Description
A History of Ancient Israel tells the story of Israel's history, with the biblical record enriched by the latest historical research, archaeological discoveries, and geographical insights. Beginning with the founding of the nation in 2091 B.C., Grisanti and Bolen work through the history of Israel in chronological order through the Exile and Return. This up-to-date resource incorporates the latest findings and discoveries to reveal what happened and why. By synthesizing a massive amount of data from various disciplines, A History of Ancient Israel provides a fresh understanding of how Israel's history unfolded, answering key questions about the context behind the text and showing how the Old Testament fits together.
Thoughtful, thorough, engaging, and filled with fascinating insights, Grisanti and Bolen offer a serious and accessible survey of Israel's history that helps readers understand how the Old Testament fits together.
Praise for A History of Ancient Israel:
Writing a history of ancient Israel is a daunting task that demands a wide range of expertise. To their credit, Grisanti and Bolen offer an accessible overview that seeks to correlate biblical materials with other historical sources. Although some may interpret the evidence differently, Grisanti and Bolen’s book offers valuable insights into many complex issues. This is an excellent resource for anyone interested in ancient Israel’s history.
—T. Desmond Alexander, Senior Research Fellow in Biblical Studies, Union Theological College, Belfast, Northern Ireland
The authors have provided us with a unique treasure, a history of Israel that distinguishes itself in three ways. First, this history embraces the Bible for what it is, God speaking to us through time and place to reveal who he is and how he thinks about us. Second, this history tells a story which is fully grounded. The authors write not just from their office desks but from their experiences in the Holy Land teaching the geography and archaeology of the biblical world. Context matters and these authors take that seriously. And third, this history is filled with an anthology of scholarly voices, some hold the authors’ views and others do not. As such, it models how Christian scholars might best engage the thoughts of others, even those with whom they disagree.
—John A. Beck, author, Our Daily Bread Bible Atlas, The Holy Land for Christian Travelers, and A Walking Tour of the Gospels, Adjunct Faculty, Jerusalem University College
Do we need another evangelically oriented history of ancient Israel? Because of new archaeological discoveries in the past generation, it is imperative to continually reevaluate and redefine our understanding of ancient Israel's past and its relevance for the Christian. In the tradition of Merril's Kingdom of Priests (which is now nearly forty years old), Grisanti and Bolen have done the evangelical community well by writing a thorough volume, up-to-date in its treatment of background material from the ancient Near East, as well as fully cognizant of current historical issues that are debated in the academic community. They are to be commended for this rich and detailed resource.
—Mark W. Chavalas, Emeritus Professor of Ancient Near Eastern History, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
I heartily endorse this up-to-date history of Israel, written from a thoroughly evangelical perspective that understands the biblical account as Scripture. The authors are aware of various approaches to the subject and maturely address issues of method. To their credit, they devote the lion’s share of the volume to the actual history of Israel as recorded in Scripture, supplementing their study with archaeological evidence. The volume is sure to become a standard within evangelical circles.
—Robert B. Chisholm, Jr., Chair and Senior Professor of Old Testament Studies, Dallas Theological Seminary
Evangelicals will applaud the publication of this much-needed, up-to-date history of Israel. Grisanti and Bolen have provided us with an outstanding volume that is extraordinarily thorough, well-balanced, and reader/student friendly. Every evangelical pastor, scholar, and serious student of the Bible should consider adding this book to their library.
—J. Daniel Hays, Professor of Biblical Studies Emeritus, Ouachita Baptist University, Senior Professor of Old Testament, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Scholars, pastors, students, and well-motivated laypeople should welcome this tour de force on ancient Israel's history by Michael Grisanti and Todd Bolen. It stands as the most comprehensive history of Israel from an evangelical perspective, and it should serve as the gold standard for decades to come. The authors explain well the disciplines of historiography (history writing), archaeology, and more, topics often misunderstood or misused in evangelical and non-evangelical circles alike. They show that the study of history not only uses the Bible's written texts, but also written and non-written sources outside the Bible, and yet they also acknowledge the necessary intersection of history and theology. They delve deeply into all the important historical issues from the patriarchal to the post-exilic periods. This book will serve well as a complement to overviews of the message and theology of the Old Testament. I recommend it highly!
—David M. Howard, Jr., Professor of Old Testament, Bethlehem College and Seminary, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Professor of Old Testament, Emeritus, Bethel Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota
Michael Grisanti and Todd Bolen have graced us with an intelligent, accessible, and thorough accounting of the history of Israel as presented in the Old Testament and supported by archaeology and extra-biblical texts. Their work is based on their solid commitment to Scripture as God’s Word and their conviction that the Bible reliably presents history from the time of the patriarchs to the post-exilic period. I heartily recommend A History of Ancient Israel to all serious students of the Old Testament.
—Tremper Longman III, PhD, Distinguished Scholar and Professor Emeritus of Biblical Studies
Westmont College
A History of Ancient Israel: From Abraham to Exile is a much-needed, up-to-date textbook encompassing Israel’s story from Genesis to Malachi. Grisanti and Bolen have produced a thoughtful and highly accessible textbook that will undoubtedly become a mainstay for evangelical seminary students and upper-division graduate students alike. It is destined to supplant Eugene Merrill’s Kingdom of Priests as the most thorough textbook for the history of ancient Israel written from an evangelical conservative perspective. Many scholars (myself included) will not agree with their dating of the early phases of Israel’s story (e.g., the dating of the exodus). Nevertheless, there can be no question that Grisanti and Bolen have produced a careful, consistent, and coherent treatment that incorporates the latest archaeological discoveries and geographical research throughout the Biblical World. The extensive treatment of the Divided Kingdom is a particular strength, highlighting the authors’ extensive research and background in this incredibly important period in Israel’s history. Most of all, Grisanti and Bolen are consummate students and passionate teachers of the Hebrew Scriptures and, especially, the biblical places where they occurred. Their deep love for the text and the many generations of students that they have inspired (myself included!) is evident throughout.
—Chris McKinny, Associate Professor of Archaeology, Lipscomb University
The authors provide a sweeping narrative of the Bible while keeping true to an orthodox and high view of scripture. This work updates and replaces Eugene Merrill’s Kingdom of Priests; which is fitting that Gene’s volume would be updated and advanced by his students. As an archaeologist, I am pleased to see that it is informed by the disciplines of historical-geography and some recent archaeological discoveries. I highly recommend A History of Ancient Israel to those who have a high view of scripture but also desire to study the Old Testament within its historical and cultural context.
—Steven M. Ortiz, Director, Lanier Center for Archaeology, Professor of Archaeology and Biblical Studies, Lipscomb University
A History of Ancient Israel: From Abraham to Exile by Michael Grisanti and Todd Bolen is a thoughtful and engaging introduction to Israel's history, reflecting years of teaching, firsthand experience in the biblical lands, and careful historical research. Writing from the conviction that the biblical text is a trustworthy historical source, the authors skillfully integrate Scripture with archaeological discoveries, extra-biblical sources, and geographical insights to present a balanced and compelling account. Clear, well organized, and accessible, this volume will benefit university students, pastors, Bible teachers, and interested lay readers alike. The accompanying resources through Zondervan's TextbookPlus further enhance its usefulness. I enthusiastically recommend this excellent work to anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the Bible in its historical setting.
—Carl Rasmussen, Professor Emeritus of Old Testament, Bethel University
Reliable. Expansive. Clear. What would a history of ancient Israel look like if the Bible was taken seriously? A History of Ancient Israel by Michael Grisanti and Todd Bolen shows us. The authors are seasoned scholars of the Old Testament, ancient history, and archaeology as well as each spending extensive time on the ground in Israel in recent decades. This book does not shy away from the critical debates that swirl around Israel’s ancient history. Readers can have confidence because no history of ancient Israel prioritizes the evidence in the Bible more than this much-needed volume. It is easy to recommend this outstanding book.
—Gary Edward Schnittjer, Distinguished professor of Old Testament for Cairn Theological Seminary at Cairn University, Award-winning author of Torah Story, The Israel Story, Old Testament Use of Old Testament, and The Verses We Hate
The debate about how many of the events in the Old Testament actually happened has been raging for many centuries, leaving many Christians with questions about these events and how they fit into the broader ancient Near East. Michael Grisanti and Todd Bolen have now provided us with an excellent summary of how the Old Testament can be read with a high view of Scripture. While evangelicals will continue to debate exact dates and interpretations, this book will be an important reference work for many years in the future for those seeking to determine historical details in the Old Testament.
—Charlie Trimm, Associate Professor and Chair of Old Testament (Undergraduate Division), Interim Program Director of Biblical and Theological Studies, Talbot School of Theology, Biola University
These two scholars have written a very readable, but well-researched history of Israel. Their time spent in Israel and working on archaeological digs provides a fascinating wealth of material to draw upon for writing this book. It highlights important archaeological finds, but also warns of the dangers of relying too much on the so-called “facts” of archaeology without realizing that they are interpreted materials also. It often mentions places where scholars disagree on topics related to the areas of the history of Israel and then provides their own very balanced handling of these issues (see especially the introduction). At a time when it is very difficult to write a history of ancient Israel because of all the controversies surrounding the issues, these two scholars have done an excellent job of creating an important resource for understanding the history of Israel. I highly recommend this book for those wishing to have a more in-depth understanding of ancient Israel’s history.
—Paul D. Wegner, Senior Distinguished Professor of the Old Testament Studies, Gateway Seminary
Michael Grisanti and Todd Bolen’s A History of Ancient Israel: From Abraham to Exile promises to become a go-to source for Bible readers seeking to understand the mighty acts of God throughout biblical history. The book’s energetic approach embraces Scripture on its own terms while drawing on a wealth of information from archaeology, geography, and ancient Near Eastern texts to illustrate the biblical account. With special emphasis on establishing a chronology of biblical events, A History of Ancient Israel anchors not only a sequence of things that happened but the ongoing revelation of God in a down-to-earth world.
—Paul H. Wright, President Emeritus, Jerusalem University College, Jerusalem, Israel
About the Authors
Michael A. Grisanti (PhD, Dallas Theological Seminary) is Distinguished Research Professor of Old Testament, Old Testament Department Chair, and Director of The Master’s Seminary Israel Studies program at The Master’s Seminary. He is the author of several articles and books in the field of Old Testament studies.
Todd Bolen (PhD, Dallas Theological Seminary) is Professor of Biblical Studies at The Master’s University. For more than a decade, he lived and taught at the university’s Israel Bible Extension (IBEX) campus near Jerusalem. He is the founder of BiblePlaces.com, the creator of the Photo Companion to the Bible, and the author of scholarly and popular articles on biblical history and geography.