A History of the Jews and Judaism in the Second Temple Period, Volume 2: The Coming of the Greeks: The Early Hellenistic Period (335-175 BCE)(The Library of Second Temple Studies)

This is the second volume of the projected four-volume history of the Second Temple period.  It is axiomatic that there are large gaps in the history of the Persian period, but the early Greek period is possibly even less known.  This volume brings together all we know about the Jews during the period from Alexander's conquest to the eve of the Maccabaean revolt, including the Jews in Egypt as well as the situation in Judah.  Based directly on the primary sources, which are surveyed, the study addresses questions such as administration, society, religion, economy, jurisprudence, Hellenism and Jewish identity.  These are discussed in the context of the wider Hellenistic world and its history. A strength of the study is its extensive up-to-date secondary bibliography (approximately one thousand items).

Table of Contents:
Contents Preface Part I: Introduction 1.  Introduction: Principles and Method            1.1 Aims            1.2 The Basis for the Chronology of the Early Hellenistic Period            1.3 Diaspora            1.4 The Relevance of Postcolonial Theory            1.5 History Writing in the Ancient World                         1.5.1 The Question of Definitions                         1.5.2 Greek Historical Writings                         1.5.3 Did the Graeco-Roman Historians Aim for Historical Accuracy?                         1.5.4 Critical Historical Thinking among the Jews                         1.5.5 Conclusions            1.6 Writing a History of the Early Greek Period: Principles Assumed in this Book             1.7 Terminology and Other Technical Matters Part II: Sources 2.  Archaeolog            2.1 Individual Site                         2.1.1 Tel Dan                         2.1.2 Tel Anafa                         2.1.3 Ptolemais/Akko (Tell Fukhar)                         2.1.4 Shiqmona                         2.1.5 Philoteria (Beth Yera?, Khirbet el-Kerak)                         2.1.6 Beth-Shean/Scythopolis                         2.1.7 Tel Dor                         2.1.8 Tel Mevorakh                         2.1.9 Tel Dothan                         2.1.10 Samaria                         2.1.11 Shechem (Tell Balâtah)                         2.1.12 Apollonia (Arsuf; Tell Arshaf)                         2.1.13 Tel Michal (Makmish)                         2.1.14 Jaffa (Joppo)                         2.1.15 Gezer (Tell Jezer)                         2.1.16 Bethel                         2.1.17 Tell es-Sultan (Jericho)                         2.1.18 Jerusalem and Vicinity                         2.1.19 Qalandiyeh                         2.1.20 Ashdod (Azotus)                         2.1.21 Ashkelon (Ascalon)                         2.1.22 Tell el-?esi                         2.1.23 Beth-Zur                         2.1.24 En-gedi (Tel Goren, Tell el-Jurn)                         2.1.25 Tel Maresha (Tell e?-?anda?anna)                         2.1.26 Lachish                         2.1.27 Tell Jemmeh                         2.1.28 Arad                         2.1.29 Beersheba (Tel Sheva (Tell es-Saba‘)                         2.1.30 ‘Iraq al-Amir                         2.1.31 Rabbath-Ammon (Philadelphia)                         2.1.32 Gadara (Umm Qeis)                         2.1.33 Pella (?abaqa? Fa?l)             2.2 Surveys and Synthesis                         2.2.1 Introductory Comments                         2.2.2 The Galilee, Samaria, Idumaea, and Transjordan                     &nbs

About the Author :
Lester L. Grabbe is Professor Emeritus of Hebrew Bible and Early Judaism at the University of Hull. He is founder and convenor of the European Seminar in Historical Methodology. A recent book is Ancient Israel:What Do We Know and How Do We Know it?

Review :
Praise for volume 1: 'The first instalment of Grabbe's ambitious four volume project is extremely rich, methodologically self-aware, and judicious in its historical judgements. One now awaits with expectation for the remaining three volumes.'  The Expository Times