Jewish Literature between the Bible and the Mishnah: A Historical and Literary Introduction
by George W.E. Nickelsburg
Reviewed by James VanderKam

Although the Hebrew Bible is the best-known text from the Jewish past, Jews wrote far more literature than the books that now constitute the Bible. A significant portion of this additional material has survived.

The Natural History of the Bible: An Environmental Exploration of the Hebrew Scriptures
by Daniel Hillel
Reviewed by Paula Wapnish

Combining history, archaeology and Biblical criticism with insight from the environmental sciences, this book illustrates the profound effect that environment played in shaping ancient Hebrew society and culture.

Jerusalem’s Traitor: Josephus, Masada, and the Fall of Judea
By Desmond Seward
Reviewed by Louis H. Feldman

Was Josephus a hero or a traitor? As noted by Seward, several of Josephus’s actions might well lead a reader to suspect Josephus’s loyalty. Seward argues that Josephus, far from being a quisling, did his best to save Judea from the inevitable catastrophe.

Studying the Ancient Israelites: A Guide to Sources and Methods
by Victor H. Matthews
Reviewed by Robin Gallaher Branch

A well-documented, thoughtful approach to the world and peoples of the Old Testament. Readers will find here a helpful educational tool that provides background material in a scholarly, engaging and concise manner.

The Architecture of Herod, the Great Builder
by Ehud Netzer
Reviewed by Hillel Geva

Archaeologist and architect Ehud Netzer summarizes and interprets the numerous building projects Herod undertook in the Land of Israel throughout his reign (37–4 B.C.E.).

Israel’s Ethnogenesis: Settlement, Interaction, Expansion and Resistance
by Avraham Faust
Reviewed by William G. Dever

In his innovative book, Faust thoroughly investigates the Israelite people. Rather than simply reconstructing the Israelites’ origins, he investigates the long, complex process of their “ethnogenesis,” the evolution of self-identity, using what can be called “ethnic markers.”