Ancient Israel: What Do We Know and How Do We Know It? rev. ed.

by Lester L. Grabbe

Publisher:

T&T Clark

, 2017

Overview

In Ancient Israel, Lester L. Grabbe sets out to summarize what we know through a survey of sources and how we know it by a discussion of methodology and by evaluating the evidence. The most basic question about the history of ancient Israel, how do we know what we know, leads to the fundamental questions of Grabbe’s work: what are the sources for the history of Israel and how do we evaluate them? How do we make them ‘speak’ to us through the fog of centuries?

Grabbe focuses on original sources, including inscriptions, papyri, and archaeology. He examines the problems involved in historical methodology and deals with the major issues surrounding the use of the biblical text when writing a history of this period. Ancient Israel provides an enlightening overview and critique of current scholarly debate. It can therefore serve as a ‘handbook’ or reference-point for those wanting a catalogue of original sources, scholarship, and secondary studies. Grabbe’s clarity of style makes this book eminently accessible not only to students of biblical studies and ancient history but also to the interested lay reader.

For this new edition the entire text has been reworked to take account of new archaeological discoveries and theories. There is a major expansion to include a comprehensive coverage of David and Solomon and more detailed information on specific kings of Israel throughout. Grabbe has also added material on the historicity of the Exodus, and provided a thorough update of the material on the later bronze age.

Key Features

• Guides the reader through the process of evaluating biblical texts, archaeological finds, and extrabiblical documents to reconstruct a picture of the past.
• Highlights the significant discrepancies and debates among scholars regarding figures and events.
• Integrates non-biblical data such as archaeology, incriptions and texts to provide a more complete and nuanced picture of ancient Israel and its place in the wider Near Eastern world.

Contents

Part I: Introduction

• Principles and Method of Investigating the History of Ancient Israel

Part II: Historical Investigations

• Second Millennium: Middle and Late Bronze Ages (2000-1300 BCE)
• Late Bronze II to Iron IIA (ca. 1300-900 BCE): From Settlement to Statehood
• Iron IIB (900-720 BCE): Rise and Fall of the Northern Kingdom
• Iron IIC (720-539 BCE): Peak and Decline of Judah

Part III: Conclusions

• “The End of the Matter”: What Can We Say About Israelite and Judahite History?

Product Details

• Title: Ancient Israel: What Do We Know and How Do We Know It?
• Author: Lester L. Grabbe
• Edition: Revised Edition
• Publisher: T&T Clark
• Print Publication Date: 2017
• Logos Release Date: 2025
• Pages: 365
• Era: era:contemporary
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Reader Edition
• Subjects: Palestine › History--To 70 A.D; Palestine › Antiquities
• ISBNs: 9780567670434, 0567670430, 9780567670441, 0567670449, 9780567670458, 0567670457
• Resource ID: LLS:NCNTSRLWHTDTRVD
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2025-10-23T18:57:24Z

About Lester L. Grabbe

Lester L. Grabbe (Ph.D. Claremont) is Professor of Hebrew Bible and Early Judaism at the University of Hull, UK. He is the author of Wisdom of Solomon in this series, Good Kings and Bad Kings and A History of the Jews and Judaism in the Second Temple Period, Vol. 1 (included in the Second Temple Period Collection) and Can a “History of Israel” be Written? (included in the Studies in Old Testament Themes).