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Bibliography Of Assyrian History Language And Culture From Ancient To Modern Times
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Book Synopsis Bibliography of Assyrian History, Language, and Culture from Ancient to Modern Times by : Melis Lachin
Download or read book Bibliography of Assyrian History, Language, and Culture from Ancient to Modern Times written by Melis Lachin and published by . This book was released on 2017-11-29 with total page 394 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Bibliography of Assyrian History, Language, and Culture from Ancient to Modern Times book is broken into various sections: Aramaic, modern Assyrian, ancient Assyrian, Babylon, Babylonian, Church of the East, Mesopotamia, Nineveh, and Syriac and is in alphabetical order by author's last name. The brief description section provides a summary of each of aforementioned sections from a historical point. There is an appendix for journals and periodicals including some that are no longer published, yet have been listed for reference and historical reasons. A second appendix provides a list of all the titles in alphabetical order by the author's last name.
Book Synopsis Ancient and Modern Assyrians by : George V. Yana
Download or read book Ancient and Modern Assyrians written by George V. Yana and published by Xlibris Corporation. This book was released on 2008-04-10 with total page 163 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Some scholars have doubted or denied the continuity of the Assyrian people from the times of empire to the present time. This work, based on a scientific analysis, sheds light on the subject, and demonstrates the continuous existence of the Assyrian people. Assyria, (northern Iraq), was a state grouped about the heavily fortified city of Ashur, on the middle of the Tigris River. Assyrians had become civilized in the third millennium BC, under the impetus of Mesopotamian development. They created the first empire known to history that was run by an empire administration. The empire created by Sargon Sharukin, much earlier in the third millennium, did not have an administration to hold it together. Toward the close of the Bronze Age (1700-1200 BC), Assyria had expanded westward to the middle of the Euphrates River, and in the south they held Babylon temporarily. Tiglat-Pileser I (1114-1076), extended Assyrian rule to the Mediterranean. But, Adadnirari II (911-891 BC) may be called the father of Assyrian imperial administration. Empire building was a necessity of economic development, which was based on the technological advances caused by the introduction of iron and the alphabet. International trade was necessary for the growth of industry and manufacture, and the Assyrians became the tools to carry out this historic economic necessity. The Assyrian army was the first army to use iron arms. The Assyrian Empire was defeated, in 612 BC, by an alliance of Medes (an Iranian people), Persians (Iran), Babylonians, and Cythians. Since then, Assyria has been governed by Persians, Greeks, Arabs and Turks. The Assyrians were the first non-Jewish people to accept Christianity, and since then, Christianity has become their identity. They burned all their ancient books that reminded them of their pagan kings. Thus, with time, a dark cloud was cast over their memories that separated them from their glorious past. But, now and then, there were sparks from the remote past that testified to the persistence of memory. Only recently has the full national awareness been restored. There are, still, scholars who doubt or deny any link between the ancient and the Modern Assyrians. They argue that the Assyrians were all massacred during the destruction of their empire. This book sets out to demonstrate that the Assyrians were not all massacred during the destruction of their country in 612 BC, and that they emerged as a Christian people in Assyria (northern Iraq) and the neighboring countries.
Book Synopsis The Assyrians by : Charles River Editors
Download or read book The Assyrians written by Charles River Editors and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2014-09-18 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: *Includes pictures *Discusses Assyrian military tactics, religious practices, and more *Includes ancient Assyrian accounts documenting their military campaigns and more *Includes a bibliography for further reading "I fought daily, without interruption against Taharqa, King of Egypt and Ethiopia, the one accursed by all the great gods. Five times I hit him with the point of my arrows inflicting wounds from which he should not recover, and then I laid siege to Memphis his royal residence, and conquered it in half a day by means of mines, breaches and assault ladders." - Esarhaddon "I captured 46 towns...by consolidating ramps to bring up battering rams, by infantry attacks, mines, breaches and siege engines." - Sennacherib When scholars study the history of the ancient Near East, several wars that had extremely brutal consequences (at least by modern standards) often stand out. Forced removal of entire populations, sieges that decimated entire cities, and wanton destruction of property were all tactics used by the various peoples of the ancient Near East against each other, but the Assyrians were the first people to make war a science. When the Assyrians are mentioned, images of war and brutality are among the first that come to mind, despite the fact that their culture prospered for nearly 2,000 years. Like a number of ancient individuals and empires in that region, the negative perception of ancient Assyrian culture was passed down through Biblical accounts, and regardless of the accuracy of the Bible's depiction of certain events, the Assyrians clearly played the role of adversary for the Israelites. Indeed, Assyria (Biblical Shinar) and the Assyrian people played an important role in many books of the Old Testament and are first mentioned in the book of Genesis: "And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel and Erech, and Akkad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar. Out of that land went forth Ashur and built Nineveh and the city Rehoboth and Kallah." (Gen. 10:10-11). Although the Biblical accounts of the Assyrians are among the most interesting and are often corroborated with other historical sources, the Assyrians were much more than just the enemies of the Israelites and brutal thugs. A historical survey of ancient Assyrian culture reveals that although they were the supreme warriors of their time, they were also excellent merchants, diplomats, and highly literate people who recorded their history and religious rituals and ideology in great detail. The Assyrians, like their other neighbors in Mesopotamia, were literate and developed their own dialect of the Akkadian language that they used to write tens of thousands of documents in the cuneiform script (Kuhrt 2010, 1:84). Furthermore, the Assyrians prospered for so long that their culture is often broken down by historians into the "Old", "Middle", and "Neo" Assyrian periods, even though the Assyrians themselves viewed their history as a long succession of rulers from an archaic period until the collapse of the neo-Assyrian Empire in the 7th century BCE. In fact, the current divisions have been made by modern scholars based on linguistic changes, not on political dynasties (van de Mieroop 2007, 179). The Assyrians: The History of the Most Prominent Empire of the Ancient Near East traces the history and legacy of Assyria across several millennia. Along with pictures of important people, places, and events, you will learn about the history of the Assyrians like never before, in no time at all.
Download or read book Nimrud written by Charles River Editors and published by . This book was released on 2019-08-23 with total page 70 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: *Includes pictures *Includes excerpts of ancient accounts *Includes a bibliography for further reading When scholars study the history of the ancient Near East, several wars that had extremely brutal consequences (at least by modern standards) often stand out. Forced removal of entire populations, sieges that decimated entire cities, and wanton destruction of property were all tactics used by the various peoples of the ancient Near East against each other, but the Assyrians were the first people to make war a science. When the Assyrians are mentioned, images of war and brutality are among the first that come to mind, despite the fact that their culture prospered for nearly 2,000 years. Like a number of ancient individuals and empires in that region, the negative perception of ancient Assyrian culture was passed down through Biblical accounts, and regardless of the accuracy of the Bible's depiction of certain events, the Assyrians clearly played the role of adversary for the Israelites. Indeed, Assyria (Biblical Shinar) and the Assyrian people played an important role in many books of the Old Testament and are first mentioned in the book of Genesis: "And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel and Erech, and Akkad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar. Out of that land went forth Ashur and built Nineveh and the city Rehoboth and Kallah." (Gen. 10:10-11). Although the Biblical accounts of the Assyrians are among the most interesting and are often corroborated with other historical sources, the Assyrians were much more than just the enemies of the Israelites and brutal thugs. A historical survey of ancient Assyrian culture reveals that although they were the supreme warriors of their time, they were also excellent merchants, diplomats, and highly literate people who recorded their history and religious rituals and ideology in great detail. The Assyrians, like their other neighbors in Mesopotamia, were literate and developed their own dialect of the Akkadian language that they used to write tens of thousands of documents in the cuneiform script (Kuhrt 2010, 1:84). Furthermore, the Assyrians prospered for so long that their culture is often broken down by historians into the "Old", "Middle", and "Neo" Assyrian periods, even though the Assyrians themselves viewed their history as a long succession of rulers from an archaic period until the collapse of the neo-Assyrian Empire in the 7th century BCE. In fact, the current divisions have been made by modern scholars based on linguistic changes, not on political dynasties (van de Mieroop 2007, 179). The city of Nimrud was one of the Assyrians' most important cities, and it has been known by many different names throughout its history. In ancient Assyrian, the city was called Kalḫu, a name first attested to in texts dating back to the 13th century BCE. In the Bible, it is known as Calah, and the city is now called Nimrud from an association with the Biblical figure Nimrod. Nimrud is located in northern Iraq on the east bank of the Tigris River, about 20 miles south of modern Mosul and ancient Nineveh. An ancient Assyrian capital during the Neo-Assyrian period, the city has produced many glorious artifacts and provided countless insights into this ancient civilization, but the history of the city after the fall of the Assyrians has proven just as turbulent and interesting. Nimrud: The History and Legacy of the Ancient Assyrian City chronicles the origins of the city, how it became a power center in antiquity, and its controversial fate. Along with pictures depicting important people, places, and events, you will learn about Nimrud like never before.
Download or read book Assur written by Charles River Editors and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2017-10-17 with total page 104 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: *Includes pictures *Includes ancient accounts describing Assur and the Assyrians *Includes a bibliography for further reading "All who hear the news of your destruction clap their hands for joy. Did no one escape your endless cruelty?" - Nahum 3:19 In northern Iraq, on the banks of the Tigris River, lie the ruins of the ancient city of Assur. This was the first capital and the most important religious center of the Assyrian Empire. Underneath the cover of sand and soil are almost six meters of dense stratigraphic layers that reveal the passage of millennia. Known today as Qal'at Sherqat, and also as Kilah Shregat, the city dates back to the 3rd millennium BCE. In that time period, the Assyrian army became the largest yet seen, and their warriors were both the greatest and cruelest in the land. They conquered an empire from the Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean Sea; they despoiled the great city of Babylon, and they enslaved the tribes of Israel. Even the pharaoh of Egypt paid them tribute. No army had ever carried war so far. Indeed, Assur was the heart of one of antiquity's most infamous war machines. When scholars study the history of the ancient Near East, several wars that had extremely brutal consequences (at least by modern standards) often stand out. Forced removal of entire populations, sieges that decimated entire cities, and wanton destruction of property were all tactics used by the various peoples of the ancient Near East against each other, but the Assyrians were the first people to make war a science. When the Assyrians are mentioned, images of war and brutality are among the first that come to mind, despite the fact that their culture prospered for nearly 2,000 years. Like a number of ancient individuals and empires in that region, the negative perception of ancient Assyrian culture was passed down through Biblical accounts, and regardless of the accuracy of the Bible's depiction of certain events, the Assyrians clearly played the role of adversary for the Israelites. Indeed, Assyria (Biblical Shinar) and the Assyrian people played an important role in many books of the Old Testament and are first mentioned in the book of Genesis: "And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel and Erech, and Akkad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar. Out of that land went forth Ashur and built Nineveh and the city Rehoboth and Kallah." (Gen. 10:10-11). Although the Biblical accounts of the Assyrians are among the most interesting and are often corroborated with other historical sources, the Assyrians were much more than just the enemies of the Israelites and brutal thugs. A historical survey of ancient Assyrian culture reveals that although they were the supreme warriors of their time, they were also excellent merchants, diplomats, and highly literate people who recorded their history and religious rituals and ideology in great detail. The Assyrians, like their other neighbors in Mesopotamia, were literate and developed their own dialect of the Akkadian language that they used to write tens of thousands of documents in the cuneiform script (Kuhrt 2010, 1:84). Although war played such a central role in Assyrian society, they were also active and prosperous traders, and trade was an essential part of Assur's growth from its earliest stages. Strangely, even during military campaigns, merchants from the city engaged in commercial interactions with the "enemy," for example with the Aramaeans during the campaigns of Adad Nirari II. As opposed to other cities in Mesopotamia, Assur's location meant that it was especially subjected to the influences of its many neighbors in southern Mesopotamia; Anatolia, Syria, the Zagros Mountains, and even from the barbarian tribes north of the Caucasus Mountains. Their presence can be seen today in the architecture and artifacts of the ruined city.
Book Synopsis Ancient and Modern Chaldean History by : Ray Kamoo
Download or read book Ancient and Modern Chaldean History written by Ray Kamoo and published by Scarecrow Press. This book was released on 1999 with total page 252 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This volume presents a depiction of the Aramaic tribes of Mesopotamia; it explores the ancient and modern periods, the civil and religious influences, and the pagan and Christian heritage. For the past five centuries, the name Chaldean has been applied to Aramaic speaking people of Mesopotamia, and was the last term used to indicate Mesopotamian identity. The author was inspired by the presence of over a hundred thousand Chaldeans in the United States to produce this reference. He cites books and articles that deal with the history and culture, ancient and modern periods, the civil and religious influences, and the pagan and Christian heritage. The unannotated entries are arranged first by ancient and modern periods, then by form -- such as English books and non-English journal articles.
Book Synopsis Assyria and Babylonia: A List of References in the New York Public Library by : New York Public Library
Download or read book Assyria and Babylonia: A List of References in the New York Public Library written by New York Public Library and published by Legare Street Press. This book was released on 2023-07-18 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book contains a carefully curated list of references on the history, art, literature, and culture of Assyria and Babylonia, two of the most important civilizations of the ancient Near East. Drawing on the vast resources of the New York Public Library, this book is an invaluable tool for scholars and students of the ancient Near East. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
Book Synopsis A Companion to Assyria by : Eckart Frahm
Download or read book A Companion to Assyria written by Eckart Frahm and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2017-03-24 with total page 648 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A Companion to Assyria is a collection of original essays on ancient Assyria written by key international scholars. These new scholarly contributions have substantially reshaped contemporary understanding of society and life in this ancient civilization. The only detailed up-to-date introduction providing a scholarly overview of ancient Assyria in English within the last fifty years Original essays written and edited by a team of respected Assyriology scholars from around the world An in-depth exploration of Assyrian society and life, including the latest thought on cities, art, religion, literature, economy, and technology, and political and military history
Book Synopsis A Companion to Assyria by : Eckart Frahm
Download or read book A Companion to Assyria written by Eckart Frahm and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2017-06-12 with total page 650 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A Companion to Assyria is a collection of original essays on ancient Assyria written by key international scholars. These new scholarly contributions have substantially reshaped contemporary understanding of society and life in this ancient civilization. The only detailed up-to-date introduction providing a scholarly overview of ancient Assyria in English within the last fifty years Original essays written and edited by a team of respected Assyriology scholars from around the world An in-depth exploration of Assyrian society and life, including the latest thought on cities, art, religion, literature, economy, and technology, and political and military history
Book Synopsis Assyria and Babylonia by : Ida Augusta Pratt
Download or read book Assyria and Babylonia written by Ida Augusta Pratt and published by . This book was released on 1918 with total page 166 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Book Synopsis Assyrian History Culture and Traditions by : Venesia Yacoub
Download or read book Assyrian History Culture and Traditions written by Venesia Yacoub and published by Xlibris Corporation. This book was released on 2021-12-22 with total page 239 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book is the first of its kind and takes an in-depth look at one of the oldest nations in the world, while documenting various traditions and rituals tracing Assyrian lineage from cuneiform, the beginning of time and writing, until now. Their rich history has engaged various archaeological groups throughout the world to visit their homelands and conduct various excavations, which has led to incredible ancient discoveries that have been housed in universities and museums for centuries. Their heartland is called the Cradle of Civilization, and their legacy has earned the prestigious name of History of the World. They were one of the first people to convert to Christianity and have been mentioned in the Bible and various books throughout time. This book highlights information on their artifacts, including one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, the Hanging Gardens. We also take an insider look at some topics that have been extensively chronicled and studied, such as religion, the legendary Winged Bulls, the famous Tree of Life, and angels.
Book Synopsis The Assyrian Empire by : Carla Archer
Download or read book The Assyrian Empire written by Carla Archer and published by . This book was released on 1986 with total page 157 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Book Synopsis The Civilization of Babylonia and Assyria by : Morris Jastrow
Download or read book The Civilization of Babylonia and Assyria written by Morris Jastrow and published by . This book was released on 2003 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: What we understand about ancient cultures of Mesopotamia we know mostly from the Babylonians and Assyrians. These ancient peoples had developed a manner of writing, known as cuneiform, that were well preserved onto clay tablets, and survive to this day. As a result of the combined efforts of explorers, decipherers, archaeologists, and many others, the fantastic histories of these lost civilizations have been raised from beneath the mounds, which hid their secrets for countless centuries. These early city-states are credited with developing some of civilization's firsts, from the first experiments in agriculture, the domestication of animals, and the establishment of a marketplace, to the origin of mathematics, our concept of time reckoning and a fundamental understanding of our code of laws . The Babylonians and Assyrians, along with their predecessors, the Sumerians, provided subsequent civilizations, including our own, the basis for civilized living.This work attempts to present a study of the unprecedented civilizations that flourished in the Tigris-Euphrates Valley many thousands of years ago. Spreading northward into present-day Turkey and Iran, the land known by the Greeks as Mesopotamia flourished until just before the Christian era. When know a great deal about these peoples, how they lived, the organization of their palaces, temples and homes; as well as much regarding their daily life and religious ambitions. Many of the tablets unearthed so far have revealed the nature of commercial intercourse, of judicial disputes, and of the burgeoning complexities of social life. Also found on the clay tablets was a great deal of literary material, dating from the earliest periods and continuing to the fall of Babylonia and further into the era of Persian and Greek dominion. As the author of a number of books on the religious traditions in the Near and Middle East, Morris Jastrow, Jr. has utilized his expertise, and that of others in the field, to compile this impressive discourse on Babylonia and Assyria that was first published nearly one hundred years ago. This two-volume set contains over 75 illustrations that detail all facets of Babylonian and Assyrian life.Volume one includes an introduction to the study of Mesopotamia and contains a lengthy discussion on separate biblical references (11th chapter of Genesis) which explain how a city was built and given the name Babylon. Also mentioned in this biblical citation is how the people of this city-state constructed a staged-tower, or ziggurat, which became a distinctive religious architecture of the period and region. From there, this first volume covers the history of excavations at Babylonian and Assyrian archaeological sites and why they were so important to the understanding of the language and culture of the inhabitants. As a logical segue, Jastrow gives a detailed examination on the fascinating discovery and subsequent decipherment of cuneiform script, common to both great nations. A detailed chronological survey on the history of the region is also included. This volume concludes with a chapter on the polytheistic nature of the gods which the peoples of Babylonia and Assyria worshipped, which continues in the next volume with a chapter on their cults and temples.
Book Synopsis Assyrian Historiography by : Albert Ten Eyck Olmstead
Download or read book Assyrian Historiography written by Albert Ten Eyck Olmstead and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2017-06-09 with total page 84 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: CHAPTER I ASSYRIAN HISTORIANS AND THEIR HISTORIES To the serious student of Assyrian history, it is obvious that we cannot write that history until we have adequately discussed the sources. We must learn what these are, in other words, we must begin with a bibliography of the various documents. Then we must divide them into their various classes, for different classes of inscriptions are of varying degrees of accuracy. Finally, we must study in detail for each reign the sources, discover which of the various documents or groups of documents are the most nearly contemporaneous with the events they narrate, and on these, and on these alone, base our history of the period. To the less narrowly technical reader, the development of the historical sense in one of the earlier culture peoples has an interest all its own. The historical writings of the Assyrians form one of the most important branches of their literature. Indeed, it may be claimed with much truth that it is the most characteristically Assyrian of them all. [Footnote: This study is a source investigation and not a bibliography. The only royal inscriptions studied in detail are those presenting source problems. Minor inscriptions of these rulers are accorded no more space than is absolutely necessary, and rulers who have not given us strictly historical inscriptions are generally passed in silence. The bibliographical notes are condensed as much as possible and make no pretense of completeness, though they will probably be found the most complete yet printed. Every possible care has been taken to make the references accurate, but the fact that many were consulted in the libraries of Cornell University, University of Chicago, Columbia University, and the University of Pennsylvania, and are thus inaccessible at the time when the work is passing through the press, leaves some possibility of error. Dr. B. B. Charles, Instructor in Semitics in the University of Pennsylvania, has kindly verified those where error has seemed at all likely.-For the English speaking reader, practically all the inscriptions for the earlier half of the history are found in Budge-Kjing, Annals of the Kings of Assyria. 1. For the remainder, Harper, Assyrian and Babylonian Literature, is adequate, though somewhat out of date. Rogers, Cuneiform Parallels to the, Old Testament, gives an up to date translation of those passages which throw light on the Biblical writings. Other works cited are generally of interest only to specialists and the most common are cited by abbreviations which will be found at the close of the study.] The Assyrians derived their historical writing, as they did so many other cultural elements, from the Babylonians. In that country, there had existed from the earliest times two types of historical inscriptions. The more common form developed from the desire of the kings to commemorate, not their deeds in war, but their building operations, and more especially the buildings erected in honor of the gods. Now and then we have an incidental reference to military activities, but rarely indeed do we find a document devoted primarily to the narration of warlike deeds....
Book Synopsis Ancient Assyria: A Very Short Introduction by : Karen Radner
Download or read book Ancient Assyria: A Very Short Introduction written by Karen Radner and published by OUP Oxford. This book was released on 2015-03-26 with total page 144 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Assyria was one of the most influential kingdoms of the Ancient Near East. In this Very Short Introduction, Karen Radner sketches the history of Assyria from city state to empire, from the early 2nd millennium BC to the end of the 7th century BC. Since the archaeological rediscovery of Assyria in the mid-19th century, its cities have been excavated extensively in Iraq, Syria, Turkey and Israel, with further sites in Iran, Lebanon, and Jordan providing important information. The Assyrian Empire was one of the most geographically vast, socially diverse, multicultural, and multi-ethnic states of the early first millennium BC.Using archaeological records, Radner provides insights into the lives of the inhabitants of the kingdom, highlighting the diversity of human experiences in the Assyrian Empire. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.
Book Synopsis History, Culture, and Religion of the Hellenistic Age by : Helmut Koester
Download or read book History, Culture, and Religion of the Hellenistic Age written by Helmut Koester and published by Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG. This book was released on 2020-05-18 with total page 472 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: No detailed description available for "History, Culture, and Religion of the Hellenistic Age".
Book Synopsis Dictionary of the Old Testament: Historical Books by : Bill T. Arnold
Download or read book Dictionary of the Old Testament: Historical Books written by Bill T. Arnold and published by InterVarsity Press. This book was released on 2011-09-26 with total page 1085 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Edited by Bill T. Arnold and Hugh G. M. Williamson, the Dictionary of the Old Testament: Historical Books picks up where the Dictionary of the Old Testament: Pentateuch left off—with Joshua and Israel poised to enter the land—and carries us through the postexilic period. Following in the tradition of the award-winning IVP dictionaries focused on the New Testament, this encyclopedic work is characterized by in-depth articles focused on key topics, many of them written by noted experts. The history of Israel forms the skeletal structure of the Old Testament. Understanding this history and the biblical books that trace it is essential to comprehending the Bible. The Dictionary of the Old Testament: Historical Books is the only reference book focused exclusively on these biblical books and the history of Israel. The dictionary presents articles on numerous historical topics as well as major articles focused on the books of Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings, Chronicles, Ezra and Nehemiah. Other articles focus on the Deuteronomistic History as well as the Chronicler's History, the narrative art of Israel's historians, innerbiblical exegesis, text and textual criticism, and the emergence of these books as canonical. One feature is a series of eight consecutive articles on the periods of Israel's history from the settlement to postexilic period, which form a condensed history of Israel within the DOTHB. Syro-Palestinian archaeology is surveyed in one article, while significant archaeological sites receive focused treatment, usually under the names of biblical cities and towns such as Jerusalem and Samaria, Shiloh and Shechem, Dan and Beersheba. Other articles delve into the histories and cultures of the great neighboring empires—Egypt, Assyria, Babylonia and Persia—as well as lesser peoples, such as the Ammonites, Edomites, Moabites, Philistines and Phoenicians. In addition there are articles on architecture, Solomon's temple, agriculture and animal husbandry, roads and highways, trade and travel, and water and water systems. The languages of Hebrew and Aramaic, as well as linguistics, each receive careful treatment, as well as the role of scribes and their schools, and writing and literacy in ancient Israel and its environs. The DOTHB also canvases the full range of relevant extrabiblical written evidence, with five articles focused on the various non-Israelite written sources as well as articles on Hebrew inscriptions and ancient Near Eastern iconography. Articles on interpretive methods, on hermeneutics and on preaching the Historical Books will assist students and communicators in understanding how this biblical literature has been studied and interpreted, and its proper use in preaching. In the same vein, theological topics such as God, prayer, faith, forgiveness and righteousness receive separate treatment. The history of Israel has long been contested territory, but never more so than today. Much like the quest of the historical Jesus, a quest of the historical Israel is underway. At the heart of the quest to understand the history of Israel and the Old Testament's Historical Books is the struggle to come to terms with the conventions of ancient historiography. How did these writers conceive of their task and to whom were they writing? Clearly the Old Testament historians did not go about their task as we would today. The divine word was incarnated in ancient culture. Rather than being a dictionary of quick answers and easy resolutions readily provided, the DOTHB seeks to set out the evidence and arguments, allowing a range of informed opinion to enrich the conversation. In this way it is hoped that the DOTHB will not only inform its readers, but draw them into the debate and equip them to examine the evidence for themselves. Reference volumes in the IVP Bible Dictionary Series provide in-depth treatment of biblical and theological topics in an accessible, encyclopedia format, including cross-sectional themes, methods of interpretation, significant historical or cultural background, and each Old and New Testament book as a whole.
