The Context of Scripture: Canonical Compositions, Monumental Inscriptions and Archival Documents from the Biblical World, 3 Vol Set [Paperback]

William W. Hallo (Editor), K. Lawson Younger (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 9004131051 | ISBN-13: 978-9004131057 | Publication Date: July 1, 2003

"The Context of Scripture" presents the multifaceted world of ancient writing that forms the colourful background to the literature of the Hebrew Bible. Designed as a reference work for all engaged in the study of the Bible and the ancient Near East, and involving approximately 90 leading scholars, it provides reliable access to a broad, balanced and representative collection of ancient Near Eastern texts that have some bearing on the interpretation of the Bible. Translations of recently discovered texts are included, alongside new translations of better-known texts. The three-volume work features full cross-referencing to comparable Bible passages and bibliographical annotations with judicious commentary.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'"Now that it is complete, this major publication project will clearly replace James B. Pritchard's long-standard Ancient Near Eastern Texts." The three volumes of The Context of Scripture" offer improved renderings of familiar texts, introduce more recently published texts to a wider audience, and shed new light on the Bible by means of detailed introductions and copious annotations. Yet one can happily read the texts without ever consulting the footnotes. The Context of Scripture" will no doubt stimulate the reading of the Bible in its ancient context, resulting in a better understanding of what Israel shared with her Near Eastern neighbors, and how she differed from them.'
Alan Millard, "Biblical Archaeology Review, 2004.
'"All students and scholars of the Hebrew Bible and the Ancient Near East will be grateful for this impressive and authoritative work. It is wonderful to have so much of ancient Near Eastern literature in one collection, translated by the best scholars in the field.'
Ronald S. Hendel, "Bible Review, 1998.
'"this volume will prove an indispensable tool for all who seek to intepret the Old Testament within its cultural and linguistic environment.'
Daniel L. Block, "Review and Expositor.
'"the three volumes in COS "will be reliable and frequently used companions of Old Testament scholars in the next fifty years. Biblical commentaries and journal articles will regularly refer to them.'
Ralph W. Klein, "Currents, 2001.
'"an up-to-date and indispensable collection of Near Eastern literature.'
William M. Schniedewind, "Religious Studies Review, 2001.
'"COS I zeigt bereits deutlich an, da_ der unmittelbare Vorldufer Pritchard "und allevergleichbare fr]heren und gleichzeitigen Unternehmen dhnlicher Art auf unschlagbare Weise ]berholt werden sollen...Dem Verlag, dem Herausgeber und seinen Mitarbeitern verdanken wir den Anfang eines Werkes, das alles Vergleichbare in den Schatten stellt und das sicher der biblischen Forschung viele neue Impulse und Erkenntnisse vermitteln wird. Verlag und Herausgeber w]nschen wir die Kraft zu baldigen Vollendung des gro_en Vorhabens.'
Oswald Loretz, "Ugarit Forschungen, 1996.
'"Given the high quality of this compendium, one of the editor's hopes for this series would seem to be well founded, namely, the The Context of Scripture "will become a standard reference work in college, seminary, and university libraries well into the twenty-first century.'
Gary N. Knoppers, "Review of Biblical Literature, 2000.'"

About the Author

William W. Hallo is the William M. Laffan Professor of Assyriology and Babylonian Literature (since 1976; at Yale since 1962) and Curator of Babylonian collection (since 1963) at Yale University. He holds degrees from Harvard (BA, 1950), Leiden (Candidatus Litterarum Semiticarum 1951) and Chicago (MA 1953 and Ph.D. 1995 in Near Eastern Languages and Literatures). He is author or co-author of The Book of the People (1991), Scripture in Context (4 vols. 1980-1991), Heritage: Civilization and the Jews (2 vols. 1984), Sumerian Archival Texts (1973), The Ancient Near East: A History (1971), The Exaltation of Inanna (1968), and Early Mesopotamian Royal Titles (1957). He previously taught at Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion, and has been Visiting Professor at Kassel (Germany), Columbia University and the Jewish Theological Seminary of America.

K. Lawson Younger, Jr., Ph.D. (1988), University of Sheffield, is Professor of Old Testament, Semitic Languages and Ancient Near Eastern History at the Trinity International University -- Divinity School Deerfield, Illinois. He is the author of Ancient Conquest Accounts: A Study of Ancient Near Eastern and Biblical History Writings (1990), as well as numerous scholarly articles and reviews. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 1550 pages
• Publisher: Brill Academic Pub (July 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9004131051
• ISBN-13: 978-9004131057
• Product Dimensions: 11.8 x 8.3 x 4.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,517,881 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars New Ancient Near East, July 28, 2001

By 

B. Fleischer "moderate-thinker" (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Context of Scripture: Canonical Compositions from the Biblical World (Context of Scripture) (Hardcover)

This 3-book series is an extensive update of the classic Pritchard ANET (ancient near-eastern texts). Though some of the texts are shortened from Pritchard's volume, the new texts, number of texts, and more up to date translations and notes more than make this book worthwhile... if you can afford it :-) Otherwise, the 2 Pritchard paperbacks are quite reasonable.

3 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding, it is on level with Prichards ANE Texts, September 3, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Context of Scripture: Canonical Compositions from the Biblical World (Context of Scripture) (Hardcover)

It is Outstanding, it is on level with Prichards' ANE Texts -- though there is some repeatition of material. This Volume is an interesting read, diffentantly not an one nighter :-) A four day weekend should do it -- Though you will hate taking sleep breaks.

1 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Context of scripture (3 books), January 11, 2009

By 

Proflu - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Context of Scripture: Canonical Compositions, Monumental Inscriptions and Archival Documents from the Biblical World, 3 Vol Set (Paperback)

It was a present for my dad, so I just cast an eye over it...
But what I saw seems really interesting. Especially the 1st one. A lot of myths who help you to understand better the culture of this time... And have a new look on the Bible.