Early History of the Israelite People: From the Written & Archaeological Sources (Brill's Scholars' List) [Paperback]

Thomas L. Thompson (Author)

Book Description

Series: Brill's Scholars' List | Publication Date: August 2000

Through a review of historical scholarship of the past century, and an analysis of data drawn from archaeological excavations and surveys and from written and historical records from the late second and early first millennium, the author reconstructs the historical basis of Israel's origins within the contexts of geography, anthropology and sociology. Thompson argues that none of the traditional models for the origin of biblical Israel in terms of conquest, peaceful settlement, or revolution are viable. The indigenous nature of the Israelite people has roots that lead back to the late Neolitic period. The Iron I period is not the period in which the origins of Israel are to be sought. Rather the geographical and regional expansion of settlements in this period reflect and economic response to drought conditions that affected the entire East Mediterranean basin. The ninth- to eighth-century states of Sammaria and Jerusalem had separate and independent origins rooted in the development of a Mediterranean economy and an expansion of trade brought about by Assyrian interests. The development of the ethnic concept of biblical Israel with its roots in the United Monarchy finds its context in history first at the time of the Persian renaissance guided by the theological concepts of "exile" and "restoration". Finally, Thompson argues that biblical Israel is historically the creation of the tradition itself in the Persian period and attempts to outline both a historical context and an interpretative matrix for the Bible.

Editorial Reviews

Review

From reviews of the hardcover edition:
'"His book is a work of tremendous scholarship. He has been meticulous in his research, and brave in expressing what many of us have thought intuitively for a long time but have been reticent in saying.'
Jonathan Tubb, "The Independent on Sunday, 1993.
'..".a volume to recommend to others.'
J. Andrew Dearman, "New History of American Jews.
'"A stimulating book, bound to provoke much discussion...'
"Zeitschriftenschau f]r Bibelwissenschaft und Grenzgebiete, 1992/93.
'"Thompson gives an extensive and extremely useful survey of the various theories about the origin of Israel an important book.'
"SOTS Bl, 1993.

Product Details

• Paperback: 484 pages
• Publisher: Humanities Pr (August 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9004119434
• ISBN-13: 978-9004119437
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.5 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,336,123 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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