Survey of Israel's History, A

Rating:
Summary: Great Reading and Reference Work
Review: If you like history, you'll like just sitting down and reading this book. For others it is an excellent reference surveying the geographical, social, political and religious context of Israel from Abraham to the first century BC. Gives an excellent treatment of the inter-testamental period. Wood's chronology does tend to be off by one year on many dates in comparison to more widely accepted sources. Solidly evangelical.

Rating:
Summary: Great Reading and Reference Work
Review: If you like history, you'll like just sitting down and reading this book. For others it is an excellent reference surveying the geographical, social, political and religious context of Israel from Abraham to the first century BC. Gives an excellent treatment of the inter-testamental period. Wood's chronology does tend to be off by one year on many dates in comparison to more widely accepted sources. Solidly evangelical.

Rating:
Summary: Good Theologically Conservative Survey of Israel's History
Review: We had to read this book for our Survey of Israel's History class in Bible college. It does what it says; it provides an overview of the history of the nation of Israel from her foundation to the inter-testamental period. Both Wood, the original writer, and the editor for the revised edition, were theologically orthodox evangelical/fundamental folks who believed in verbal, plenary inspiration, and this true presupposition is demonstrated in their view of the history of God's chosen nation. Their commitment to Biblcial truth is demonstrated, for example, in their dating of the Exodus to the 1400's B. C., which accords with Biblical data correctly interpreted (and also fits the facts of history, as he demonstrates) while most of those who wish to have greater acceptability in the unconverted world opt for a 1200's date. Modernistic ideas about Israel's history, such as JEDP, alleged inaccuracies with archeological data, etc. are dealt with and refuted. Overall, it provides a fine introduction to its topic and is well worth the time of a reader. I did not give it five stars, not because it is not a fine book, but because it is not absolutely outstanding and one of a kind, which is presumably what five stars is for; in other reviews that I have read it seems that the entire spectrum of five stars is not much used, with the great majority of the books receiving either four or five stars. So, what I mean with my rating is that it is a very good book, but not absolutely field-determinative. Also, as a KJV/TR only fundamental Baptist, I disagree with their views on preservation and upon other details, but no book is perfect. Overall, despite these problems, it is a fine work.

Rating:
Summary: Good Theologically Conservative Survey of Israel's History
Review: We had to read this book for our Survey of Israel's History class in Bible college. It does what it says; it provides an overview of the history of the nation of Israel from her foundation to the inter-testamental period. Both Wood, the original writer, and the editor for the revised edition, were theologically orthodox evangelical/fundamental folks who believed in verbal, plenary inspiration, and this true presupposition is demonstrated in their view of the history of God's chosen nation. Their commitment to Biblcial truth is demonstrated, for example, in their dating of the Exodus to the 1400's B. C., which accords with Biblical data correctly interpreted (and also fits the facts of history, as he demonstrates) while most of those who wish to have greater acceptability in the unconverted world opt for a 1200's date. Modernistic ideas about Israel's history, such as JEDP, alleged inaccuracies with archeological data, etc. are dealt with and refuted. Overall, it provides a fine introduction to its topic and is well worth the time of a reader. I did not give it five stars, not because it is not a fine book, but because it is not absolutely outstanding and one of a kind, which is presumably what five stars is for; in other reviews that I have read it seems that the entire spectrum of five stars is not much used, with the great majority of the books receiving either four or five stars. So, what I mean with my rating is that it is a very good book, but not absolutely field-determinative. Also, as a KJV/TR only fundamental Baptist, I disagree with their views on preservation and upon other details, but no book is perfect. Overall, despite these problems, it is a fine work.