"Although much has been written about the Ark of the Covenant, few authors engage the wealth of information available that pertains to Egyptian material culture. [This] is the first book to explore the complex history of sacred ritual furniture in Egypt that predated the ark by hundreds of years. Within Egyptian culture, over four hundred examples of ritual furniture exist that shed light on the design and appearance of the ark. These examples form patterns that provide context for the Israelites' understanding of the ark at the time of its construction. That understanding would have been obvious to the Israelites of the time, but has since become obscured over the millennia. This groundbreaking book is the first to connect the Ark of the Covenant with the archaeology and chronology of ancient Egypt"--

This volume presents a collection of studies by international experts on various aspects of ancient Israel’s society, economy, religion, language, culture, and history, synthesizing archaeological remains and integrating them with discussions of ancient Near Eastern and biblical texts. Driven by theoretically and methodologically informed discussions of the archaeology of the Iron Age Levant, the 47 chapters in The Ancient Israelite World provide foundational, accessible, and detailed studies in their respective topics. The volume considers the history of interpretation of ancient Israel, studies on various aspects of ancient Israel’s society and history, and avenues for present and future approaches to the ancient Israelite world. Accompanied by over 150 maps and figures, it allows the reader to gain an understanding of key issues that archaeologists, historians and biblical scholars have faced and are currently facing as they attempt to better understand ancient Israelite society. The Ancient Israelite World is an essential reference work for students and scholars of ancient Israel and its history, culture, and society, whether they are historians, archaeologists or biblical scholars.

Global challenges fill the news today. It’s not always easy to balance fear with hope. That’s why this book points to resources for optimism and action. A diverse group of scholars draw on Jewish, Christian, Islamic, and Māori traditions to describe challenges and hopes. They recognize the ruptures of militarism, trauma, colonialism, religious nationalism, climate change, and more. But they also describe the healing power of communal action, spiritual practices, biblical literature, and the arts.

The quest for the lost Ark of the Covenent.

At the heart of the city of Aksum in Ethiopia stands a small chapel, whose entrance is constantly guarded. Ethiopians believe that this chapel contains the Ark of the Covenant; their religious epic The Glory of Kings gives an account of how Makeda, the Queen of Sheba had a son by Solomon and how it was this son who removed the Ark from Jerusalem because of the disobedience of the people of Israel.

Filled with exclusive interviews and intriguing photographs, this insider's exploration reveals why the quest for the Ark is one of the greatest archaeological, historical, religious, and political pursuits of all time.