Old Testament History Book Recommendation
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.
Comments
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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.
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
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Although not in Logos format, this was a good help in seminary.
Israel And The Nations, F.F. Bruce.
Or this one that FL has to offer is good as well.
mm.
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First thing that comes to mind for me is Bright's History of Israel. In dead tree, the first thing I turn to is The Oxford History of the Biblical World that I picked up years ago from the overstock pile at a bookstore...
The Gospel is not ... a "new law," on the contrary, ... a "new life." - William Julius Mann
L8 Anglican, Lutheran and Orthodox Silver, Reformed Starter, Academic Essentials
L7 Lutheran Gold, Anglican Bronze
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Ken McGuire said:First thing that comes to mind for me is Bright's History of Israel. In dead tree, the first thing I turn to is The Oxford History of the Biblical World that I picked up years ago from the overstock pile at a bookstore...
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This might work: Old Testament History or this one: Kingdom of Priests Very informative and practical.
DAL
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I'm told Kingdom of priests is a good one. You Can also try Edersheim's Bible history old testament And Merrill's a historical survey of the OT
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