The Dictionary of the Old Testament: Historical Books presents articles on numerous historical topics as well as major articles focused on the books of Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings, Chronicles, Ezra and Nehemiah. Other articles focus on the Deuteronomistic History as well as the Chronicler's History, the narrative art of Israel's historians, innerbiblical exegesis, text and textual criticism, and the emergence of these books as canonical. One feature is a series of eight consecutive articles on the periods of Israel's history from the settlement to the postexilic period, which forms a condensed history of Israel within the DOTHB.". "Syro-Palestinian archaeology is surveyed in one article, while significant archaeological sites receive focused individual treatment. Other articles delve into the histories and cultures of the great neighboring empires - Egypt, Assyria, Babylonia and Persia - as well as lesser peoples, such as the Ammonites, Edomites, Moabites, Philistines and Phoenicians. In addition there are articles on architecture, agriculture and animal husbandry, roads and highways, trade and travel, and water and water systems.

Contents: The Deuteronomist history -- The Chroniclers' history -- The history of the Maccabees -- Historical-sounding Midrash -- Conclusion : reflections on Old Testament theology

Contents: The identity of early Israel : the realignment and transformation of late Bronze-Iron Age Palestine / Keith W. Whitelam -- The book of Joshua : heroic saga or conquest theme? / George W. Coats -- Inclusion, exclusion, and marginality in the book of Joshua / Lori Rowlett -- 'In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did what was right in his own eyes' : the purpose of the book of Judges reconsidered / W.J. Dumbrell -- Role dedifferentiation in the book of Ruth / Jon L. Berquist -- Eli's seat : the transition from priest to prophet in 1 Samuel 1-4 / Frank Anthony Spina -- Viewpoints and point of view in 1 Samuel 8-12 / Lyle Eslinger -- The heroism of Saul : patterns of meaning in the narrative of the early kingship / Thomas R. Preston -- Chiefs in Israel / James W. Flanagan -- 'Is there anyone left of the house of Saul ...?' : ambiguity and the characterization of David in the succession narrative / Leo G. Perdue -- Desire, rivalry, and collective violence in the 'succession narrative' / Hans J.L. Jensen -- Judging the wisdom of Solomon : the two-way effect of intertextuality / Hugh S. Pyper -- The ups and downs of monarchical justice : Solomon and Jehoram in an intertextual world / Stuart Lasine -- Solomon as philosopher king? : the nexus of law and wisdom in 1 Kings 1-11 / K.I. Parker -- On kings and disguises / Richard Coggins -- The historical reliability of Chronicles : the history of the problem and its place in biblical research / Sara Japhet -- Dynasty, people, and the future : the message of Chronicles / Donald F. Murray -- On the relationship of the books of Ezra and Nehemiah / David Kraemer -- Nehemiah as cultural revitalization : an anthropological perspective / Kenneth T. Tollefson and H.G.M. Williamson -- Out from the shadows : biblical women in the post-exilic era / Tamara G. Eskenazi

In The Historical Books, Richard D. Nelson introduces the basic concepts of history and historical writing and provides a framework of events and periods that can be used to situate historical data reported in texts or presupposed by them. Standard interpretive methods are explained and illustrated by reference to 2 Samuel 24.

Interpreting the Historical Books begins by exploring the components of narrative- setting, characterization, and plot-and then develops the major theological themes in each of the Old Testament historical books. As readers work through Interpreting the Historical Books, they will begin to see and interpret the narrative writings as the writings were intended to be understood. Samples of moving from exegesis to proclamation and a glossary of technical words makes this handbook practical and user-friendly.

From the tumbling walls of Jericho to a Jewish girl who became the queen of Persia, the historical books of the Bible are intriguing and unquestionably fascinating. In this companion volume to his widely used Handbook on the Pentateuch, veteran Old Testament professor Victor Hamilton demonstrates the significance of these biblical books." "To do so, Hamilton carefully examines content, structure, and theology using rhetorical criticism, inductive Bible study, published scholarship, archaeological data, word studies, and text-critical evidence. Hamilton details the events and theological implications of each book, chapter by chapter, providing useful commentary on overarching themes and the connections between Old Testament texts. For those who wish to do additional research, each chapter concludes with a bibliography of recent, relevant scholarship.