The history of ancient Israel [Hardcover]

Michael Grant (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: 1984

This history examines ancient Israel's relations with the great empires which shaped its development, and also the changing internal structure of the state. Excavations tell part of the tale, but the major source is the Hebrew Bible, which contains much of the world's earliest written history.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Michael Grant is a highly successful and renowned historian of the ancient world. He has held many academic posts including those of Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge; Professor of Humanity at Edinburgh University; Vice Chancellor of The Queen's University, Belfast and Vice Chancellor of the University of Khartoum. He is a Doctor of Letters at Dublin and a Doctor of Laws at Belfast. He has also been President of the Classical Association of England, the Virgil Society and the Royal Numismatic Society, and is a Medallist of the Ame --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 317 pages
• Publisher: Scribner (1984)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0684180812
• ISBN-13: 978-0684180816
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,634,517 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A History of Ancient Israel, January 10, 2000

By 

Seth Clippard (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The History of Ancient Israel (Paperback)

This is an excellent resource on understanding the history of Israel following the text of the Hebrew Bible. Michael Grant is a superb writer, who conveys a solid knowledge of the Hebrew Bible, Jewish history, and commentary in a single accessible, and enjoyable text. A must read for teachers both academic and religious.

12 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is an amazing achievement!, May 5, 1999

By 

Mark H. Gaffney (Chiloquin, OR USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The History of Ancient Israel (Paperback)

Michael Grant is a peerless writer on the ancient world. His earlier book on King Herod was superb. This comprehensive review of the history of Israel is the best thing of its kind I have ever seen. I am ordering a copy for myself even before finishing it. It will be a key reference book and essential background preparation for my own book in progress about early Christianity. Michael Grant knows how to write. And he covers all essential points in clear and insightful fashion.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not a lot of detail., April 9, 2007

By 

J.L. Populist (WI,USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The history of ancient Israel (Hardcover)

This book is a "light" read.It covers a lot of histroical areas,but not in much detail.
The author uses the name "Yahweh".He gives some details on the books of the Old Testament mostly.
He writes about the "source theory" and some of the differences in beliefs such as when the name Yahweh was first known in OT times.
There are some interesting theories:
Zilpah and Bilhah were of "mixed race".
The tribe of Levi never went to Egypt at all.
The idea that boiling a kid in it's mother's milk was a Canaanite,magic fertility rite.
The possible split authorship of Isaiah,1-39 and 40-66.

He mentions a few times in passing the lost ten tribes of Israel and the history of Samaria as a capitol for King Omri.

This is a book suited to someone wanting a starter type book on Biblical history.
I would recommend "Restoring the Original Bible" by Ernest L. Martin to anyone wanting a more detailed study of Biblical history.