Table of Contents
Preface ix
Maps xi
Archaeological Time Line xv
I Introduction 1
1 A Land Flowing with Milk and Honey 3
2 Reconstructing the Israelite Diet 10
II What Did the Israelites Eat? 17
3 The Mediterranean Triad: Bread, Wine, and Oil 19
4 Vegetables, Pulses, and Fruit 25
5 Meat, Milk, Birds, and Fish 32
6 Condiments and Other Foods 39
III How Well Did the Israelites Eat? 41
7 Modeling the Israelite Diet 43
8 Environment and Climate 50
9 Food Shortage and Famine 57
10 The Consumption of Meat: Archaeological Evidence 61
11 The Consumption of Meat: Anthropological Evidence 73
12 Food Distribution 77
13 Nutritional Deficiencies 80
IV Conclusion 89
14 The Diet of the Ancient Israelites 91
15 Biblical Diets 94
Endnotes 102
Bibliography 133
Index of Modern Names 148
Index of Select Place Names, Authors, and Subjects 150
Index of Scripture References 154