Introduction and General Christopher T. Begg, Brent A. Strawn, Fred W. Guyette, Malcolm Rosenberg, Atilla Bodor, and David Yoder 799. [The Storm God and the Sea] Noga Ayali-Darshan, The Storm-God and the Sea. The Origin, Versions, and Diffusion of a Myth throughout the Ancient Near East (tr. Liat Keren; ORA 37; Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2020). Pp. xxi + 282. €109. ISBN 978-3-16-155954-9. The tale of the combat between the Storm-god and the Sea that began circulating in the early 2nd millennium b.c.e. became one of the best-known ANE myths. Its widespread dissemination in distinct versions across disparate locations and time periods—Syria, [End Page 276] Egypt, Anatolia, Ugarit, Mesopotamia, and Israel—calls for analysis of all the textual variants, in order to determine its earliest form, geo-cultural origin, and transmission history. In undertaking this task, A.-D. examines such documents as the Astarte Papyrus, the Pišaiša Myth, the Songs of Hedammu and Ullikummi, the Baal Cycle, Enūma eliš, and pertinent biblical texts (e.g., Habakkuk 3; Psalm 18//2 Samuel 22; and Job 41). She interprets these and other related writings philologically according to their provenance and comparatively in the light of parallel texts. The examination of a story that appears in all ANE cultures also calls for a discussion of the theology, literature, and history of those societies and the way each shaped its version of the myth. [Adapted from published abstract.] A.-D.'s volume goes back to a Hebrew publication of 2016 that itself originated as her Hebrew University of Jerusalem dissertation of 2012–2013. It consists of an introduction ("The Ancient Tale of the Storm's Combat with Sea"), followed by seven chapters, each with their component sub-sections: (1) Egyptian Literature; (2) Hurro-Hittite Literature; (3) Ugaritic Literature; (4) Babylonian Literature; (5) Biblical Literature; (6) Inner Syrian Literature; and (7) The Evolution of the Story of the Storm-god's Combat with Sea in the Ancient Near East (this consisting of four main sections, i.e. A. The Sources According to Their Provenance; B. The Distribution of the Motifs; C. The Development of the Tale Type; and D. Epilogue). The volume comes with a variety of tables, diagrams, and illustrations, a map of the ANE, an extensive bibliography, and three indexes (names, places, references).—C.T.B. 800. [Biblical Archaeology] John D. Currid, The Case for Biblical Archaeology. Uncovering the Historical Record of God's Old Testament People (Phillipsburg, NJ: R&R Publishing, 2020). Pp. xviii + 263. Paper $29.99. ISBN 978-1-62995-360-1. This volume, by a long-time practitioner in the field, provides a copiously illustrated account of the ANE context of the "Land of the Bible," the main regions of that land, and key aspects of ancient Israel's life. The volume opens with a foreword by David W. Chapman, and a preface by C. It continues with an introduction (chap. 1), followed by three main parts, each consisting of a series of chapters (each chapter concludes with a listing of key terms, discussion questions, and suggestions for further reading). Part 1: Setting contains chaps. 2–5, entitled respectively: Geography of the Land of the Bible; The Archaeological Study of the Land of the Bible; Tell Excavations; and A Short History of the Lands of the Bible. Next, Part 2: A Journey through the Land features chaps. 6–12: Galilee/The Sea of Galilee Region; The Jezreel Valley; The Negev; The Shephelah; The Jordan River Valley; The Southern Coastal Plain; and The Central Highlands. Thereafter, Part 3: Aspects of Society comprises chaps. 13–19: Agriculture and Herding; Water; Architecture; Ceramics; The Hebrew Language in Archaeology; Burial Practices; and Small Finds. The volume concludes with three appendixes (Basic Timeline of the Ancient Near East; The Kings of Israel and Judah; Extrabiblical References to the Kings of Israel and Judah), a glossary, select bibliography, plus indexes of Scripture and Subjects and Names.—C.T.B. 801. [City Gate in Ancient Israel and the ANE] Daniel A. Frese, The City Gate in Ancient Israel and Her Neighbors: The Form, Function, and Symbolism...
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May 22, 2024
Miguel A González Block 
