The history of Israel forms the skeletal structure of the Old Testament. Understanding this history and the biblical books that trace it is essential to comprehending the Bible. The Dictionary of the Old Testament: Historical Books is the only reference book focused exclusively on these biblical books and the history of Israel.

Table of Contents

• Preface
• How to Use This Dictionary
• Abbreviations
• Transliterations
• List of Contributors
• A
• ABIMELECH.
• ABSALOM.
• ACHAEMENID EMPIRE.
• ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDINGS.
• ADONAY.
• AFTERLIFE.
• AGRICULTURE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY
• AHAB.
• AHAZIAH.
• AI
• AKKADIAN.
• “ALL ISRAEL.”
• ALLOTMENTS, TRIBAL.
• AMMAN CITADEL INSCRIPTION.
• AMMON, AMMONITES
• AMNON.
• AMON.
• AMORITES.
• AMPHICTYONY, QUESTION OF
• ANAT.
• ANCESTOR CULT.
• ANIMAL HUSBANDRY.
• ANOINTING
• APOLOGY OF DAVID.
• ARABIA, ARABIANS
• ARAD
• ARAD OSTRACA.
• ARAM, DAMASCUS AND SYRIA
• ARAMAIC LANGUAGE
• ARAMEANS.
• ARAM-NAHARAYIM.
• ARCHAEOLOGY, SYROPALESTINIAN
• ARCHITECTURE
• ARK NARRATIVE.
• ARK OF THE COVENANT
• ARSAMES ARCHIVE.
• ARTAXERXES.
• ASHDOD
• ASHDOD REVOLT.
• ASHERAH.
• ASHKELON
• ASHTORETH/ASTARTE.
• ASHURBANIPAL.
• ASSYRIA, ASSYRIANS
• ASSYRIAN EPONYM CHRONICLES.
• ASSYRIAN EPONYM LISTS.
• ASSYRIAN KING LISTS.
• ATHALIAH.
• ATHIRAT.
• ATONEMENT.
• AZATIWADA.
• B
• BAAL.
• BABYLONIA, BABYLONIANS
• BABYLONIAN CHRONICLES.
• BABYLONIAN KING LISTS.
• BARAK.
• BARLEY.
• BATHSHEBA.
• BEERSHEBA
• BEITIN.
• BETHEL
• BIBLICAL ARCHAEOLOGY.
• BIR HADAD.
• BIR-RAKIB.
• BOOKS.
• BORDERS, TRIBAL.
• BUILDING.
• BUREAUCRACY, ISRAELITE.
• BURIAL.
• C
• CALEB, CALEBITES
• CALENDARS.
• CANAAN, CANAANITES
• CANAANITE GODS AND RELIGION
• CANAANITE LANGUAGE.
• CANON
• CANONICAL CRITICISM/INTERPRETATION.
• CANONIZATION.
• CARMEL
• CATTLE.
• CEDARS OF LEBANON.
• CENSUS
• CERAMICS.
• CHALDEANS.
• CHAOS, CHAOSKAMPF
• CHRONICLER'S HISTORY
• CHRONICLES, BOOKS OF
• CHRONOLOGY
• CISTERNS.
• CITADEL.
• CITIES AND VILLAGES
• CIVIL OFFICIALS.
• CLAN.
• CONCUBINES, ROYAL.
• CONQUEST.
• CORVEÉE.
• COURT HISTORY OF DAVID.
• CREATOR.
• CULTIC BUILDINGS.
• CUPBEARER.
• CURRENCY.
• CYRUS.
• CYRUS DECREE.
• D
• DAGAN/DAGON.
• DAMASCUS.
• DAN
• DARIUS.
• DATES.
• DAUGHTERS, ROYAL.
• DAVID
• DAVIDIC COVENANT
• DAVID'S FAMILY
• DEAD SEA SCROLLS.
• DEATH AND AFTERLIFE
• DEBORAH.
• DECALOGUE.
• DECONSTRUCTION.
• DEIR ALLA TEXT.
• DELIVERANCE.
• DEUTERONOMISTIC HISTORY
• DIASPORA.
• DISEASE.
• DIVINATION.
• DIVINE KINGSHIP.
• DIVORCE.
• DYNASTY.
• E
• ECONOMIC JUSTICE.
• EDOM, EDOMITES
• EGYPT, EGYPTIANS
• EHUD.
• EKRON
• EKRON INSCRIPTION.
• EL.
• ELAMITE SOURCES.
• ELEPHANTINE JEWISH COMMUNITY.
• ELEPHANTINE PAPYRI.
• ELI.
• ELIJAH
• ELISHA
• ELOHIM.
• ELON.
• ELYON.
• “EMPTY LAND.”
• ESARHADDON.
• ESDRAS.
• ETHICS
• ETHICS OF INTERPRETATION.
• ETHNICITY
• EVIL
• EXILE.
• EZION-GEBER
• EZRA
• EZRA AND NEHEMIAH, BOOKS OF
• F
• FAITH
• FAMILY.
• FARMING.
• FEMINIST INTERPRETATION.
• FIGS.
• FORGIVENESS
• FORM CRITICISM.
• FOUR-ROOM HOUSE.
• G
• GAD.
• GATH
• GAZA
• GEBA.
• GEDALIAH.
• GENEALOGIES
• GEOGRAPHICAL EXTENT OF ISRAEL
• GESHEM.
• GEZER
• GEZER CALENDAR.
• GIBEAH, GEBA
• GIBEON
• GIDEON.
• GILGAL
• GOATS.
• GOD
• GOLIATH
• GRAINS.
• GRAPES.
• GREAT TRUNK ROAD.
• H
• HADAD.
• HAD-YIŠʿI INSCRIPTION.
• HAGGAI.
• HAMATH BRICKS.
• HAZOR
• HEALING.
• HEBREW INSCRIPTIONS
• HEBREW LANGUAGE
• HEBREWS
• HEBRON
• HERMENEUTICS
• HERMOPOLIS PAPYRI.
• HEZEKIAH
• HEZEKIAH'S TUNNEL.
• HIGH PLACES
• HIGHWAYS.
• HIRAM.
• HISTORICAL-CRITICAL METHOD.
• HISTORICAL CRITICISM.
• HISTORICAL ISRAEL.
• HISTORIOGRAPHY, OLD TESTAMENT
• HISTORY OF ISRAEL 1: SETTLEMENT PERIOD
• HISTORY OF ISRAEL 2: PREMONARCHIC ISRAEL
• HISTORY OF ISRAEL 3: UNITED MONARCHY
• HISTORY OF ISRAEL 4: DIVISION OF THE MONARCHY
• HISTORY OF ISRAEL 5: ASSYRIAN PERIOD
• HISTORY OF ISRAEL 6: BABYLONIAN PERIOD
• HISTORY OF ISRAEL 7: PERSIAN PERIOD
• HISTORY OF ISRAEL 8: POSTEXILIC COMMUNITY
• “HOLY” WARFARE.
• HONOR AND SHAME
• HOSHEA.
• HOUSES.
• HYMNS.
• I
• IBZAN.
• IDEOLOGICAL INTERPRETATION.
• INNERBIBLICAL EXEGESIS
• INSET POETRY.
• INTERTEXTUALITY.
• IRON AGE ARCHAEOLOGY.
• ISAIAH
• ISHBOSHETH.
• ISIN, SECOND DYNASTY OF.
• ISRAEL
• ISRAELITE SOCIETY
• J
• JAIR.
• JEBUS.
• JEHOAHAZ.
• JEHOIAKIM.
• JEHOIAKIN.
• JEHORAM/JORAM.
• JEHOSHAPHAT
• JEHU DYNASTY
• JEPHTHAH.
• JEREMIAH
• JERICHO
• JEROBOAM
• JERUSALEM
• JEZREEL
• JOASH.
• JONATHAN.
• JOSHUA
• JOSHUA, BOOK OF
• JOSIAH
• JOTHAM'S PARABLE.
• JUDGES
• JUDGES, BOOK OF
• JUDICIAL OFFICERS.
• JUSTICE AND RIGHTEOUSNESS
• K
• KASSITES.
• KHIRBET BEIT LEI INSCRIPTIONS.
• KHIRBET EL-QOM INSCRIPTION.
• KILAMUWA.
• KING'S HIGHWAY.
• KINGS AND KINGSHIP
• KINGS, BOOKS OF
• KINSHIP.
• KUNTILLET (AJRUD INSCRIPTIONS.
• L
• LACHISH
• LAND
• LAW
• LEBANON
• LETTERS.
• LEVITES.
• LEVITICAL CITIES
• LINGUISTICS
• LISTS.
• LITERACY.
• LITERARY CRITICISM.
• LUZ.
• M
• MAGIC AND DIVINATION
• MANASSEH
• MARDUK.
• MASORETIC TEXT.
• MEGIDDO
• MELQUART STELA.
• MENAHEM.
• MERCHANTS.
• MERNEPTAH STELA.
• MESHA INSCRIPTION.
• MESSIANISM.
• METHODS OF INTERPRETATION
• MICAIAH BEN IMLAH.
• MILITARY OFFICERS.
• MIRACLES
• MIZPAH
• MOAB, MOABITES
• MOLECH.
• MONARCHY.
• MOSAIC LAW.
• MOT.
• MOUNT CARMEL.
• MOURNING.
• MUNICIPAL ADMINISTRATION.
• N
• NABOPOLASSAR.
• NARRATIVE ART OF ISRAEL'S HISTORIANS
• NARRATIVE CRITICISM/INTERPRETATION.
• NATHAN
• NATIONAL HIGHWAY.
• NEBUCHADNEZZAR II.
• NECO.
• NEHEMIAH
• NEHEMIAH'S SALARY.
• NEO-ASSYRIAN EMPIRE.
• NEO-BABYLONIAN EMPIRE.
• NERAB FUNERARY TEXTS.
• NEW HISTORICISM.
• NON-ISRAELITE WRITTEN SOURCES: ASSYRIAN
• NON-ISRAELITE WRITTEN SOURCES: BABYLONIAN
• NON-ISRAELITE WRITTEN SOURCES: EGYPTIAN ARAMAIC PAPYRI
• NON-ISRAELITE WRITTEN SOURCES: OLD PERSIAN AND ELAMITE
• NON-ISRAELITE WRITTEN SOURCES: SYRO-PALESTINIAN
• NUMBERS, LARGE NUMBERS
• O
• OIL.
• OLD PERSIAN SOURCES.
• OLIVES.
• OMRI DYNASTY
• OPHEL.
• ORAL TRADITION AND WRITTEN TRADITION
• OTHNIEL.
• P
• PALACES.
• PANAMUWA.
• PEACE.
• PEACEFUL INFILTRATION MODEL.
• PEKA.
• PEKAHIAH.
• PERSIA, PERSIANS
• PERSIAN-PERIOD ARCHAEOLOGY.
• PESHITTA.
• PHILISTINES
• PHOENICIA, PHOENICIANS
• PILLARED HOUSE.
• PLOTS, NARRATIVE.
• POETRY
• POSTEXILIC PERIOD.
• POSTEXILIC TEMPLE
• POSTMODERN HERMENEUTIC.
• PRAYER
• PRIESTS AND LEVITES
• PRIMARY HISTORY.
• PROPAGANDA
• PROPHETIC FORMS OF SPEECH.
• PROPHETS AND PROPHECY
• PSALMS.
• Q
• QUEEN MOTHER.
• QUEST OF THE HISTORICAL ISRAEL
• R
• RAHAB.
• READER-RESPONSE CRITICISM.
• REBUILDING WALLS.
• REDACTION CRITICISM.
• REGNAL YEARS.
• REHOBOAM
• RELIGIOUS FUNCTIONARIES.
• RETRIBUTION, THEOLOGY OF.
• REZIN OF DAMASCUS.
• RHETORIC, RHETORICAL DEVICES.
• RHETORICAL CRITICISM.
• RIGHTEOUSNESS.
• ROADS AND HIGHWAYS
• ROYAL COURT.
• ROYAL FAMILY
• ROYAL LAND GRANT.
• ROYAL MINISTERS.
• ROYAL MONUMENTS.
• S
• SAGES.
• SALVATION AND DELIVERANCE
• SAMARIA
• SAMARIA PAPYRI.
• SAMSON.
• SAMUEL
• SAMUEL, BOOKS OF
• SANBALLAT
• SAQQARA PAPYRI.
• SARGON II.
• SATRAPS.
• SAUL AND SAUL'S FAMILY
• SCHOOLS.
• SCRIBES AND SCHOOLS
• SEALS.
• SECONDARY HISTORY.
• SEFIRE STELAE.
• SEIR.
• SENNACHERIB.
• SEPTUAGINT.
• SESHBAZZAR.
• SHALLUM.
• SHALMANESER III.
• SHALMANESER V.
• SHAME.
• SHAMGAR.
• SHECHEM
• SHEEP, SHEPHERDING.
• SHESHBAZAR.
• SHILOH
• SHISHAK.
• SICKNESS AND DISEASE
• SIDON.
• SIGNS.
• SIKAN STATUE.
• SILOAM CHANNEL.
• SILOAM INSCRIPTION.
• SIN
• SO.
• SOCIAL-SCIENTIFIC ANALYSIS.
• SOCIAL-SCIENTIFIC APPROACHES
• SOLOMON
• SOLOMON'S TEMPLE
• SONGS.
• SONS, ROYAL.
• SOURCE CRITICISM.
• SOURCES, REFERENCES TO
• STATE OFFICIALS
• STRUCTURALISM.
• SUSA.
• SYNCHRONISTIC HISTORY.
• SYRIA.
• SYRO-EPHRAIMITIC WAR.
• T, U, V
• TARGUMS.
• TATENAI.
• TAXES, TAXATION
• TEL DAN STELA.
• TELL EL-FUL.
• TELL EL-KHEFEILEH.
• TELL EN-NAṣBEH.
• TELL QASILE.
• TELL SIRAN INSCRIPTION.
• TEMPLE MOUNT.
• TEXT AND TEXTUAL CRITICISM
• THOUSANDS.
• TIGLATH-PILESER III.
• TIMNAH.
• TIRHAKAH.
• TIRZAH
• TOBIAH.
• TOLA.
• TORAH.
• TOWNS.
• TRADE AND TRAVEL
• TRANSPORTATION.
• TRAVEL.
• TRIBES OF ISRAEL AND LAND ALLOTMENTS/BORDERS
• TRIBUTE.
• TUKULTI-NINURTA EPIC.
• TWELVE TRIBES.
• TYRE.
• UGARIT, UGARITIC.
• UZZIAH.
• VINE, VINEYARD.
• W, X, Y
• WAR AND PEACE
• WARREN'S SHAFT.
• WATER AND WATER SYSTEMS
• WEAPONS.
• WELLS.
• WHEAT.
• WISDOM
• WIVES, ROYAL.
• WOMEN
• WONDERS.
• WORD OF GOD
• WRITING, WRITING MATERIALS AND LITERACY IN THE ANCIENT NEAR EAST
• WRITTEN TRADITION.
• XERXES.
• YAHWEH.
• YEHAWMILK.
• YEHUD.
• Z
• ZADOK, ZADOKITES
• ZAKKUR MEMORIAL STELA.
• ZECHARIAH.
• ZEDEKIAH.
• ZERUBBABEL
• ZION TRADITIONS
• Table of Archaeological Periods
• Maps