In the last twenty years, archaeological evidence has dramatically illuminated ancient Israel, particularly its religion. However, instead of proving the truth of the Bible, as an earlier generation had confidently predicted, the new discoveries have forced us to revise much of what was thought to be biblical truth. The new data provokes an urgent question: If the biblical stories are not always true historically, what, if anything, is still salvageable of the Bible’s ethical and moral values? In a postmodern age much of the Western cultural tradition, resting on the biblical worldview, is being challenged.

Over the course of a 30-year career as a professor and researcher, eminent scholar William G. Dever has conducted many archaeological excavations in the Near East, resulting in a large body of award-winning fieldwork and a fascinating understanding of this period. The Eerdmans Israelite Studies Collection gathers four of Dever’s valuable texts on ancient Israelite society, history, and religion. Carefully researched and meticulously analyzed, his work presents a powerful case against revisionist claims attacking the historicity of ancient Israel and the Hebrew Bible. Throughout these volumes, he shows how modern archaeology brilliantly illuminates both life in ancient Palestine and the sacred Scriptures as we have them today. He builds the clearest, most complete picture yet of the Israel that existed during the Iron Age of ancient Palestine (1200–600 BC). In this collection, you’ll find Dever’s analysis of folk religion in ancient Israel, which gives special attention to the god...

William Dever addresses a central question that guides historians of ancient Israel: What was life really like in those days? His answer is this book—far from a run-of-the-mill “history of Israel.” Writing as an expert archaeologist who is also a secular humanist, Dever relies on archaeological data, over and above the Hebrew Bible, for primary source material. He focuses on the lives of ordinary people in the eighth century BC—not kings, priests, or prophets. Rather, he examines the lives of people who left behind rich troves of archaeological information, but who are practically invisible in typical histories of ancient Israel. Filled with photos, maps, charts, site plans, and specially commissioned drawings, Dever’s work brings a world long buried under dusty texts and stony landscapes vividly to life.

In this fascinating volume, noted Syro-Palestinian archaeologist William Dever attacks the minimalist position head-on, showing how modern archaeology brilliantly illuminates both life in ancient Palestine and the sacred Scriptures as we have them today. Assembling a wealth of archaeological evidence, Dever builds the clearest, most complete picture yet of the real Israel that existed during the Iron Age of ancient Palestine (1200–600 BC).

This book addresses one of the most timely and urgent topics in archaeology and biblical studies—the origins of early Israel. For centuries, the Western tradition has traced its beginnings back to ancient Israel, but recently some historians and archaeologists have questioned the reality of Israel as it is described in biblical literature. William Dever explores the continuing controversies regarding the true nature of ancient Israel and presents the archaeological evidence for assessing the accuracy of the well-known Bible stories.

William G. Dever shines new light on the presence and influence of women’s cults in early Israel and their implications for our understanding of Israel’s official “book religion.” Dever pays particular attention to the goddess Asherah. His work also gives new prominence to women as the custodians of Israel’s folk religion. This fascinating study critically reviews virtually all the archaeological literature of the past generation, while also bringing fresh evidence to the table.

The Eerdmans Ultimate Collection includes resources for study in Bible, theology, history and more. These resources come from well-received series such as Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (TDNT), New International Commentary (NIC), Pillar New Testament Commentary (PNTC), Forms of Old Testament Literature (FOTL), New International Greek Testament Commentary (NIGTC), among others as well as outstanding stand-alone volumes. Your studies will be enriched with titles from scholars such as D.A. Carson, Douglas Moo, Leon Morris, Joel B. Green, J. Gordon McConville, and more.

This collection of Eerdmans resources from 2020-2021 features commentaries, biblical studies, and theological studies. Resources included in this collection provide readers with a wide array of content on topics including Pauline theology, preaching, missions, and more. Featuring new volumes in the Pillar New Testament Commentary, Theological Dictionary of the Old Testament, and the New International Commentary series, this collection provides the latest in biblical studies and ministry.

With books on diverse topics from a variety of perspectives, gain a deeper understanding to the Old and New Testaments. Explore backgrounds surrounding biblical people, cultures, and events, laying the groundwork for in-depth analysis of the Scriptures.

This collection of Eerdmans resources from 2020 features commentaries, biblical studies, and theological studies. Resources included in this collection provide readers with a wide array of content on topics including Pauline theology, preaching, missions, and more. Featuring new volumes in the Pillar New Testament Commentary, The Two Horizons Old Testament Commentary, and the New International Commentary series, this collection provides the latest in biblical studies and ministry.