Readings from the Ancient Near East: Primary Sources for Old Testament Study (Encountering Biblical Studies)

Encountering Biblical Studies

by Bill T. Arnold

Essential to a proper understanding of the Old Testament is a knowledge of the political, historical, and theological environment of the ancient Near East. While there is an abundance of material explaining this environment, primary source texts are often unavailable or inaccessible to the beginning Old Testament student. This volume in the Encountering Biblical Studies series fills that void. Readings from the Ancient Near East takes the student through a wide variety of primary source texts from the ancient Near East that illuminate every book of the Old Testament. It is the companion volume to Encountering the Old Testament, coauthored by Bill Arnold and Bryan Beyer. The editors have compiled this volume with the beginning Old Testament student in mind. The selections are intended to move a learner with little or no knowledge of the ancient Near East to a basic understanding of its significant texts and authors. Texts spanning more than two thousand years include Sumerian creation accounts, epic literature from Mesopotamia, cultic ritual texts from Egypt, and prophetic references from Syria. Readings from the Ancient Near East will surely become a standard text for professors, students, pastors, Sunday school teachers, and serious lay readers.

Genres: History, Old Testament, Nonfiction, Reference, Theology, Religion, Textbooks

Paperback Bunko

First published September 1, 2002

About the author

Bill T. Arnold (PhD, Hebrew Union College) is Paul S. Amos Professor of Old Testament Interpretation at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky. He is the author or editor of numerous books, including Encountering the Book of Genesis, Dictionary of the Old Testament: Historical Books, A Guide to Biblical Hebrew Syntax, and a commentary on 1 and 2 Samuel. He is also the coauthor (with Bryan E. Beyer) of Encountering the Old Testament.

Reviews

[Neil Kruger · Rating 4 out of 5]

A valuable to resource for Old Testament study. While it is debatable whether other documents from the Ancient Near East shed much light on the biblical material, I still found this useful for comparison. The similarities are superficial, but the differences are striking.

[Jacob]

R.b. Micheal Heiser via The Unseen Realm

[Kaci · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like this, but I'm hopping around so I'll just mark it read for the time being.

[Henry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good set of ANE texts.

[Kbkimes · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is what it is. I have to confess I am not too interested in the topic.

[Kristen Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great resource!