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Cover

A Reader of Ancient Near Eastern Texts

Sources for the Study of the Old Testament

Edited by Michael D. Coogan

Publication Date - 31 August 2012

ISBN: 9780195324921

240 pages
Paperback
7-1/2 x 9-1/4 inches

In Stock

A rich collection of ancient Near Eastern texts, selected from the best sources and arranged by genre and place of origin

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.

New to this Edition

  • This is a first edition.

About the Author(s)

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.

Reviews

"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

Table of Contents

    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

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