A Reader of Ancient Near Eastern Texts

Sources for the Study of the Old Testament

Edited by Michael D. Coogan

New to this Edition:

This is a first edition.

A Reader of Ancient Near Eastern Texts

Sources for the Study of the Old Testament

Edited by Michael D. Coogan

Description

In A Reader of Ancient Near Eastern Texts: Sources for the Study of the Old Testament, leading biblical scholar Michael D. Coogan presents a collection of texts that introduce students to the larger world surrounding the Old Testament. Dating from the third millennium BCE to the turn of the era, the readings have been carefully selected from the most accurate sources and arranged by genre and place of origin. They provide historical correlations to people and events mentioned in the Bible; parallels to biblical genres, motifs, institutions, and concepts; and windows into the lives of ordinary people. The texts are enhanced by chapter and reading introductions, extensive biblical references, and illustrations.

Package this anthology with Michael D. Coogan's The Old Testament: A Historical and Literary Introduction to the Hebrew Scriptures, Second Edition (OUP, 2010) or A Brief Introduction to the Old Testament: The Hebrew Bible in Its Context, Second Edition (OUP, 2011) for use in your course and save your students 20%. Please contact your Oxford University Press Sales Representative at 800.280.0280 for details.

A Reader of Ancient Near Eastern Texts

Sources for the Study of the Old Testament

Edited by Michael D. Coogan

Preface
Credits
Introduction
Writing Systems
Languages
Writing Materials
Genres
Bibliography
1. MYTHS
MESOPOTAMIA
1. Enuma Elish
2. A Creation Myth from Sippar
3. A Creation Myth from Ashur
4. Dumuzi and Inanna
UGARIT
5. Baal
HITTITE
6. El-kunirsha and Ashertu
7. The Disappearance of the Storm God
8. The Song of Kumarbi
EGYPT
9. From the Pyramid of Pepi I
10. From the Pyramid of Pepi II
11. The Memphite Theology
12. The Contendings of Horus and Seth
2. EPICS
MESOPOTAMIA
13. Gilgamesh
14. Atrahasis
UGARIT
15. Kirta
16. Aqhat
HITTITE
17. Kanesh and Zalpa
18. Appu and His Two Sons
EGYPT
19. The Tale of the Two Brothers
3. HISTORIOGRAPHIC TEXTS
20. The Sumerian King List
21. The Birth Legend of Sargon
22. The Curse of Akkad
23. The Apology of Hattusili III
24. The Merneptah Stela
25. The Battle of Qarqar
26. Kilamuwa
27. The Mesha Stela
28. The Tel Dan Stela
29. Obelisk of Shalmaneser III
30. Stela of Adad-nirari III
31. Annals of Tiglath-pileser III
32. Summary Inscription of Sargon II
33. Chronicles of Merodach-baladan
34. Campaign of Sennacherib
35. Karatepe
36. Summary Inscription of Esar-haddon
37. Chronicle of Nebuchadrezzar II
38. Administrative Text of Nebuchadrezzar II
39. Chronicles of Nabonidus
40. The Cyrus Cylinder
4. LEGAL AND COMMERICAL TEXTS
COLLECTIONS AND CODES
MESOPOTAMIA
41. Code of Hammurapi
HITTITE
42. Hittite Laws
TREATIES
HITTITE
43. Treaty between Suppiluliuma I and Niqmaddu II
44. Notice of Tribute to be paid to Hatti by Ugarit
45. Treaty between Shattiwaza and Suppiluliuma I
46. Treaty between Mursili II and Tuppi-Teshub
47. Treaty between Hattusili III and Rameses II
ARAMAIC
48. Treaty between Bar-gayah and Matiel
MESOPOTAMIA
49. Treaty between Ashur-nirari V and Matiel
50. Treaty between Easr-haddon and Baal of Tyre
51. The Vassal Treaties of Esar-haddon
CONTRACTS
52. Murashu Tablet
ELEPHANTINE PAPYRI
53. Marriage Contract
54. Transfer of Real Estate
55. Document of Manumission
COMMERCIAL TRANSACTIONS
56-59. Samaria Ostraca
60-61. Tell Qasileh Ostraca
62-65. Arad Ostraca
66-70. Inscribed Jars
71. Inscribed Handles from Gibeon
72. Seals and Seal Impressions
73. Weights
5. LETTERS
ROYAL CORRESPONDENCE
74. From Suppiluliuma I to Niqmaddu II
75. From Piha-walwi to Ibiranu
76. From Naptera to Pudu-Heba
77. From Rameses II to Hattusili III
AMARNA LETTERS
78. From Rib-Hadda to the Pharaoh
79. From Labayu to the Pharaoh
80. From Abdi-Heba to the Pharaoh
81. From a Royal Official to King Ashurbanipal
82. From Adon to Neco II
CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN OFFICIALS
LACHISH LETTERS
83. Lachish Letter 1
84. Lachish Letter 2
85. Lachish Letter 3
86. Lachish Letter 4
ARAMAIC LETTERS FROM EGYPT
87. From Arsames to Armapiya
88. Between Jewish Leaders at Elephantine and the Governor of Judah
PERSONAL CORRESPONDENCE
89. From an Egyptian Worker to His Supervisor
90. From an Israelite Worker to His Supervisor
91. Concerning Passover
92. Concerning Repair of a Garment
93. Concerning Groceries and the Sabbath
6. HYMNS, PRAYERS, LAMENTS, AND RITUALS
HYMNS AND PRAYERS
EGYPT
94. Hymn to the Aten
MESOPOTAMIA
95. Letter-prayer to Ninmug
96. Hymn to Ishtar
97. Prayer to Anu
98. Hymn to Ishtar
99. Hymn to Marduk
100. Prayer to a Personal God
101. Hymn to Enlil
102. Coronation Prayer
103. Prayer of Ashurbanipal
104. Prayer of Nabonidus to Sin
105. Prayer of Nabonidus to God Most High
106. Praise of Babylon
CITY LAMENTS
107. Lament for Ur
108. Lament for Isin
OTHER SUMERIAN LAMENTS
109. The Raging Sea Will Not be Calmed
110. He Is a Storm: At the Howling
111. The God Manifest
RITUALS
MEDICAL TEXTS
112. For Headache
113. For a Woman Who Has Suffered Miscarriage
114. Garlic for Sickness
115. For Toothache
OTHER RITUAL TEXTS
116. Instructions for HittiteTemple Officials
117. God and Sacrifice Lists from Ugarit
118. Marseilles Tariff
7. BURIAL TEXTS
FUNERARY TEXTS
EGYPT
119. Stela of Intef
BOOK OF THE DEAD
120. Hymn to the Sun God Re
121. The Weighing of the Heart
122. Hymn to Osiris
123. Negative Confession
124. For Going Out into the Day
125. Shabti Inscription
126. Carpentras Stela
UGARIT
127. Royal Funerary Text
PHOENICIAN
128. Ahiram Sarcophagus
129. Ahiram Graffito
130. Tabnit
131. Eshmunazor
132. Batnoam
SAMAL
133. Kuttamuwa
HEBREW
134. Silwan
135. El-Qom
136. Ketef Hinnom
PERSIAN
137. Mausoleum of Cyrus
8. COMMEMORATIVE AND DEDICATORY TEXTS
ARAMAIC
138. Tell Fekheriye
139. Zakkur
140. Bar-Rakib
141. Daskyleion
142. Keseçek Köyü
143. Saraidin
SAMAL
144. Panamuwa
PHONECIAN
145. Yehimilk
146. Yehawmilk
147. Bodastart
148. Pyrgi
149. Tell Siran Bottle
150. Siloam Tunnel
151. Ekron
152-55. Kuntillet Ajrud
156. Khirbet Beit Lei
9. LOVE POEMS
157-61. MESOPOTAMIA
162-68. EGYPT
10. PROPHETIC TEXTS
EGYPT
169. The Prophecy of Neferti
170. Wenamun
MESOPOTAMIA
MARI LETTERS
171. To Zimri-Lim from Nur-Sin
172. To Zimri-Lim from Inib-shina
173. To Zimri-Lim from Shibtu
174. To Zimri-Lim from Yarim-Addu
175. To Zimri-Lim, from an unknown sender
176. An Oracle from Eshnunna
NEO-ASSYRIAN ORACLES
177-79. To Esarhaddon
TRANSJORDAN
180. Deir Alla
11. WISDOM LITERATURE
EGYPT
181. Satire on the Trades
182. Dialogue of a Man with His Soul
183. Song of the Harper
184. Instruction of Amenemhet
185. Instruction of Amenemope
186. In Praise of Scribes
MESOPOTAMIA
187. Proverbs
188. Advice to a Prince
189. The Babylonian Theodicy
190. "I will praise the lord of wisdom"
191. A Dialogue of Pessimism
192. A Drinking Song
193. In Praise of Scribes
HURRIAN
194. The Song of Release
ARAMAIC
195. Ahikar
. Abecedaries
196. Ugaritic Abecedary
HEBREW ABECEDARIES
197. Izbet Sartah
198. Tel Zayit
199. Kuntillet Ajrud
200. Gezer Calendar

A Reader of Ancient Near Eastern Texts

Sources for the Study of the Old Testament

Edited by Michael D. Coogan

Author Information

Michael D. Coogan is Lecturer in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament at Harvard Divinity School, Director of Publications for the Harvard Semitic Museum, and Professor Emeritus of Religious Studies at Stonehill College. He is the editor of Oxford Biblical Studies Online and The New Oxford Annotated Bible.

A Reader of Ancient Near Eastern Texts

Sources for the Study of the Old Testament

Edited by Michael D. Coogan

Reviews and Awards

"Without a doubt, I would use this volume. In studying the Hebrew Bible, students need to develop an appreciation not only for ideas expressed in the larger ancient Near Eastern context; they must also be able to recognize the diverse literary forms found both in the ancient Near East and the Bible Itself."--W. Dennis Tucker, George W. Truett Theological Seminary, Baylor University

"The strengths of this book lie in its organization of sources by genre; the use of up-to-date translations; the provision of contextual information through the general introduction, chapter introductions, and footnotes; the biblical cross-references; and the author's depth and breadth of knowledge of the relevant sources and their significance for interpreting the Hebrew Bible."--Greg Schmidt Goering, University of Virginia

"This book is excellent and a very welcome addition to Coogan's Old Testament textbook."--Steven Leonard Jacobs, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa