Harper's Encyclopedia of Bible Life [Hardcover]

Madeleine S. Miller (Author), J. Lane Miller (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 6, 2012

Here is the ultimate resource on the day to day life of the people who inhabit the pages of the Bible:  priests and sailors, musicians and mourners, scribes and craftsmen.  For over three decades the major reference of its kind, this book has been completely revised and updated to incorporate recent archaeological and historical data.  This indispensable volume contains 74 subjects in 14 sections, 150 illustrations, completely up to date bibliography, scriptural index, charts, maps, diagrams and a general index.  The latest findings shed light on agriculture, animals, apparel, nutrition, crafts, business and trade, city life, flowers and plants, homes, music, professions and more.

This book is in non-technical language.  It is meant to be of help to the layman rather than the scholar. 

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Harper's Encyclopedia of Bible Life is a casual yet informative guide to the people and places of biblical times. Completely revised from its original publication in 1944, the book is written for the layperson rather than clerics. It's a handy companion for students--or for anyone curious about the customs, languages, and social structures of the time. The authors, Madeleine S. and J. Lane Miller, are concerned with the very ordinariness of the era--exploring how people lived, the occupations they toiled at, and the kinds of homes they resided in. As with any record of this period, the information is derived from both subjective and objective sources, including archaeological evidence, historical manuscripts, and stories and narratives passed down through the generations.

The book is split into three distinct sections: "The World of the Bible" looks at the New and Old Testaments; "How the People of the Bible Lived" investigates day-to-day living; and "How the People of the Bible Worked" traces livelihoods--from craftsmen to soldiers, and even prostitutes. With over 150 illustrations and information on 74 biblical subjects, Harper's Encyclopedia of Bible Life is a mighty read.

About the Author

The late Madeleine S. and J. Lane Miller are widely recognized for their contributions to biblical scholarship, including the classic Harper's Bible Dictionary.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 424 pages
• Publisher: Castle Books; 3 Revised edition (March 6, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0785807268
• ISBN-13: 978-0785807261
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.2 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #417,841 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #11 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Reference > Encyclopedias > Religion
  • #58 in Books > Education & Reference > Encyclopedias > Military

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Valuable Resource... Twice Over, June 15, 2003

By 

Virgil Brown (White Oak, Texas USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Harper's Encyclopedia of Bible Life (Hardcover)

Madeleine and J Lane Miller have written a valuable resource for the study of everyday life in Bible times. The blurb inside the dust jacket says that there are 74 subjects in 14 sections with 150 illustrations. There are sections on geography, homes, food, clothing, medicine, family events, the life of a nomad, the life of a professional, etc.

Let's say one is reading the story of David and Bathsheba. One might turn to the section on military life and read Soldering under David. There one might read that Saul was the first to establish a professional army in Israel rather than depend upon a militia. David added mercenaries to his army. In Israel mercenaries worked for wages but had no rights as a member of an Israelite tribe. A mercenary so totally belonged to the king that when a king died, like a concubine, a mercenary passed on to the king's heir. This raises the question to mind as to whether Uriah the Hittite was a mercenary along with other members of "the Thirty." One then might decide to read the section on Prostitutes. Prostitution did exist in Israel and there may have been temple prostitutes at Shiloh in the pre-monarchial period. Deuteronmic Law prohibited both male and female prostitution, but prostitution was a fact of life throughout the Ancient Near East.

Though the Millers have included a section on the Industrial Life, their book is lacking in discussing the economics of Bible life. There are no chapters on money or taxation. Even so I found this to be a valuable resource. When a favorite sister-in-law admired the book, I gave her my first copy. And then I missed the book so I went out and bought a second copy.

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book, Excellent Condition, March 26, 2010

By 

Lydia "Researcher" (Ava, MO, US) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Harper's Encyclopedia of Bible Life (Hardcover)

This book is very informative and worth the buy. It was in excellent condition when I received it, and I am very thankful. I will recommend this book and this site for purchasing more material.

5.0 out of 5 stars Harper's Encyclopedia of the Bible, December 2, 2009

By 

W. Bennett (Independence, MO United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Harper's Encyclopedia of Bible Life (Hardcover)

This is a very well written book on the life of of the people who we read about in the Bible. It can be a little dry at times reading about very detailed life in ancient times and how they struggled but overall a very good reference for your library. The photos are in black and white.