“Israelite History Related to the Prophetic Books” (original) (raw)
The portion of Israelite history most relevant to the Major and the Minor Prophets (including Daniel) extends from the mid-eighth century BC to the mid-second century BC. In terms of Israel and Judah, the period stretches from the reigns of Jeroboam II of Israel (788-748 BC [all dates for Israel and Judah follow Hayes and Hooker; Egyptian chronology follows Kitchen, ABD 2.322-31]) and Uzziah of Judah to the period of Greek (Seleucid) dominance over Jerusalem (c. 165 BC). In terms of wider ancient Near Eastern history, the time span overlaps all the major historical periods in the Iron Age: the Assyrian period (c. 900-609 BC), Babylonian period (c. 605-539 BC), Persian period (c. 539-333 BC) and Hellenistic period (c. 333-64 BC)-a time span often designated in terms of the biblical story of Israel as including the preexilic, exilic and postexilic, or Second Temple, periods. The available prophetic materials cluster around several eras within these periods: 750-700
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Pre-peer reviewed version of the article exploring biblical and non-biblical texts, iconographic sources and material remains in defining their significance for the chronology of the Southern Levant and ancient Israel from the end of the Late Bronze Age in ca. 1200 BCE to the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem in July 587. It observes how in both past and present counting years and defining a time period is to organize and classify the past and to take stance in the present. Departing from an application of the established chronological framework of Egypt and the Ancient Near East to the region, this perspective is used to reflect on the rather precise southern Levantine chronology of the late 10th to 6th centuries BCE, and on the much more contested chronology of the 12th to 10th centuries BCE in the Southern Levant. It turns out that the uncertainty is also reflected in the biblical chronology from the exodus to the building of the temple.
Ancient Israel's History: An Introduction to Issues and Sources
2014
The history of Israel is a much-debated topic in Old Testament studies. On one side are minimalists who find little of historical value in the Hebrew Bible. On the other side are those who assume the biblical text is a precise historical record. Many serious students of the Bible find themselves between these two positions and would benefit from a careful exploration of issues in Israelite history. This substantive history of Israel textbook values the Bible's historical contribution without overlooking critical issues and challenges. Featuring the latest scholarship, the book introduces students to the current state of research on issues relevant to the study of ancient Israel. The editors and contributors, all top biblical scholars and historians, discuss historical evidence in a readable manner, using both canonical and chronological lenses to explore Israelite history. Contents Preface Bill T. Arnold and Richard S. Hess Introduction: Foundations for a History of Israel Richard S. Hess 1. The Genesis Narratives Bill T. Arnold 2. The Exodus and Wilderness Narratives James K. Hoffmeier 3. Covenant and Treaty in the Hebrew Bible and in the Ancient Near East Samuel Greengus 4. Early Israel and Its Appearance in Canaan Lawson G. Stone 5. The Judges and the Early Iron Age Robert D. Miller II 6. The Story of Samuel, Saul, and David Daniel Bodi 7. United Monarchy: Archaeology and Literary Sources Steven M. Ortiz 8. The Biblical Prophets in Historiography James K. Mead 9. Late Tenth- and Ninth-Century Issues: Ahab Underplayed? Jehoshaphat Overplayed? Kyle Greenwood 10. Eighth-Century Issues: The World of Jeroboam II, the Fall of Samaria, and the Reign of Hezekiah Sandra Richter 11. Judah in the Seventh Century: From the Aftermath of Sennacherib's Invasion to the Beginning of Jehoiakim's Rebellion Brad E. Kelle 12. Sixth-Century Issues Peter van der Veen 13. Fifth- and Fourth-Century Issues: Governorship and Priesthood in Jerusalem André Lemaire 14. The Hellenistic Period David A. deSilva Indexes
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