The Early History of God: Yahweh and the Other Deities in Ancient IsraelForeword by Patrick D. Miller In this remarkable, acclaimed history of the development of monotheism, Mark S. Smith explains how Israel's religion evolved from a cult of Yahweh as a primary deity among many to a fully defined monotheistic faith with Yahweh as sole god. Repudiating the traditional view that Israel was fundamentally different in culture and religion from its Canaanite neighbors, this provocative book argues that Israelite religion developed, at least in part, from the religion of Canaan. Drawing on epigraphic and archaeological sources, Smith cogently demonstrates that Israelite religion was not an outright rejection of foreign, pagan gods but, rather, was the result of the progressive establishment of a distinctly separate Israelite identity. This thoroughly revised second edition ofThe Early History of God includes a substantial new preface by the author and a foreword by Patrick D. Miller. |
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Great Treatment of Israelite Monotheism
User Review - Jonathan Becker - Christianbook.comSix months ago, I wouldn't have dreamed of picking up Smith's "Early History of God." However, I decided to give it a try, and I was pleasantly surprised. For one, Smith has earned a reputation as a ... Read full review
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Well researched and interesting -- but clearly intentionally biased in both research and authoring.
Chock-full, I believe intentionally, of assumptions that remain unproven but that are presented as confirmed indisputable fact.
Useful for drawing historical sources from. Worthless for drawing truly meaningful conclusions.
Common terms and phrases
According Anat Ancient Israel appears Archaeology argued Asherah Astarte attested Baal background belonged Bible biblical called Canaan Canaanite Canaanite Myth century chapter child sacrifice City continued criticism Cross cult of Yahweh cultic culture dead deities described descriptions Deuteronomistic discussion divine early Eastern element epithet Essays evidence example expressed Ezekiel figure further goddess Gods Hebrew History idem imagery indicate inscriptions interpretation involved Iron Age Isaiah Israelite religion Jerusalem Jewish Judges kingdom Kings language Late later Literature material means monarchy Monotheism noted offered Origins passages perhaps period Phoenician political practices present Press prophetic Psalm references reflect religious represented role royal scholars Semitic Sheffield Smith Society solar sources stand Studies suggest symbol temple Testament texts tion tradition tree Ugaritic Ugaritic texts Univ various verse worship York
Popular passages
Page xliv - JAOS Journal of the American Oriental Society JBL Journal of Biblical Literature JCS Journal of Cuneiform Studies JJS Journal of Jewish Studies JNES Journal of Near Eastern Studies...
Page 3 - lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and when they play the harlot after their gods...
Page 26 - Not one raises his head among the Nine Bows. Desolation is for Tehenu; Hatti is pacified; Plundered is the Canaan with every evil; Carried off is Ashkelon; seized upon is Gezer; Yanoam is made as that which does not exist; Israel is laid waste, his seed is not; Hurru is become a widow for Egypt! All lands together, they are pacified...
Page 43 - And the children of Dan set up for themselves the graven image : and Jonathan, the son of Gershom, the son of Moses, he and his sons were priests to the tribe of the Danites until the day of the captivity of the land.
Page xlv - SBLDS Society of Biblical Literature Dissertation Series SBLMS Society of Biblical Literature Monograph Series...
Bibliographic information
| Title | The Early History of God: Yahweh and the Other Deities in Ancient Israel Biblical resource series |
| Author | Mark S. Smith |
| Contributor | Patrick D. Miller |
| Edition | reprint |
| Publisher | Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2002 |
| ISBN | 080283972X, 9780802839725 |
| Length | 243 pages |
| Subjects | › Religion / Comparative Religion Religion / History Social Science / Sociology of Religion |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |