The discovery of ancient Egypt and the development of Egyptology are momentous events in intellectual and cultural history. The history of Egyptology is the story of the people, famous and obscure, who constructed the picture of ancient Egypt that we have today, recovered the Egyptian past while inventing it anew, and made a lost civilization comprehensible to generations of enchanted readers and viewers thousands of years later. This, the third of a three-volume history of Egyptology, follows the progress of the discipline from the trauma of the First World War, through the vicissitudes of the twentieth century, and into Egyptology's new horizons at the beginning of the twenty-first century. Wonderful Things affirms that the history of ancient Egypt has proved continually fascinating, but it also demonstrates that the history of Egyptology is no less so. Only by understanding how Egyptology has developed can we truly understand the Egyptian past.

Since its first publication in 1970, A Survey of Israel's History has established itself as a popular and useful text in Bible colleges and seminaries. This revision by David O'Brien, which brings A Survey of Israel's History up to date, is certain to add to its value and continue its popularity. A chapter on the Intertestamental Period has been added. Numerous line-maps, charts, and diagrams help to clarity details. An extensive chronological chart provides an overall summary of names and dates. Authoritative, thoroughly biblical, factually sound, and movingly human -- A Survey of Israel's History will prove enormously helpful to the student of the Bible, and to anyone in search of a definitive history of the chosen people.

'Intended primarily as a textbook for undergraduates, this volume has the following major divisions, each divided into chapters: I. An introduction to the People (including the essential stance of the biblical material, methods of analysis, and the geographical setting); II. The Origins of the People (including a brief history of Old Testament criticism, the patriarchal traditions, the exodus event, and the covenant at Sinai); III. The Growth of the People (from the wilderness period to the time of Elijah); IV. The Demise of the People (from the emergence of the literary prophets to the time of the exile); V. The Renewal of the People (from the Second Isaiah through the end of the Old Testament period). There is an extensive bibliography (arranged topically and by chapters), indexes of authors and subjects, and photos and maps scattered appropriately throughout the volume.' 'Concerning many basic issues a range of scholary opinions is cited, followed by a judicious evaluation and a list of the author's conclusions. Only occasionally may the average informed reader want to take serious issue with the author. . . . Each chapter dealing with the biblical text is accompanied by a list of passages which the student is to read in conjunction with it, a helpful procedure. . . . Treatment of a particular segment of biblical material often includes discussion of its theological stance. . . . The author has included coverage of many more topics than introductions of comparable size.' --From The Journal of Biblical Literature, review by Lloyd R.Bailey, Duke University: 'Professor Kuntz has written a very helpful introductory text. The traditions and texts of the Hebrew Bible are set within a historical framework, but the text is more than a history of ancient Israel. Kuntz presents, in a succinct fashion, major historiographical and interpretative positions. . .He has included an excellent bibliography which includes commentaries, atlases, journals, as well as bibliographies structured along the lines of the table of contents. . .Kuntz has written a very readable and thorough introduction to the Hebrew Bible.' --From The Journal of the American Academy of Religion, by Richard D. Hecht, University of California, Santa Barbara 'Although the subtitle includes the three areas of literature, history, and thought, this volume is primarily concerned with the literature of the Old Testament. A vast amount of information is made available in a breezy, well-articulated and engaging style. . .Kuntz keeps his readers informed on presently controversial issues, but he does not allow the intricacies of such current debates to obscure the flow of the work as a whole. Each chapter is amply footnoted, and an extensive annotated bibliography concludes the volume. . .Some seventy photographs enhance an already clear and concise presentation. . .The vigorous and open stance of the work, evident in its lack of defensive or apologetic intent, finds confirmation in the author's statement: to engage in the Old Testament hermeneutical task is to engage in a dialogue with ancient Israel. As that dialogue unfolds, the interpreter will be required to place his own view of the world on trial. . . .Kuntz has ably demonstrated that the major task of introducing the Old Testament to the interested layperson can be accomplished successfully without jargon and sophisticated detail. This volume deserves a wide readership and will serve as a very fine foundation in introductory courses to the entire Old Testament.' --From The Catholic Biblical Quarterly, by David P. Reid, SS.CC., Washington Theological Coalition, Silver Spring, Maryland:

Using Bible history as the unifying element rather than a topical approach, this book shows how archaeological discoveries in Bible lands have helped to confirm the accuracy of Scripture. The authors also deal with issues of Biblical interpretation and criticism not strictly archaeological in nature. Free's text has been updated and revised by Vos.

Provides a thorough introduction to the Old Testament prophetic books, considering their historical and social setting while surveying the important theological themes.

This book is a major contribution to the sociology of religion and to religious and biblical studies. Beginning from the classic work of Max Weber, the author analyses the origins of Judaism in the light of more recent scholarship. The result is a work that will become a standard point of reference in its field, and will be of great interest to the general reader as well as the specialist.