The Israelites

In The Israelites: History, Archaeology, Social Structure, And Religion, B.S.J. Isserlin draws upon his years of experience and expertise in directed archaeological fieldwork in Jaffa and Mikhomret, Israel, Sicily, Greece, and Spain, as well as his years as president of the British Association for Jewish Studies, and head of the Department of Semitic Studies as the university of Leeds, England, to bring to the reader an impressive overview and survey of ancient Israelite culture. Beginning with a survey of the geography and resources of the land, the origins and affinities of the Israelites, their history and social structure, Professor Isserlin moves on to their material cultures (towns, villages, architecture, agricultures, industries, crafts, trade and economics, warfare); and concludes with an informative survey and commentary on their language, writing, texts, religion, and art. Wonderfully illustrated throughout, Professor Isserlin's The Israelites is an ideal introduction which is enhanced with an Epilogue, a selected bibliography, acknowledgments, sources of illustrations, and an index.

This work covers a broad range of topics related to the life and culture of ancient Israel. Several other works have been written on the subject. In my opinion this is one of the best. It covers everthing from town planning to agriculture. All and all an excellent window into how an ancient people lived.