Ancient Israel

A New History of Israel
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Ancient Israel by Niels Peter Lemche provides a comprehensive examination of the history of Israel from its earliest origins to the post-exilic period. The book delves into archaeological and historical findings, exploring Israel's cultural evolution and political dynamics within the ancient Near East. It critically assesses the historical validity of biblical narratives, offering insights into the complex interplay of history and tradition.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you are fascinated by the intricate history of ancient societies and want to delve into the social, political, and religious dynamics of early Israel. It offers a detailed analysis that challenges traditional narratives, making it appealing for those who appreciate rigorous scholarly perspectives within historical studies.

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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

When this provocative text was first published, Lemche presented a new model of how we should understand Israelite society, its history, and its religion. Lemche argues first that Israel was the result of a social development among the Canaanite population of Palestine in the second half of the second millennium BCE. This implies that Israelite religion was originally β€˜Canaanite’ and that what we think of as typically β€˜Jewish’ religion did not arise until c. 500 BCE.

Lemche’s radical reassessment of Israelite history is based on the conviction that the Old Testament contains hardly any historical sources older than the seventh century BCE. The early history of Israel must therefore be reconstructed from archaeological results and non-biblical evidence, not from the Old Testament.

In this new edition, Lemche provides an extensive new introduction and bibliography, considering how the field has developed since the work first appeared.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Ancient Israel by Niels Peter Lemche is frequently lauded for its pioneering sociological approach, diverging from earlier theological interpretations, and for laying the groundwork for contemporary critical histories of ancient Israel. Reviewers commend Lemche for moving beyond traditional biblical paraphrases to provide a synthesis grounded in archaeological and social science perspectives. The book is considered an essential resource for understanding the historical context of ancient Israel, praised for its clarity, and remains a significant tool for educators, students, and researchers in biblical history and archaeology.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780567662781

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 19 November 2015

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: T.& T.Clark Ltd

Edition: 2nd edition

Audience: Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 18.0mm

Width: 156.0mm

Height: 234.0mm

Weight: 440g

Pages: 296

About the Author

Niels Peter Lemche is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Biblical Exegesis at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark.

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