A Brief History of Ancient Israel

Currents in Theology and Mission, Oct, 2004 by Ralph W. Klein

A Brief History of Ancient Israel. By Victor H. Matthews (Westminster John Knox, $16.95). M. has provided a very helpful guide through the thicket of problems that face anyone trying to understand the history of ancient Israel today. As a veteran teacher, the author supplies maps, diagrams, and a glossary and puts significant items in bold print.

This work would be best read alongside one of the standard histories, since its coverage is not comprehensive but focuses instead on recent trends and unresolved problems. It also highlights the most important events, characters, and places, the basic chronology, and the importance of extrabiblical documents and archaeology. RWK