One God - One Cult - One Nation: Archaeological and Biblical Perspectives (Beihefte Zur Zeitschrift Fur Die Alttestamentliche Wissenschaft): 405

Recent archaeological and biblical research challenges the traditional view of the history of ancient Israel. This book presents the latest findings of both academic disciplines regarding the United Monarchy of David and Solomon (‛One Nation’) and the cult reform under Josiah (‛One Cult’), raising the issue of fact versus fiction. The political and cultural interrelations in the Near East are illustrated on the example of the ancient city of Beth She'an/Scythopolis and are discussed as to their significance for the transformation in the conception of God (‛One God’). The volume contains 17 contributions by internationally eminent scholars from Israel, Finland and Germany. Frontmatter 1 Table of contents 7 I. The Great Monarchy: Biblical and Archaeological Perspectives on David and Solomon 21 A Great United Monarchy? Archaeological and Historical Perspectives 23 Archaeology and the Biblical Narrative: The Case of the United Monarchy 49 Solomon and the United Monarchy: Some Textual Evidence 79 Elders or Youngsters? Critical Remarks on 1 Kings 12 99 'What Share Do We Have in David...?' – Ben Sira's Perspectives on 1 Kings 12 111 II. The Cult Centralization in Its Near Eastern Context: Perspectives on Hezekiah and Josiah 139 The Idea of Cultic Centralization and Its Supposed Ancient Near Eastern Analogies 141 Cult Centralization in the Ancient Near East? Conceptions of the Ideal Capital in the Ancient Near East 165 Perspectives on Southern Israel's Cult Centralization: Arad and Beer-scheba 189 Why the Cult Reforms in Judah Probably Did not Happen 221 III. The Ancient City: Perspectives on the Political and Cultural Interrelations at Beth Shean 257 Tel Beth-Shean: History and Archaeology 259 Nysa-Scythopolis: Ethnicity and Religion 293 Beth Shean/Scythopolis in Late Antiquity: Cult and Culture, Continuity and Change 321 IV. The One and The Only: Perspectives on the Development of a Divine Concept 359 God and His People: The Concept of Kingship and Cult in the Ancient Near East 361 YHWH in the Northern and Southern Kingdom 377 From Many Gods to the One God: The Archaeological Evidence 415 Monotheism and Angelology in Daniel 425 Justice, the King and the Gods: Polytheism and Emerging Monotheism in the Ancient World 441 Backmatter 475 A Great United Monarchy? Archaeological And Historical Perspectives / Israel Finkelstein -- Archaeology And The Biblical Narrative : The Case Of The United Monarchy / Amihai Mazar -- Solomon And The United Monarchy : Some Textual Evidence / Erhard Blum -- Elders Or Youngsters? Critical Remarks On 1 Kings 12 / Alexander Rofé -- What Share Do We Have In David? Ben Sira's Perspectives On 1 Kings 12 / Markus Witte -- The Idea Of Cultic Centralization And Its Supposed Ancient Near Eastern Analogies / Reinhard G. Kratz -- Cult Centralization In The Ancient Near East? Conceptions Of The Ideal Capital In The Ancient Near East / Hanspeter Schaudig -- Perspectives On Southern Israel's Cult Centralization : Arad And Beer-scheba / Ze'ev Herzog -- Why The Cult Reforms In Judah Probably Did Not Happen / Juha Pakkala -- Tel Beth-shean : History And Archaeology / Amihai Mazar -- Nysa-scythopolis In Late Antiquity : Cult And Culture, Continuity And Change / Katharina Heyden -- God And His People : The Concept Of Kingship And Cult In The Ancient Near East / Hermann Spieckermann -- Yhwh In The Northern And Southern Kingdom / Matthias Köckert -- From Many Gods To The One God : The Archaeological Evidence / Ephraim Stern -- Monotheism And Angelology In Daniel / Michael Segal -- Justice, The King And The Gods : Polytheism And Emerging Monotheism In The Ancient World / Christoph Auffarth. Edited By Reinhard G. Kratz And Hermann Spieckermann ; In Cooperation With Björn Corzilius And Tanja Pilger. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. A great united monarchy? : archaeological and historical perspectives -- Israel Finkelstein Archaeology and the biblical narrative : the case of the united monarchy -- Amihai Mazar Solomon and the united monarchy : some textual evidence -- Erhard Blum Elders or youngsters? : critical remarks on 1 Kings 12 -- Alexander Rofé "What share do we have in David--?" : Ben Sira's perspectives on 1 Kings 12 -- Markus Witte The idea of cultic centralization and its supposed ancient Near Eastern analogies -- Reinhard G. Kratz Cult centralization in the ancient Near East? : conceptions of the ideal capital in the ancient Near East -- Hanspeter Schaudig Perspectives on southern Israel's cult centralization : Arad and Beer-scheba -- Zeʼev Herzog Why the cult reforms in Judah probably did not happen -- Juha Pakkala Tel Beth-Shean : history and archaeology -- Amihai Mazar Nysa-Scythopolis : ethnicity and religion -- Gabriel Mazor Beth Shean/Scythopolis in late antiquity : cult and culture, continuity and change -- Katharina Heyden God and His people : the concept of kingship and cult in the ancient Near East -- Hermann Spieckermann YHWH in the Northern and Southern Kingdom -- Matthias Köckert From many gods to the one God : the archaeological evidence -- Ephraim Stern Monotheism and angelology in Daniel -- Michael Segal Justice, the king and the gods : polytheism and emerging monotheism in the ancient world -- Christoph Auffarth. Die jüngere archäologische und bibelwissenschaftliche Forschung stellt das traditionelle Bild der Geschichte des antiken Israel infrage. Der vorliegende Band führt neueste Forschungsergebnisse beider Wissenschaftsdisziplinen zusammen und stellt die Frage nach der historischen Faktizität oder literarischen Fiktionalität des Davidisch-Salomonischen Großreichs (‛One Nation') und der Kultreformmaßnahme unter Josia (‛One Cult'). Die politischen und kulturellen Wechselbeziehungen innerhalb des Vorderen Orients werden am Beispiel der antiken Stadt Beth She'an/Scythopolis veranschaulicht und in ihrer Bedeutung für den Wandel des Gottesbildes (‛One God') problematisiert. Der Sammelband enthält siebzehn englischsprachige Beiträge von international anerkannten Forschern aus Israel, Finnland und Deutschland.

The series Beihefte zur Zeitschrift für die alttestamentliche Wissenschaft (BZAW) covers all areas of research into the Old Testament, focusing on the Hebrew Bible, its early and later forms in Ancient Judaism, as well as its branching into many neighboring cultures of the Ancient Near East and the Greco-Roman world.

BZAW welcomes submissions that make an original and significant contribution to the field; demonstrate sophisticated engagement with the relevant secondary literature; and are written in readable, logical, and engaging prose.