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Products>Peoples of an Almighty God: Competing Religions in the Ancient World

Peoples of an Almighty God: Competing Religions in the Ancient World

Publisher:
, 2002
ISBN: 9780300140590
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Overview

Some ancient civilizations, notably the Babylonians and the Israelites, held fast to the belief that their particular god (or gods) were stronger than all other heavenly powers and gods combined, supremely able to protect their well-being and success as a nation. This belief (which resounds in the modern-day rallying cry "God is on our side") led to some foolhardy and rash decisions, particularly when it came to war. For a nation defeated or conquered by a foreign power inevitably faced the profound, perplexing question: "Why did our God, who has sworn to protect us, allow this to happen?"

Jonathan A. Goldstein turns to the religious literature of these ancient peoples to discover how they reconciled their beliefs with the realities of history. In a magnificent blend of several academic disciples (literary criticism, political theory, biblical and classical history), he compares and contrasts the responses of different eras and nations – from the Israelites, Babylonians, and Egyptians to the Zoroastrians, Iranians, and Persians under Alexander the Great. Goldstein’s close readings of literature written following such devastating events as the fall of the Israelites to the Assyrians and the Babylonians demonstrate that theology, far from being a static and unchanging set of beliefs, evolves with the course of history. Revealing how each defeat helped to shape and define the religious beliefs of the conquered, Peoples of an Almighty God clearly demonstrates that no belief can remain unchanged or untouched by the beliefs of other people.

In the Logos edition, this volume is enhanced by amazing functionality. Important terms link to dictionaries, encyclopedias, and a wealth of other resources in your digital library. Perform powerful searches to find exactly what you’re looking for. Take the discussion with you using tablet and mobile apps. With Logos Bible Software, the most efficient and comprehensive research tools are in one place, so you get the most out of your study.

If you like this title be sure to check out the Anchor Yale Bible Reference Library (29 vols.).

Resource Experts
  • Explores how ancient peoples reconciled their beliefs with the realities of history
  • Discusses how theology evolves with the course of history
  • Demonstrates that no belief can remain unchanged or untouched by the beliefs of other people
  • Peoples of an Almighty God and the Israelite Example
  • The Babylonians as a People of an Almighty God
  • Peoples of a Nearly Almighty God: The Egyptians and the Zoroastrian Iranians
  • Jews and Babylonians, from the Reign of Ahaz to the Accession of Nabonidus (ca. 733-556 B.C.E.)
  • The Reign of Nabonidus and the Fall of the Kingdom of Babylon (556-539 B.C.E.)
  • Deutero-Isaiah’s Reactions to the Career and Fall of Nabonidus and the Policies of Cyrus
  • The Material History of the Babylonians and Jews from Cyrus to the Early Reign of Artaxerxes I (538-464 B.C.E), except as Reflected by Daniel
  • Daniel 1–7 and Other Texts of the Babylonians and the Jews (538-464 B.C.E)
  • The Jews and Babylonians from the Death of Xerxes I to the Eve of the Great Expedition of Alexander (465–334 B.C.E.)
  • The Career of Alexander the Great
  • How the Persians, Babylonians, and Jews Reacted to Alexander
  • Babylonians, Jews, and Iranians under the Successor Dynasties
  • The Reigns of Antiochus III and Seleucis IV
  • The Reigns of Antiochus IV and V
  • The Last STruggles of Judas Maccabaeus and Conclusion
For scholars of ancient Near Eastern civilizations, this work by Goldstein, author of I Maccabees and II Maccabees in the Anchor Yale Bible commentaries series, offers a chronological textbook survey on history, culture, and the power of belief to craft a national identity. Replete with prophecy and apocalyptic politics, culture, and conquest, this latest entry in the Anchor Yale Bible Reference Library (29 vols.) series clearly excels at presenting broad, sweeping historical concepts.

—Sandra Collins, Library Journal

Jonathan A. Goldstein studied at Jewish Theological Seminary and received a doctorate at Columbia University, where he was an instructor in history for two years. He was a professor of ancient history and classics at the University of Iowa from 1962 until his retirement in 1997. In addition to many scholarly articles, Goldstein is the author of the definitive commentary on the First and Second Books of Macabbees for the Anchor Yale Bible.

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    $59.99