Old Testament History Book Recommendation

Scott Ross

I'm looking for a book that would be a single volume survey of the secular history of the kingdoms around Israel during the Old Testament period.  I'm wanting to get a deeper understanding of what was going on in Assyria, Babylon, Philistia, etc. with dates to line up with the kings and prophets of Israel and Judah.

Thank you in advance for the advice.

Deacon Steve

I wonder if the Homan Bible Atlas would fill your need.  I always found it to be a handy resource.  Lots of helpful charts and maps.  Here is the link to the resource and the TOC.  Let me know if you would like to see a sample of some page.

https://www.logos.com/product/7301/holman-bible-atlas-a-complete-guide-to-the-expansive-geography-of-biblical-history

PART ONE: The Biblical Setting

Introduction

Chapter One: The Face of the Ancient Near East

The Fertile Crescent

Mesopotamia: Home of Abraham

Tigris and Euphrates

North and South Mesopotamia

Egypt: Land of Bondage

The Two Lands

The Gift of the Nile

The Levant

Syria and Lebanon

International Highways

The International Coastal Highway (Via Maris)

The King’s Highway

Chapter Two: Natural Regions of Palestine

Introduction

Major Geographical Regions and Subdivisions

The Coastal Plain

Jezreel Valley (Valley of Esdraelon)

The Western Mountains

Shephelah

Negeb

The Southern Wilderness

The Jordan Rift

Eastern Plateau (Transjordan)

Chapter Three: Life in Ancient Palestine

Location of Settlements

Climate

Basic Economy and Food Supplies

Field Crops

Trees and Vines

Pastoralism

Cottage Industries

The Agricultural Year

Fall and Winter Activities

Spring Activities

Summer Activities

Agriculture and Israel’s Pilgrim Feasts

Archaeology: Recovering Ancient Societies

The Tell

Identifying Place Names

Stratigraphy and Typology

Dating the Strata

Archaeology and the Bible

PART TWO: The Old Testament Period

Chapter Four: Before Abraham

Beginnings

Paleolithic Period

Epipaleolithic Period

Neolithic Period

Chalcolithic Period

The Rise and Decline of Early Civilizations (3300–2000 b.c.)

The Urban Revolution

Mesopotamia

Egypt

Palestine and Syria

Chapter Five: The World of the Patriarchs

The Middle Bronze Age In Mesopotamia and Egypt

Mesopotamia

Egypt

Palestine in the Time of the Patriarchs

The Patriarchal Journeys

Migrations of Abraham

The Travels of Jacob

Joseph and the Entry into Egypt

Chapter Six: The Egyptian Experience

Historical Background: The XVIII and XIX Dynasties of Egypt

The XVIII Dynasty and Palestine

Decline of Canaanite City-States

Akhenaten: Egypt’s Heretic King

XIX Dynasty and the Hittites

Life in Egypt

Egyptian Administration

A Rural Society

Egypt’s Dark Side

Chapter Seven: The Exodus

Introduction

Date of the Exodus

Geography of the Sinai

Northern Coastal Plain

Central Plateau

Southern Granite Mountains

Route of the Exodus

Location of Mount Sinai and Possible Route Theories

The Exodus Route Described

The Sojourn at Kadesh

From Kadesh-barnea to the Plains of Moab

Conquest of the Transjordan

Chapter Eight: Conquest and Settlement

Historical Background

The Sea Peoples

The Power Vacuum

Joshua’s Conquests

Campaigns in Central Palestine

Campaigns in the South

The Northern Campaigns

Joshua’s Accomplishments

The Tribes of Israel

Distribution of the Land

Levitical Cities

Cities of Refuge

The Days of the Judges

The Judges and Oppressors of Israel

The Philistine Menace

Philistine Origins and Culture

Samson and the Philistines

The Ark of the Covenant

Saul: King of Israel

The Rise of Saul

Saul and the Philistines

Saul and David

The Death of Saul

Chapter Nine: The Kingdom of David and Solomon

Introduction

The Reign of David (1000–960)

David’s Consolidation of Power

The Wars of David

The Reign of Solomon (960–922)

Solomon’s Economic Policies

Solomon’s Building Program

Solomon’s Policies and Tribal Jealousy

Jerusalem: City of David and Solomon

Topography of Jerusalem

Caananite and Jebusite Jerusalem

David and Solomon’s Jerusalem

Solomon’s Temple

Chapter Ten: The Kingdoms of Israel and Judah

Introduction

Israel, the Northern Kingdom

Judah, the Southern Kingdom

The Division of the Kingdom

Early Conflicts and Invasions

The Egyptian Threat

The Aramean Threat

The House of Omri

The Policies of Omri and Ahab

Omri and the Phoenicians

Omri and Judah

Omri and the Transjordan

The Omrides’ Building Achievements

Omri and Assyria

The Rise of the NeoAssyrian Empire

Assyrian Military Objectives

Ashur-Nasirpal II

Shalmaneser III

Assyria’s Temporary Decline

Recovery of Israel and Judah

Renewed Assyrian Expansion

Tiglath-pileser III

Syro-Ephraimite War

Fall of Samaria

Chapter Eleven: Judah Alone Amid International Powers

The Assyrian Threat

Hezekiah’s Independence Movement

Hezekiah’s Reform

Hezekiah’s Opportunity for Revolt

Hezekiah’s Preparation for War

Hezekiah’s Rebellion

Assyrian Attacks on Judah

The Seige of Jerusalem

Manasseh’s Long Rule

Assyrian Supremacy Under Esarhaddon and Ashurbanipal II

Esarhaddon

Ashurbanipal II

Victory over Egypt

Threats to the Assyrian Empire

Assyria’s Fall

The Rival Powers and Assyria’s Final Days

Egyptian Ambitions

The Kingdom of Josiah

Book of the Law Found

Josiah’s Accomplishments

Josiah’s Death

The Neo-Babylonian Empire and the Last Kings of Judah

Judah’s Dilemna

First Campaign Against Jerusalem

The End of Judah and Jerusalem

Chapter Twelve: The Exile

Introduction

The Community in Judah

The Community in Babylon

The Community in Egypt

Chapter Thirteen: The Persian Period

Introduction

The Rise of Persia

Cyrus the Great

The Fall of Babylon

Darius I

Xerxes I

Artaxerxes I

The Return of the Exiles to Judah

First Return with Sheshbazzar

Zerubbabel and Joshua

Persian Administration

Judah, Samaria, and Their Neighbors

Province of Yehud

Renewal under Ezra and Nehemiah

Chapter Fourteen: The Hellenistic Period

Introduction

The Influx and Influence of Greek Culture

The Challenge of Hellenism

Campaigns of Alexander the Great

The Egyptian Phase

The Mesopotamian Phase

The Division of Alexander’s Empire

Ptolemaic Rule in Palestine (301–200 b.c.)

Ptolemaic Policies

Alexandria

Palestine

The Seleucid Dynasty

Seleucid Policies

Antiochus III

Palestine Under Seleucid Rule

War with Rome

Antiochus IV

The Maccabean Revolt

The Hasmonean Dynasty

John Hyrcanus

Aristobulus I

Alexander Jannaeus

The End of Independence

PART THREE: The New Testament Era: The World of Jesus and the Early Church

Chapter Fifteen: Rome’s Emergence as a World Power

Introduction

Rise of Rome

The Republican Period

Rome Gains Control of the Italian Peninsula

The Wars with Carthage (The Punic Wars)

Gaul

Eastward Expansion

Roman Civil Wars and the Rise of Augustus

The Age of Augustus: Foundation of an Empire (27 b.c.–a.d. 14)

Organization of an Empire

The Augustan Peace

Chapter Sixteen: The Romans, Palestine, and Herod the Great

Roman Intervention in Palestine (63–40 b.c.)

Pompey and the Conquest of Jerusalem

Roman Administration of Palestine

The Parthian Invasion

Herod the Great: Client King of Rome

Herod’s Struggle for His Kingdom

Consolidation of Power

Herod’s Building Program

Herod’s Building Projects in Jerusalem

Herod’s Final Years

Chapter Seventeen: The World of Jesus

The Roman Empire During Jesus’ Ministry: The Reign of Tiberius

Politics of Palestine

Herod’s Successors

The First Procuratorship a.d. 6–41

Jewish Religious Groups in the Roman Period

Pharisees

Sadducees

The Dead Sea Scroll Community

Chapter Eighteen: The Life and Ministry of Jesus

Introduction

The Birth of Jesus and His Childhood

John the Baptist’s Message and Ministry

Galilee in Jesus’ Day

Jesus’ Early Ministry

Nazareth

Capernaum and Bethsaida

Villages Beyond the Sea of Galilee

Jesus Outside Galilee

The Way to Jerusalem

Samaria

Perean Ministry

Jesus in Judea and Jerusalem

The Last Week of Jesus

Chapter Nineteen: Early Expansion of the Church

The Roman Empire during the Early Expansion of the Church

Gaius Caligula (a.d. 37–41)

Claudius (a.d. 41–54)

Nero (a.d. 54–68)

The Politics of Palestine (a.d. 41–66)

The Kingdom of Herod Agrippa I

Agrippa II

Prelude to Revolution: The Second Procuratorship

Acts and the Progress of the Gospel in Palestine

Jewish Opposition in Jerusalem

Expansion beyond Jerusalem

The Ministry of Paul

Conversion and Early Years

The Church at Antioch

The Missionary Journeys

Paul’s Voyage to Rome

Chapter Twenty: The First Jewish Revolt

Introduction

The Opposing Armies

The Campaign in Galilee

Unrest in Rome

The Campaign of Titus against Jerusalem

Final Jewish Resistance

Consequences of the Jewish Revolt

Chapter Twenty-One: The Christian Church from a.d. 70 to a.d. 300

The Emperors of Rome from a.d. 69 to 138

The Flavian Dynasty

Successors to the Flavian Dynasty

Life in Palestine and the Growth of the Church

The Bar Kokhba Revolt

Hadrian’s New Jerusalem

The Expansion of Christianity into the Second Century

Factors Enhancing the Expansion of the Church

Asia Minor

The Leading Churches

Expansion of the Church in the East

Glossary

Bibliography

Indexes

LIST OF SIDEBARS

The Garden of Eden

Table of Nations

The Elusive Habiru

Emar: An Economic Crossroads in Northern Syria

Israel’s Transjordanian Neighbors

Hazor: Head of all Those Kingdoms

The Tribal Allotments of Israel

Canaanite Religion

Jeroboam’s New Worship Centers

The Arameans and the Kingdom of Aram-Damascus

The Phoenician Culture

The Ministries of Elijah and Elisha

The Eighth Century Prophets: Amos, Hosea, Micah and Isaiah

Jerusalem from Hezekiah to Destruction in 586 b.c.

Assyrian Warfare

The Prophets of the Seventh Century

Babylon: Heart of an Empire

Prophets of the Exile and Return to the Land of Judah

Nehemiah’s Jerusalem

Caesarea: Herod’s Window on the World

Herod’s Fortresses

Herodian Jericho

Jerusalem in the Days of Herod and Jesus

Important Cities in Paul’s Ministry: Athens, Corinth, and Ephesus

Churches of the Revelation