Israel's History and the History of Israel (Bible World) [Hardcover]

Mario Liverani (Author)

Book Description

Series: BibleWorld | Publication Date: January 2006

One of Italy's foremost experts on antiquity addresses a new issue surrounding the birth of Israel and its historic reality. Many a tale has been told of ancient Israel, but all tales are alike in their quotation of the biblical story in its narrative scheme, despite its historic unreliability. This book completely rewrites the history of Israel through the evaluation of textual and literary critiques as well as archaeological and epigraphic findings. Conceived along the lines of modern historical methodology, it traces the textual material to the times of its creation, reconstructs the temporal evolution of political and religious ideologies, and firmly inserts the history of Israel into its ancient-oriental context

Editorial Reviews

Review

"There have been many histories of ancient Israel, but this one, from one of the world's greatest ancient historians, is nothing less than a tour de force. Of course, no one will agree with all of Liverani's arguments and conclusions. But no one, I venture to predict, will come away from reading him without being challenged, indeed exhilarated by the depth of his insights and the breadth of his vision." Peter Machinist, Hancock Professor of Hebrew and Other Oriental Languages, Harvard University "Liverani's intentions in offering an account of the biblical transformation of Israel's past 'from trivial event to significant re-elaboration' are to be commended. His book is an appropriate and exciting alternative to the biblical narrative." Times Literary Supplement, June 23, 2006 --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

About the Author

Mario Liverani teaches the History of the Ancient Near East at the University of Rome 'La Sapienz'. He is Lincei Academic and honorary member of the American Oriental Society. He is the coordinator of the archaeological expedition in the Acacus (Libyan Sahara). He has published Ancient Orient (1991), which has been translated into Spanish by Critica, War and Diplomacy in the Ancient Orient (1994), Uruk: The First City (1998), translated into English by University of Chicago Press, and Myth and Politics in Ancient Near Eastern Historiography (2004, Equinox).

Product Details

• Hardcover: 427 pages
• Publisher: Equinox Publishing (UK) (January 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1904768768
• ISBN-13: 978-1904768760
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #784,877 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Much to be gleaned from a moderate viewpoint, April 6, 2007

By 

Commentary Surveyor (Stoughton MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Israel's History and the History of Israel (Bible World) (Hardcover)

Though historically skeptical and reads the historical texts of the Bible to uncover ideological bias, the combination of Liverani's expertise in ANE background combined with setting Israel in the context of the larger world (esp. the sixth century BC) sets this history apart, and much insight can be gathered here.