Israelite Religions

by Richard S. Hess

Archaeological excavation in the Holy Land has exploded with the resurgence of interest in the historical roots of the biblical Israelites. Israelite Religions offers Bible students and interested lay leaders a survey of the major issues and approaches that constitute the study of ancient Israelite religion. Unique among other books on the subject, Israelite Religions takes the Bible seriously as a historical source, balancing the biblical material with relevant evidence from archaeological finds.

Genres: Biblical Studies, Old Testament, History, Religion, Christianity, Historical, Christian

432 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2007

About the author

Richard S. Hess (PhD, Hebrew Union College) is Earl S. Kalland Professor of Old Testament and Semitic Languages at Denver Seminary in Littleton, Colorado, and editor of the Denver Journal. He is the author or editor of more than twenty-five books, including Israelite Religions, Song of Songs in the Baker Commentary on the Old Testament Wisdom and Psalms, and the commentary on Joshua in the Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries series.

Reviews

[Robert Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a fantastic introduction and elaboration to many of the critical issues surrounding the study of Ancient Israelite history and religion. Hess has an overall conservative approach to the text, for which he provides evidence, though it may not be to everyone's satisfaction. Nevertheless, his surveys of past scholarship are invaluable for those who want to understand the state of biblical studies. I see myself returning to this book again and again for refreshers on archaeology for the different periods of the monarchy and the discussions behind them. My only regret with this book is that I did not read it earlier.

[Daniel Supimpa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hess' work is a valuable conservative overview of a vast catalogue on archeological and historiographical data about ancient Israel (with over 50 pages of bibliographical references!) with a focus on the period of the Iron Age (c. 1200 BC - 586 BC). I believe Hess succeeds in his purpose of producing "an initial body of data that can be used for the study of Israelite religion" (14). Readers will find a helpful catalogue and interaction of sources that are written in an accessible though still critically engaged style. The title "religionS" already gives a hint of Hess' discoveries on the complexity of ancient Israelite religion, which, according to him, confirm the biblical testimony that Israel was constantly divided between the worship of Yahweh and other deities.

After setting out his purpose, Hess defines religion as "the service and worship of the divine or supernatural through a system of attitudes, beliefs and practices" (22). Here, the author exposes a key methodological distinction of his project, between the study of theology, "which emphasizes what the Bible suggests should be believed," and the study of religion, which "is more concerned with what ancient Israelites actually did believe," through the analysis of "material culture and extrabiblical inscriptions as much as on the biblical text itself" (22).

The development of Hess argument is basically chronological:
The first part concerns the foundations for the study of religion. In chapter 2, he surveys the field of the study of religion from the emergence of the disciplines of anthropology and sociology in the mid-19th century to the early 21st century. In chapter 3, Hess brings forth the previous approaches to Israelite religion.

The second part discusses the period leading to the formation of monarchic Israel (up to 13th century BC). Chapters 4 and 5 analyze the ancient cultures surrounding Canaan during the Middle and Late Bronze Age (the cultural "backdrop" to Israel in the Iron Age). Here, Hess focuses upon the plausibility of borrowing from Israel towards the mythical and cultic elements as found in texts such as those of Emar and Mari (of course, not without transformations that Yahwism would naturally incur). Together with chapters 6 and 7, that analyze the Pentateuch, Hess demonstrate similarities and dissimilarities between both Israelite and non-Israelite literatures with respects to their religions.

Part three deals with the Iron Age (13th to 6th century BC). Chapters 8 to 10 give a detailed account of the textual and archeological evidence of the period. For being closer to the present time, there is way more data to be explored and connected as much as possible. For Hess, there is evidence that Yahwism and polytheism existed in a continuum (330-332).

Finally, part four concludes the chronological exploration. Chapter 11 outlines the changes in Israelite religion during and immediately after the Babylonian Exile, especially the increasing monolatry and centrality of ethical religion around the Temple in Jerusalem. Chapter 12, thus, brings the concluding comments to the whole book.

It is clear that Hess masters the field. His take on the areas of Late Bronze Age, the Kantillet 'Ajrud Texts (esp. 283ff.) and onomastic (the use of names as evidence of religious fidelity) are particularly stimulating. However, his writing style is sometimes non-linear. Some sections feel more like excursus than part of a logical argument (e.g. the section of "Death and Resurrection" on pp. 265-268). Even the revision of the text did not receive enough attention (e.g. defective footnotes on p. 146, Robert Alter's book on p.354). Still, Hess' work can be kept as a good entryway into the huge discussion of biblical religion.

[Jonah Wilson · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a dense work that catalogs what the title suggests: the diversity of Israelite religions. There certainly isn't anything inherently negative about this book, but I didn't rate it highly because it was difficult for me to work through. Those who have the deepest of interests in the history of the societies surrounding ancient Israel from around 1200-500 BCE will find this fascinating. For others more interested in the theology and narrative of the Bible, there is less here.

[Geof Sage · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thorough and balanced overview of the archeological and biblical evidence for the plurality of manifestations of religion in bronze/iron age Israel/Judah/Canaan. Generally conservative in conclusions, presents all options without committing definitively to any one position.

Chapters 8, 9, and 12 seemed a little cursory compared to the rest and collectively could have used more development.

[Jeremiah W.]

Overly positivistic assessment of biblical materials and related/cognate materials (text and archaeology) that presupposes Yahweh as the God of Judeo-Christian Monotheism. Largely ignores political, social, and economic factors.

[Marc Stremciuc · Rating 5 out of 5]

Came to a new understanding of the circumstances behind the introduction of Zoroastrianism in the second temple. Wonderful scholarship.

[Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative and sophisticated book! Highly recommend.

[Brian Collins · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good survey of the relevant materials. From an roughly evangelical perspective, but it gave far too much ground to critical theories at various points.

[Jared Saltz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hess provides a conservative-leaning but moderate treatment of Israelite religion(s) suitable as an introduction to this fascinating and highly debate subject. Hess seems to have addressed the book to seminarians or undergrads who are more or less familiar with the biblical text, but have had little practice in excavatory readings of the text alongside comparative studies and archaeology. He rightly emphasizes that Israelite religion was not a monolithic structure that never changed, but rather a diachronic development that included synchronic dissimilarities. I.e.,, what was viewed as acceptable religious practice was not the same for all peoples and all places in Syro-Palestine, and even particular groups evolved in terms of what they viewed as orthodox behavior. Hess does an excellent job making comparative religious texts and archaeology accessible for students (this could easily be used for advanced undergrads), including original translations for key texts in the body of his book so that students don't need to track them down elsewhere. Not to be overlooked is the usefulness of the work--Hess includes detailed outlines at the beginning of each chapter, clear and useful headings and subheadings, and summaries at the end of each chapter. The prose is clear and unassuming. This is a fantastic resource for people interested in a different (sometimes speculative) look into a fascinating subject. If I had a quibble, I would note that his sections on religious iconography left something to be desired and that the Exilic and Postexilic sections were not adequately represented (something that would have been difficult to do considering the already lengthy nature of the book for his audience!).

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book from and evangelical who is an expert in the field. I will have a published review in the journal Presbyterion on this book, so see there for a fuller review. However, large portions of this book are more in the genre of a reference work for ANE artifacts and texts. I don't recommend most people to read straight through it, and I would only recommend it to scholars or those who have an absolute passion for archaeology and the study of ancient religious practices.

Hess concludes that the religious practices of ancient Israel were many and varried. There is no clean line between the orthodox and the Baal worshipers. Syncretism took different forms and different degrees. Nevertheless, and orthodox core (i.e., Yahwism) can be traced back to very early times (read, Moses or earlier). Furthermore, the orthodox practices (i.e., though in conformity with the theology and prescriptions of the Old Testament) stand in marked contrast to the practices of other ANE cultures suggesting that Yahweh worship was distinct and an inexplicable way (apart from divine revelation).

[Todd Miles · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have never read anything like what Hess attempts. I just do not have the background to evaluate his claims, though he seems conservative. The book seems expansive and exhaustive–which the reviewers also suggest. Very helpful in my book research.

[Beau · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned a lot from this book. I haven't read much about archeology before, and this book has opened my eyes to various cultural background issues in the OT that I had never thought about before.