Social World of Ancient Israel

Like the title says it has a lot of really good info in it but this work is so immersed in liberal scholarship. Not for the novice and definitely not for those that don't have discernment. But if you're a studied person and you're grounded in your faith this one is a good addition that will further your research and get you verifying facts.

The people of ancient Israel lived in a world where people's roles were clearly defined. Understanding these roles is an important part of interpreting scripture. Biblical scholars Victor Matthews and Don Benjamin attempt to so in their book THE SOCIAL WORLD OF ANCIENT ISRAEL. The book begins with an overview of an Israelite village. The book is then divided into eighteen chapters, each which discusses a different person in the society of the ancient Israelites. The book includes the obvious people such as parents. Monarch, prophet, and religious leaders, but also includes interesting tidbits about slaves, storytellers, widows, and virgins. The book covers a specific period of time, from the Patriarchs until the Babylonian Exile. It is comprehensive enough for scholarly work, but is accessible enough for people involved in preaching or advanced scripture study.