A history of ancient Israel and Judah /

A long-awaited companion work to the critically acclaimed Israelite and Judaean History, ed. by Hayes and Miller (CH, Dec '78), this book will be indispensable for any scholarly study of Israel's history from Judges to Ezra-Nehemiah. The authors' survey and analysis of the various sources used to reconstruct the history of Israel and Judah are an excellent introduction to this attempt to write that history. Like J.A. Soggin in his A History of Ancient Israel (London, 1984), the authors are extremely conservative (occasionally overcritical) in their reading of biblical sources. They have succeeded in describing the world of ancient Israel that has survived through the religious prism of the Bible. Religious readers will profit from their approach, which compares modern critical historiography to biblical theology. Their style is highly recommended for both undergraduate and general readership. Scholars and teachers now have a solid text for studying Israel's ancient history. Includes maps, a wide range of documents, and bibliography.-S. Bowman, University of Cincinnati

With a sense of the importance of geographical detail, thorough knowledge of archaeological research, and a feel for history as ``people,'' the authors bring enormous assets to their present task: recounting Old Testament history to the close of the Persian Period. But how effectively do they accomplish this task? In their view a critically acceptable historiography would pare away myth, miracle story, folk tradition, and theological overlay, relying instead on cause and effect. Further, since little of the relevant biblical material found before the 11th century B.C. is credible, the result can only be ``our best guess.'' Unless the reader shares this view, he or she will likely find John Bright's History of Israel (Westminster, 1981. 3rd ed.) more satisfactory. Vernon Ritter, formerly with Religious Studies Dept., Westmont Coll., Santa Barbara, Cal. Home Economics 2 please note: The Christian Teubner book reviewed in the LJ 8/86 cookery column is Desserts , published by Barron'snot HP's Best of Cooking for All Occasions , as indicated in the bibliographic information. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.