Table of Contents

Editors’ Preface

Abbreviations

‘Introduction’

Charles E. Carter - A Discipline in Transition: The Contributions of the Social Sciences to the Study of the Hebrew Bible

‘Part 1: Anthropologists, Sociologists, and the Biblical World’

Introduction

William Robertson Smith - Sacrifice: Preliminary Survey

Max Weber - Ancient Judaism

Antonin Causse - From an Ethnic Group to a Religious Community: The Sociological Problem of Judaism

Mary Douglas - The Abominations of Leviticus

Marvin Harris - The Abominable Pig

George E. Mendenhall - The Hebrew Conquest of Palestine

Norman K. Gottwald - Domain Assumptions and Societal Models in the Study of Pre-Monarchic Israel

Gary A. Anderson - Sacrifices and Offerings in Ancient Israel: An Introduction

Robert Oden - Historical Understanding and Understanding the Religion of Israel

Gary A. Herion - The Impact of Modern and Social Science Assumptions on the Reconstruction of Israelite History

Andrew D. H. Mayes - Idealism and Materialism in Weber and Gottwald

Niels Peter Lemche - On the Use of ‘System Theory,’ ‘Macro Theories,’ and ‘Evolutionistic Thinking’ in Modern Old Testament Research and Biblical Archaeology

‘Part 2: Case Studies - Israel and Its Institutions: Social Science Perspectives’

Introduction

Abraham Malamat - Charismatic Leadership in the Book of Judges

James W. Flanagan - Chiefs in Israel

Robert B. Coote and Keith W. Whitelam - The Emergence of Israel: Social Transformation and State Formation following the Decline in Late Bronze Age Trade

Israel Finkelstein - The Emergence of the Monarchy in Israel: The Environment and Socio-Economic Aspects

Robert R. Wilson - Prophecy and Ecstasy: A Reexamination

Thomas W. Overholt - Prophecy: The Problem of Cross-Cultural Comparison

Frank S. Frick - Religion and Sociopolitical Structure in Early Israel: An Ethno-Archaeological Approach

David C. Hopkins - Life on the Land: The Subsistence Struggles of Early Israel

Carol L. Meyers - Procreation, Production, and Protection: Male-Female Balance in Early Israel

Phyllis Bird - The Place of Women in the Israelite Cultus

Daniel L. Smith - The Politics of Ezra: Sociological Indicators of Postexilic Judaean Society

Indexes

Index of Authorities

Index of Scripture