Table of Contents

1. Surveying Paths: An Essay about Humanities, Religion, History, and Israelite Religions 2. Of Cult Places and of Israelites 3. Architecture Parlante: Israelite Cult Places 4. Tangible Belief: The Material and Textual Aspects of Cultic Artifacts 5. Writ on Rock - Script on Stone 6. Israelite Religions in Israelian and Judahite Historiography and Historiosophy 7. Israelite Mantic Religions in Literary, Social, and Historical Contexts 8. Visions of a Foreign Land: Israelite Religions through Enemy Eyes 9. The Names of Israelite Gods 10. Israelite Religions: A Parallactic Synthesis Appendix: Khirbet Beit Lei: The Main Inscriptions

About the Author

Ziony Zevit is Distinguished Professor of Bible Northwest Semitic Languages at the American Jewish University, USA. He has published numerous works including Solving Riddles and the Anterior Construction in Classical Hebrew. The editor of Hebrew Studies, he is also on the editorial board of The Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research.

Reviews

"The most ambitious, the most sophisticated, the most important study of ancient Israelite religions ever undertaken. . . . The standard by which all works for a generation to come will be judged, and even then it may not be surpassed."--William G. Dever, University of Arizona

"Aimed at both scholar and layperson, [the book] is clearly written, and rich with illustration and example." - Professor Bill Propp, UC San Diego

"This is by far the most comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach to the subject of religion in Iron Age Israel ever undertaken. It is deep, synthetic, even-handed, often provocative, and at ever turn of the page, appropriately self-conscious with respect to the author's perspectives, biases, and methodologies. Throughout Zevit combines a close study of biblical texts, epigraphic remains, and archaeological data, and configures all of the evidence within a conceptual matrix that draws heavily upon methodological advances and models more commonly known to scholars at home in the comparative study of religions, and in the humanities generally. Its exhaustiveness and methodological sophistication make it an important reference work and its timeliness marks it as representing a turning point in biblical scholarship. One of the most appealing aspects of this book is its accessibility. Zevit has intended it for a diverse, but informed, audience. This book is written for the undergraduate and graduate students studying Bible, archaeology, and history, for seminary graduates, and for scholars. All students. In sum, this book is a formidable tour de force, a magnum opus. It rewards the interested reader with a wealth of information, new insights, and a number of directions for future research. It clarifies in many definitive ways the complexities involved with studying the religions of ancient Israel and provides a greater appreciation for the sheer diversity of forms of Israelite devotion and rituals. Its numerous charts, diagrams, maps, drawings, photos, tables, and copious footnotes, as well as its exhaustive indices and bibliography only add to its value. Doubtless, it will be a valuable scholarly resource for years to come, one that also will be the focus of much discussion and debate in a number of disciplines."--Scott B. Noegel, Journal of Hebrew Scriptures

"Zevit weighs in as a heavyweight, disclosing what can and cannot be said from archaeological, epigraphic, and literary data about the nature of Israelite religiosity in the ancient Near East. The chief value of this work for classroom instruction is its judicious survey of many articles, books, monographs, and aide-memoire biblical passages written on the religion of ancient Israel. This tome is packed with information and innovative interpretation. [Zevit's] hypothesis is persuasive and sound. All academic levels." --Z. Garber, Choice, June 2002

"Zevit's work is learned and suggestive, often brilliant...The breadth of Zevit's vision and his grasp of detail are outstanding." Times Literary Supplement, 31 May 2002

"This volume is a well-researched and referenced account of aspects of Israelite religion which is prefaced with a useful survey of the current methods of reading the Old Testament historically." --Theological Book Review Feed the Minds

"The evidence is superbly presented. The sheer volume of material that Zevit presents makes this book a valuable monograph. The clear arrangement of the material makes the book useful as a reference tool, and the analyses are always judicious."--Corrine

'a huge book by all standards...In conception and coverage, it is as complete a treatment of its subject as possible for one scholar, and results in an encyclopaedic work..will be an important reference point for many years to come'
*Themelios*

Title mention, 2007 edition
*Theologische Rundschau*