What Did the Ancient Israelites Eat?: Diet in Biblical Times [Paperback]

Nathan MacDonald (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 2008

What food did the ancient Israelites really eat and how much of it did they consume? This seemingly simple question yields an incredibly complex answer. Nathan MacDonald sifts through five main types of evidence relevant to this diet examination: the biblical text, archaeological data, comparative evidence from the ancient world, comparative evidence from modern anthropological research, and modern scientific knowledge of geography and nutrition. MacDonald opens by examining biblical descriptions of the land of Israel and the Israelite diet, considering the context of ancient rhetoric and theology. In section two he delves into archaeological finds from Iron Age Israel. The difficult problem of exploring the adequacy of the ancient Israelite diet is tackled in section three where MacDonald points out the impossibility of definitive conclusions on this question. The final section is an evaluation of the variety and healthiness of the diet. He also reflects here on claims made by popular contemporary biblical diets and analyzes a number of books calling for a return to biblical eating. Diet in Ancient Israel will be useful for scholars and fascinating for general readers.

Editorial Reviews

Review

I heartily recommend it for three big reasons: a very readable book, careful in method and approach, and judicious in conclusion. There is nothing simplistic and grandiose about this book.
--Prof. Scot McKnight, North Park University, Chicago

This book offers a veritable cornucopia of information to its readers. It is well researched, broadly synthetic, and distills a vast array of data...It is a pleasure to read, and a joy to recommend.
--Jeremy Hutton, Princeton Seminary

MacDonald's book is a joy to read...It is a useful book, handy for students, scholars, and anyone interested in life in ancient periods, including the lives of the Israelites.' 
--Raz Kletter, Helsinki University

It's not my intention to sound overly enthusiastic lest you think me to be exaggerating.  But it isn't hyperbole to say that this is one of the most enjoyable and interesting books I've read in a good while.
--Jim West, Quartz School of Theology

The book would be an excellent catalyst for discussion of contemporary ethical concerns about food, such as its radically uneven availability, food safety and cost, and ecological problems of production. --Kathlyn O'Conner, Columbia TS

From the Back Cover

What food did the ancient Israelites eat, and how much of it did they consume? That's a seemingly simple question, but it's actually a complex topic. In this fascinating book Nathan MacDonald carefully sifts through all the relevant evidence -- biblical, archaeological, anthropological, environmental -- to uncover what the people of biblical times really ate and how healthy (or unhealthy) it was. 

Engagingly written for general readers, What Did the Ancient Israelites Eat? is nonetheless the fruit of extensive scholarly research; the book's substantial bibliography and endnotes point interested readers to a host of original sources. Including an archaeological timeline and three detailed maps, the book concludes by analyzing a number of contemporary books that advocate a return to "biblical" eating. Anyone who reads MacDonald's responsible study will never read a "biblical diet" book in the same way again. 

 "What Did the Ancient Israelites Eat? is a fascinating and eye-opening glimpse into the eating patterns and problems of the ancient Israelites. Judiciously using a variety of sources, MacDonald examines the culinary past, with results that challenge many scholarly and popular notions of the diet in biblical days. Complex scientific analyses are presented in a highly readable form, making this book an engaging and rewarding page-turner." Carol Meyers, Duke University

Product Details

• Paperback: 156 pages
• Publisher: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company (November 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802862985
• ISBN-13: 978-0802862983
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #138,666 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A deftly researched, scholarly look into the diet of Ancient Israel, May 9, 2009

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: What Did the Ancient Israelites Eat?: Diet in Biblical Times (Paperback)

Diets throughout history can tell a bit about the people who ate them. "What Did the Ancient Israelites Eat?" is a deftly researched, scholarly look into the diet of Ancient Israel. Looking into anthropological evidence, "What Did the Ancient Israelites Eat?" examines the base ingredients, how they were combined, and how these foods affected the ancient Israelites as a people. Criticizing diet books that call for a return to a biblical diet, "What Did the Ancient Israelites Eat?" is a realistic look at a diet in a time where survival was much harder.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars basically a scientific overview, December 24, 2010

By 

Mary C. Rountree "Virginia Lady" (Hampton, VA, US) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: What Did the Ancient Israelites Eat?: Diet in Biblical Times (Paperback)

This is for the anthropologist of nutritionist rather than the popular market. It used archaeology more than the Bible, and it points out that milk and honey were hardly accurate descriptions of the ancient diet, but what has been suspected - sparse and iffy.

5.0 out of 5 stars Refreshing, July 28, 2011

By 

marcia1245 - See all my reviews

This review is from: What Did the Ancient Israelites Eat?: Diet in Biblical Times (Paperback)

The author does a good job of really detailing what life was like when it came to food for this people group. Our family was amazed at the difference. Although definitely not a scholar we sought out this book because so many people in the vegan and raw food movements have spoken about eating like older cultures ate and we wanted to see from someone who had studied the history of God's people and their diet if this was just a sales tactic by greedy health promoters or the facts....you will have a better idea which is the truth by the end of a book like this.