Prophets and Markets: The Political Economy of Ancient Israel / Edition 1

by M. Silver

Overview

5 by predations of the sea peoples. However, the weakening of Mycenean seapower, the destruction of the Hittite kingdom, and finally, the limitation on Philistine strength resulting from the alliance between David and the king of Tyre in the eleventh century, combined to open up "for the Phoenicians, in the first quarter of the first millennium B. C. E. vast overseas trading areas" (Oded 1979a, p. 228). By the end of the eleventh century, pottery from Cyprus, after a long absence could once again be found in Israelite-occupied sites (Albright 1960, p. 47). The expansion of the sea trade in the Mediterranean in which, judging by the song of Deborah (Judg. 5), the northern tribes of Asher and Dan (?) (see figure 1-2) would have parti­ cipated, was accompanied by the inauguration of camel caravans trans­ porting the goods of southern Arabia to and through Israel (see Bulliet 1975, especially p. 36). Military victories over the Philistines and Syrians, receipts of tribute, and the collection of tolls from the control of trade routes together with the general revival of trade all contributed to Israel's growing wealth. Indeed, the David-Solomon period (most of the tenth century) is often portrayed as the peak of Israelite economic development. In fact there is precious little extra­ biblical evidence supporting this portrayal. For example, in spite of the reported activity of David and Solomon's scribes, only one example of 6 "Hebrew" writing from this period, the Gezer Calendar, has been found.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780898381122
Publisher:	Springer Netherlands
Publication date:	12/31/1982
Series:	Population and Community Biology Series
Edition description:	1983
Pages:	306
Product dimensions:	8.27(w) x 11.69(h) x 0.24(d)

Table of Contents

1 Introduction: Prior to the Eighth Century B.C.E..- I The Israelite Economy in the Eighth and Seventh Centuries B.C.E..- 2 Specialized Production: Industry and Agriculture.- 3 Adaptations to Spreading Markets: Brands, Management, and Warehouses.- 4 Transport: Routes, Costs, and Monopoly Power.- 5 The Economies of Israel’s Neighbors.- 6 The Market for Factors of Production: Commercial Loans, Slavery, and Land Consolidation.- 7 Living Standards: Consumer Durables.- 8 Living Standards: Diet.- 9 Living Standards: Luxury Consumption.- 10 Living Standards: Income Distribution.- II The Call for Social Justice: Priests, Prophets, Proverbs, and Psalms.- 11 The Prophets as Social Reformers.- 12 The Political Potency of the Prophets.- 13 Prophetic Symbols and Ambitions.- 14 The Joint Ministry of Priests and Prophets.- 15 Songs and Words of Social Justice.- III The Implementation of Social Reform.- 16 Three Cultural Revolutions.- 17 Cultic Reforms and Consequences.- 18 Socioeconomic Reforms and Consequences.- 19 Summary and Conclusions.- Appendix A: Markets and Entrepreneurs in the Ancient Near East.- Appendix B: Historical Evidence on the Relationship betweer Economic Growth and Land Consolidation.- References.