Readings from the ancient Near East : primary sources for Old Testament study / edited by Bill T. Arnold and Bryan E. Beyer.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Arnold, Bill T.

Beyer, Bryan.

Series:

Encountering biblical studies

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Bible. Old Testament.

History of contemporary events.

Religion.

History.

Middle East--Religion--History--Sources.

Middle East.

Bible. Old Testament--History of contemporary events--Sources.

Bible.

Genre:

Sources.

Physical Description:

240 pages : illustrations, map ; 23 cm.

Place of Publication:

Grand Rapids, Mich. : Baker Academic, [2002]

Summary:

Essential to a proper understanding of the Old Testament is a knowledge of the political, historical, and theological environment of the ancient Near East. While there is an abundance of material explaining this environment, primary source texts are often unavailable or inaccessible to the beginning Old Testament student.This volume in the Encountering Biblical Studies series fills that void. Readings from the Ancient Near East takes the student through a wide variety of primary source texts from the ancient Near East that illuminate every book of the Old Testament. It is the companion volume to Encountering the Old Testament, coauthored by Bill Arnold and Bryan Beyer.The editors have compiled this volume with the beginning Old Testament student in mind. The selections are intended to move a learner with little or no knowledge of the ancient Near East to a basic understanding of its significant texts and authors.Texts spanning more than two thousand years include Sumerian creation accounts, epic literature from Mesopotamia, cultic ritual texts from Egypt, and prophetic references from Syria. Readings from the Ancient Near East will surely become a standard text for professors, students, pastors, Sunday school teachers, and serious lay readers.

Contents:

Part 1 Pentateuch

1. Creation and the Flood 13

2. Tower of Babel 71

3. Ancestral Customs 72

4. Epic Literature 75

5. Covenants and Treaties 96

6. Law Codes 104

7. Cultic Texts 118

Part 2 Historical Books

8. Royal Records from Mesopotamia 137

9. Chronicles and Other Historiographic Lists 150

10. Non-Hebrew Monumental Inscriptions 160

11. Letters 166

12. Other Hebrew Inscriptions 171

Part 3 Poetic Books

13. Wisdom Literature 175

14. Love Poems 192

15. Hymns and Prayers 194

Part 4 Prophetic Books

16. Prophecies, Visions, and Apocalyptic 207

17. Divination and Incantation Texts 218

18. Lamentations 222.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 232-234) and index.

ISBN:

0801022924

OCLC:

49284168