The most recent advances in biblical, archaeological, and topographical scholarship have been incorporated into this long-respected work, bringing it completely up to date and making it essential for all students of biblical history. Annotation. The most recent advances in biblical, archaeological, and topographical scholarship have been incorporated into this long-respected work, bringing it completely up to date and making it essential for all students of biblical history.

Introduction: Israel and the Nations / H. G. May. -- Maps and descriptive texts. -- Palestine: Natural regions -- Palestine: Vegetation in Biblical times (map) -- Palestine: Mean annual rainfall (map) -- Lands of the Bible: Relief -- The ancient Near East before the Exodus -- The land of Canaan : Abraham to Moses -- The Exodus -- Israel in Canaan: Joshua to Samuel to Saul -- Palestine in Old Testament times (map) -- The united monarchy: David and Solomon -- Israel and ancient trade routes -- The kingdoms of Israel and Judah (c. 926-722 B.C.) -- The Assyrian Empire -- The kingdom of Judah after the Fall of Samaria (722-586 B.C.) -- The Babylonian Empire -- Palestine after the Exile -- The Persian Empire -- Jerusalem in Old Testament times -- The Hellenistic Period: Ptolemaic and Seleucid Empires -- Palestine under the Herods (c. 40 B.C.-A.D. 6) -- Palestine in New Testament times (A.D. 6-70) (map) -- The background of the New Testaments: Rome and the East -- The cradle of Christianity: The Eastern Mediterranean -- The Near East: Archaeological sites -- Palestine: Archaeological sites (map) -- Jersusalem in New Testament times -- Palestine: Archaeological sites -- Archaeology and the Bible / R. W. Hamilton.