The Social World of Ancient Israel

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Summary: Understanding Ancient Israel
Review: 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.