Battles of the Bible

Even though I am still reading through this book, I really have appreciated its worth. One of the things I respect about this book is its perspective. Instead of assuming that the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible) and the extra-biblical accounts aren't correct the authors take the texts as they are and analyze them from a modern military view. This adds a nice way of seeing the genius in the Biblical combatants. The idea that more than military power a knowledge of the land of Israel helped in the defeat of at times armies of greater numbers. There are a number of topographical maps that shows the regions of combat mentioned in the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible) and how a good understanding of the locals helps in winning the wars or loosing the wars. It also has pictures of weapons used and also the landscape. Because this is a book written from a military view, there may be some people who will have a hard time reading it all the way through. Yet, if you are interesting in taking the Biblical accounts and understanding the wars this is a good book to read.

This is the best hardbound I ever bought for < $8.00! If you like ancient history, archeology, and the Bible, then you'll love this book! This brings the Hebrew Scriptures alive in a way that never happened for me before. Whatever one's religion, this book will only enlighten, not offend, the reader. I encourage you to buy this book - now!

For any serious scholar of the Bible, Middle East, or military history, this book is a must-have! It hits the trifecta of excellent research, modern relevence, and an exciting read. While the authors tend to be a bit skeptical of divine influence, they still illustrate how the Bible remains a truthful historical account. The authors take the reader on a detailed look of the history of the ancient Israelites from the days following the Exodus to the gripping accounts of the war of the Maccabees. They regularly use not only the Bible, but extra historical accounts to make their case in detail. It becomes all the more interesting when they demonstrate how other armies used similar tactics in the same area, be they Israelites, Arabs, Crusaders, Turks, or the British. Again, I highly recommend this book for wishing to learn a more complete picture of the wonderful book, the Bible.

my interest in this book was as a military historian. it satisfied that interest very well. details of battles and campaigns is readily understandable and extremely professional. the authors amplify discussions of tactics and strategy with authoratative discussions of social, economic, and political factors affecting the military events. herein is the enormous bonus of this book: as a practising but not particularly academic christian i was provided with a profound grasp of the historical time-line of the bible; fleshed out anthropologicly as never before. a rabbi friend borrowed my first copy and won't give it back!

This is a rare find. By focusing on the geo-political realities of Israel, this allows the authors to bring a new light in the accounts of the Old Testament. It relates an exciting story of the struggles and establishment of Israel in the heartland of the Palestinian Land Bridge from 1000BC to 100BC - an often neglected historical period in military history. It unravels the brilliant uses of political and military intrigues by a people who struggled to establish and maintain a kingdom amongst conflict after conflict. A real tour de force!