Memories of Ancient Israel: An Introduction to Biblical History--Ancient and Modern

by Philip R. Davies

Overview

Recent years have seen an explosion of writing on the history of Israel, prompted largely by definitive archaeological surveys and attempts to write a genuine archaeological history of ancient Israel and Judah. The scholarly world has also witnessed an intense confrontation between so-called minimalists and maximalists over the correct approach to the historicity of the Bible. Memories of Ancient Israel looks at the issues at stake in biblical history—the ideologies involved, the changing role of archaeology, and the influence of cultural contexts both ancient and modern. Philip Davies suggests a different way of defining the problem of "reliability" and "historicity" by employing the theory of cultural memory. In doing so, he provides a better explanation of how ancient societies constructed their past but also a penetrating insight into the ideological underpinnings of today's scholarly debates.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780664232887
Publisher:	Westminster John Knox Press
Publication date:	10/31/2008
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	192
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x (d)

About the Author

Philip R. Davies is Professor Emeritus of Biblical Studies at the University of Sheffield in England. He is the author of numerous influential books and articles on ancient Israelite history and religion.