John H. Walton

Victor H. Matthews

Mark W. Chavalas

This unique commentary provides historical, social and cultural background for each passage of the Old Testament. From Genesis through Malachi, this single volume gathers and condenses an abundance of specialized knowledge, and includes a glossary, maps and charts, and expanded explanations of significant background issues.

The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament

Archaeology won't prove or disprove the Bible's truth claims. But archaeology, combined with other bodies of evidence like historical geography, extrabiblical texts, anthropological insights, and careful study of the writings of ancient Israel, allow us to reconstruct a reasonable picture of the ancient Israelites: how they lived, what they thought, and what their Scriptures mean. In Studying the Ancient Israelites, a seasoned professor uses accessible writing and an inviting page design to introduce students and serious readers to the foundations of our understanding of the people of the Old Testament.

A Guide to Sources and Methods

Studying the Ancient Israelites

Offers readers a concise introduction to the tools and data available for investigating the world of ancient Israel.

James C. Moyer

This updated edition of a classroom standard provides an accessible introduction to the literature, history, and social context of the Old Testament.

The Old Testament: Text and Context

John H. Walton and Victor H. Matthews provide an accessible passage-by-passage commentary on the archaeological and cultural background of the first five books of the Bible.

Genesis-Deuteronomy

Bible Background Commentary

Judges and Ruth

Tikva Frymer-Kensky

Bernard M. Levinson

This striking new contribution to gender studies demonstrates the essential role of Israelite and Near East law in the historical analysis of gender. The theme of these studies of Babylonian, Hittite, Assyrian, and Israelite law is this: What is the significance of gender in the formulation of ancient law and custom? Feminist scholarship is enriched by these studies in family history and the status of women in antiquity. At the same time, conventional legal history is repositioned, as new and classical texts are interpreted from the vantage point of feminist theory and social history. Papers from SBL Biblical Law Section form the core of this collection.

Gender and Law in the Hebrew Bible and the Ancient Near East

Commonly asked questions that will help readers to more quickly gain a basic understanding of the biblical world and the role of the prophets.

Victor H. Matthews

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