Ancient Near Eastern Thought And The Old Testament

Words: 3636
Pages: 15
Open Document
Ancient Near Eastern Thought and the Old Testament (Introducing the Conceptual World of the Hebrew Bible)

Introduction Using contemporary studies as the foundation of his research John Walton reviews the ancient and Near Eastern and Israelite cognitive context. He provides guidance for students and general public to have a wider understanding and expand their knowledge of today’s culture, and historical culture interacts with the ancient world culture. In doing so, he tries to balance all audiences though examining artifacts to assist the individual’s understanding through these artifacts about both the historical prospective and culture and the parallel with the Bible.
Summary of Book The book is divided into five parts. Part 1, …show more content…
Each of these cultural texts is summarized, ranging from the Eridu Genesis to Nineteenth Dynasty Egyptian love poetry. The selections are all annotated so readers can easily find copies of the texts under discussion. In summary, Part 2 is also a fine survey of ancient Near Eastern literature, but it could have benefited from having excerpts from each of the examples of literature listed. Since the summary of literature only includes a précis of each selection, readers will still need to have access either to original sources or to other works.
Part 3 – Religion
Chapter 4 –The Gods
John Walton wrote:
It would be difficult to discuss with ancients the concept of divine intervention, because in their worldview deity was too integrated into the cosmos to intervene in it. For the most part deity is on the inside not the outside. All experience was (is) religious experience. All law was spiritual in nature, all duties were duties to gods; all events had deity as their cause. Life was "religion" & "religion" could not be compartmentalized within life. Pg 87 On pages 94-95, Walton details Yahwehʼs council, i.e., the references in the Old Testament to a “court” of heavenly beings (Pss 29, 82, 89; 1 Kings 22; Gen 1:26; 3:22; 11:7). He does a very nice job in laying out succinctly the data and the general issues. Several ideas, concepts and comments parked some interest to me as a student, for example: “From the Old Testament itself, it would be clear that the
Show More

Related Documents: Ancient Near Eastern Thought And The Old Testament

OBST510 Bookreview2 Walton Essay

abbreviations. The author uses several contemporary studies as a big part of his research as well as reviews the ancient and Near Eastern and Israelite cognitive context. This section provides a general guidance for students and the audience to have a better understanding by expanding their knowledge of today’s culture, and historical culture and the way it interacts with the ancient world culture. This section also provides a nice balance of the different audiences in examining all the research…

Words 4312 - Pages 18

Between 3100 and 2800 BC the Great Cursus 300 yards from Stonehenge had been constructed Essay

after one of their earthworks on Windmill Hill, near Stonehenge, built the large circular furrows and mounds. They had collective burials in large stone-encased tombs. Most of their burial mounds point east-west. Originating in eastern England, they were one of the first semi-nomadic hunting and gathering groups with an agricultural economy, maintaining a strong reverence for circles and symmetry. The second group - The Beaker people - is thought to have originated in Spain, migrating northwards…

Words 405 - Pages 2

Ancient Mesopotamia Research Paper

Cultural Background of Ancient Mesopotamia One of the Earth’s first major civilizations, Mesopotamia, was a culture rich land where ideas thrived and population flourished. Greek for “between two rivers,” Mesopotamia had many different cultures, but was uniform on a couple key features. The people had many of the same gods, attitudes toward religion, and systems of government (Mark). Kings had the power to make and enforce laws. One well-known ruler of this time was Hammurabi, notable…

Words 543 - Pages 3

Book Summary The Bible Among the Myths Essay

INTRODUCTION The book opens with an introduction comparing the study of the Old Testament and the other religions and cultures of other peoples from the Ancient Near East. Scholars used to believe that the Old Testament was unique among other beliefs in the Ancient Near East but they now view the Old Testament as identical to other religions of its day and time. The author also discusses the vital philosophical distinction between “essence” and “accident.” When removing an essential feature…

Words 2837 - Pages 12

senior paper

Britain’s power was declining and an increase in immigration occurred in Britain and introduced them to new races and cultures. These Foreigners were perceived as a threat and most people reacted violently against a foreigner. Since Dracula is from the eastern most part of Europe, he is perceived as a threat. He isn’t like the rest of them so they are afraid of him, therefore there is a fear of the “other” and the unknown. In this Victorian period, people experienced using new technologies like the phonograph…

Words 1016 - Pages 5

The Birth of Civilization Essay

EARLY HUMANS AND THEIR CULTURE page 1 WHY IS “culture” considered a defining trait of human beings? EARLY CIVILIZATIONS IN THE MIDDLE EAST TO ABOUT 1000 B.C.E. page 5 HOW DID control over water resources influence early Middle Eastern civilizations? ANCIENT NEAR EASTERN EMPIRES page 14 HOW DID conquest and trade…

Words 18945 - Pages 76

Demons of Gods Essay

original Greek word daimon does not carry the negative connotation initially understood by implementation of the Koine δαιμόνιον (daimonion),[1] and later ascribed to any cognate words sharing the root. In Ancient Near Eastern religions as well as in the Abrahamic traditions, including ancient and medieval Christian demonology, a demon is considered an unclean spirit, sometimes a fallen angel, the spirit of a deceased human, or a spirit of unknown type which may cause demonic possession, calling…

Words 3209 - Pages 13

TheLostTourist DescriptiveWriting Essay

to begin. I took a deep breath of the delightful morning gust to freshen my mind, and there I was, Dalat, The City of Love. Five long months of waiting; five long months since the day my mom asked if I wanted to visit Vietnam for the long-lasting Eastern Iowa winter; five long months since the day I shouted “Yes!” with my heart, ready to pop out of my chest. The day finally arrived. It felt like I’ve been waited for this day all my life. Dalat was truly a mysterious city, with haunted mansions and…

Words 1106 - Pages 5

The Old Testament: The New Covenant

location for the city as well. The cities were compacted into a small place because walled cities were strongholds, and it was best not to have the center too far from the walls. Each city had gates that would be utilized for a variety of reasons. Near the gates were open places used as centers of community life. Here contracts were made, judicial assemblies held, and public announcements were made. Strangers who had no home in the city stayed the night there also. The seven biblical cities of…

Words 1188 - Pages 5

Contributing Factors In The Development Of The Western Governor's University

GKE1 TASK1 Western Governor’s University A. The Nile River was a great contributing factor in the development of early Egypt. It is the country’s longest running river, and runs right through Egypt. The location of the river added convenience, which aided agricultural abilities helping to boost civilization. Farmers used the water for irrigation since most of Egypt is dry. During the long rainy season, the Nile would flood. When the flood occurred it would drop deposits of silt, a rich…

Words 1010 - Pages 5