Divination in Ancient Israel and its Near Eastern Environment: A Socio-Historical Investigation
Overview
In this revealing study, the author suggests that ancient Israel was a “magic society” like those around it, and similar in many respects to a number of magic-using “savage” societies studied by modern social anthropology. Although the Old Testament attempts to distinguish between priestly and prophetic divination, this distinction was not sharply drawn in ancient times. References to divination in fact are found in all genres of Israelite literature, implying that many of these practices were performed throughout Israelite society.
In the Logos edition, all Scripture references in Divination in Ancient Israel and its Near Eastern Environment link to the original language texts and the Bibles in your library. By employing Logos’ advanced search features, you can find the exact topics or passages you’re looking for. Whether you are encountering the cultural context of the Bible for the first time, or you’re working on advanced archaeological, historical, or textual research, the Logos edition is right for you.
- Preface by the author
- Bibliographical references and indexes
Cryer’s investigation of divination in ancient Israel is a masterful synthesis of social and historical analyses of an important yet neglected topic.
—Ronald E. Simkins, Catholic Biblical Quarterly
- Title: Divination in Ancient Israel and its Near Eastern Environment: A Socio-Historical Investigation
- Author: Frederick H. Cryer
- Publisher: Sheffield
- Publication Date: 2009
- Pages: 142