Ancient Israelite Religion offers a brief, accessible, and perceptive account of the religious beliefs and practices of the ancient Israelites, analyzing the complex and varied ways in which they present and preserve themselves in the Hebrew Bible. Drawing on the most recent literary scholarship and archaeological evidence, the author provides a compelling account of how the culture of the Israelites changed over three great historical periods--the distant pre-monarchic age, the monarchies of Israel and Judah, and the Babylonian exile and return. The heart of the book is a rich description of the Israelites' religious life as revealed in the Hebrew Bible. Exploring how they described their experience of God, Niditch draws out consistent themes in the Biblical stories. Most importantly, she allows us to see the world through the Israelites' eyes as she reconstructs both their habits and their larger worldview. Ideal for introduction to the Bible and introduction to religion courses, this insightful, subtly nuanced portrait is also easily understandable to general readers. It brings to life this ancient people whose legacy continues to influence and captivate the world today.
This is readable, and a useful tool for becoming familiar with the ancient Israelite religion written by a well-known biblical scholar.
Toward an Understanding of Religion in Ancient Israel
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 24 years ago
This is an excellent, gentle introduction to an ancient religion. Some of the more controversial themes, for example child sacrifice, are touched on but not fully discussed. Niditch maintains throughout the book a non-pedantic style allowing the reader to gain an overall appreciation of the insights offered by modern scholarship (Ugarit texts, etc.) without getting lost in an endless sea of footnotes and references.
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