Ancient Near Eastern Thought and the Old Testament: Introducing the Conceptual World of the Hebrew BibleMuch of the Old Testament seems strange to contemporary readers. However, as we begin to understand how ancient people viewed the world, the Old Testament becomes more clearly a book that stands within its ancient context as it also speaks against it. John Walton provides here a thoughtful introduction to the conceptual world of the ancient Near East. Walton surveys the literature of the ancient Near East and introduces the reader to a variety of beliefs about God, religion, and the world. In helpful sidebars, he provides examples of how such studies can bring insight to the interpretation of specific Old Testament passages. Students and pastors who want to deepen their understanding of the Old Testament will find this a helpful and instructive study. |
Contents
7 | |
15 | |
29 | |
41 | |
The Gods | 87 |
Temples and Rituals | 113 |
State and Family Religion | 135 |
Cosmic Geography | 165 |
Cosmology and Cosmogony | 179 |
Human Origins and Role | 203 |
and Omens | 239 |
Context of LifeCities | 275 |
Guidelines for LifeLaw | 287 |
Pondering the Future on Earth and after Death | 313 |
Other editions - View all
Ancient Near Eastern Thought and the Old Testament: Introducing the ... John H. Walton Limited preview - 2018 |
Ancient Near Eastern Thought and the Old Testament: Introducing the ... John H. Walton No preview available - 2018 |
Common terms and phrases
A. R. Millard Abusch afterlife Akkadian Ancient Mesopotamia ancient Near East ancient Near Eastern ancient world ANET archetypal Assmann Assyrian Bible biblical text Bottéro Brill cognitive environment Comparative Exploration comparative studies concept concerning considered context control attributes cosmic geography cosmology cosmos covenant Creation Accounts cult cultic culture dead deity destinies discussion divine earth Egypt Egyptian Eisenbrauns Enki Enlil Enuma Elish Epic existence extispicy Family Religion function Genesis genre Gilgamesh God’s gods heaven Hebrew Helsinki historiography Hittite Horowitz human Ibid idea identified Inanna interpretation Israel Israelite justice king kingship Leiden literary literature Marduk Mesopotamia millennium Myths Neo-Assyrian nephesh netherworld observed offer Old Babylonian Old Testament omens one’s ontology oracles person portrayed Prophecy prophets RANE realm refer religious ritual role scholars Shamash Sheol suggest Sumerian tablet temple theology tion Toorn Ugaritic understanding University Press Winona Lake wisdom worship Yahweh