Old Testament Exegesis Resources: Israelite Religion

Israelite Religions by Richard S. Hess A current survey and synthesis of the published evidence of material culture, Bible, and ancient Near Eastern literature related to the complexities of Israelite religions, both orthodox and otherwise.

The Origin and Character of God by Theodore J. Lewis A comprehensive collection and analysis of Israel’s God in archaeological and textual sources.

Family and Household Religion in Ancient Israel and the Levant by Rainer Albertz; Rüdiger Schmitt Especially strong on the archaeology of the domestic cult in Israel and on different types of personal names.

Harlot or Holy Woman? by Phyllis A. Bird An important study of women as religious specialists in and around Israel.

Shades of Sheol by Philip S. Johnston Evangelical evaluation of the afterlife in the Old Testament that argues a distinction between righteous believers and the unrighteous.

The Religion of Ancient Israel by Patrick D. Miller A study of many important topics of Canaanite and Israelite religion.

God in Translation by Mark S. Smith Profound, detailed study tracing attitudes toward monotheism and polytheism in the ancient world.

The Early History of God: Yahweh and the Other Deities in Ancient Israel by Smith, Mark S A detailed synthesis of archaeological, textual, and biblical evidence for the worship of Yahweh and other deities in Old Testament times. This approach argues for a convergence of various deities to "create" Israel's God as he is known in the Bible.

Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible by Karel Van der Toorn (Editor); Bob Becking (Editor); Pieter W. Van der Horst (Editor) This is an essential reference work on the subject.