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{en} Stephen L. Cook, The Social Roots of Biblical Yahwism (Atlanta, GA: Society of Biblical Literature, 2004).

Abstract

Sure to provoke discussion and debate as it offers a unique approach to some old and perplexing issues in the history of ancient Israel and its religion, Cook’s study is a bold new proposal for synthesizing the social history of Israel’s religious traditions. Among the many “Yahwisms” coexisting in ancient Israel was an initially small minority stream of theological tradition composed of geographically and socially diverse groups in northern and southern Israel. These groups shared a religious commitment to a covenantal, village-based, land-oriented Yahwism that arose before the emergence of Israelite kingship. It eventually rose to dominance, and its theology provided robust resources for dealing with the Babylonian exile. It thus came to occupy a prominent place in the present canon of the Hebrew Bible. Cook combines detailed study of biblical texts with a carefully constructed social-scientific method and body of data to argue for the early origins of biblical Yahwism. This book is written to be accessible to lay readers and also of significant interest to Hebrew Bible students and specialists.

Contents

The basic features of biblical Yahwism -- The flowering of biblical Yahwism -- Sinai theology in the eighth century B.C.E. -- The place of Jerusalem in southern Sinai theology: promises to Jerusalem and Zion in Micah -- A social-scientific model for excavating the roots of biblical Yahwism -- The social roots of biblical Yahwism I: Micah and the clan elders of Judah -- The social roots of biblical Yahwism II: Hosea and the traditional priests of the Israelite tribes.

External links

• [ Google Books]