Grounded Theology in the Hebrew Bible
- Biblical Studies & Commentaries
- History & Biography
- Publisher: Baker Academic (Baker Publishing Group)
- Published: 2025
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Publisher's Description
Many books focus on either the cultural contexts of ancient Israel or the theology of the Hebrew Scriptures. This unique and insightful work, coauthored by a biblical scholar with expertise in archaeology and a biblical theologian, bridges the gap between these two disciplines. This book shows readers how the everyday life of ancient Israelites shaped their relationship with God and how understanding their cultural context illuminates the profound connections between their world and their faith. Grounded Theology in the Hebrew Bible explores topics such as households, food, marriage negotiations, covenants, warfare, and more. Each chapter begins by examining archaeological insights into the everyday practices and beliefs of ancient Israelites, shedding light on how these inform the theology that develops throughout Scripture. This approach enhances our understanding of ancient Israel's theologies. For the Bible student, pastor, or serious lay reader, this volume is an invitation to dig deeper into the cultural background and theology of the Hebrew Bible. The book includes suggestions for further reading, images, figures, and discussion questions.
Endorsements (5)
“Backfish and Shafer-Elliott offer readers a rare gift: the ability to see. They serve as interpretive optometrists, helping us to perceive how various aspects of Israel’s cultural and material context illuminate the theology of the Hebrew Bible. From households and covenant to worship and warfare, they connect the ground to God. Prepare to look down and then to look up to discern the depths of divine accommodation through the interconnectedness of culture and theology.”
“Backfish and Shafer-Elliott bring their respective expertise in biblical theology and archaeology, complemented by years of classroom teaching experience, to this one-of-a-kind resource that, quite literally, ‘grounds’ theological inquiry in the Hebrew Bible. Cautioning against typical approaches that impose modern strictures on ancient texts, Backfish and Shafer-Elliott astutely derive their thematic categories from the cultural contexts of ancient Israel gleaned from archaeology and comparative explorations of ancient Near Eastern texts to engage relevant but oft-neglected topics including ancient conceptions of households, kingship, food, and hospitality, among others, in this eminently readable introduction that will serve students for years to come.”
“Reading the Bible is a cross-cultural experience. Grounded Theology in the Hebrew Bible makes the ancient context accessible and understandable, helping students and adult learners understand what they are reading and why it matters. My own students will benefit from the book’s clear organization and orientation to key aspects of culture on display in the Hebrew Bible. Backfish and Shafer-Elliott prove able guides to the ancient context and its implications for the Bible’s message. Bravo!”
“Reading the Old Testament can be confusing if we don’t understand the various contexts in which the people in Israel lived, ate, married, worshiped, engaged in warfare, and viewed kingship, etc. This helpful volume by Dr. Elizabeth Backfish and Dr. Cynthia Shafer-Elliott examines how Israel’s cultural contexts can enrich our understanding of Israel’s theologies. The thoughtful trajectory of each chapter moves from an insightful archaeological discussion of Israel’s cultural context to an exploration of how that understanding affects our theology of the Hebrew Bible. It is a valuable resource for those interested in a deeper understanding of the Old Testament.”
“Grounded Theology in the Hebrew Bible bridges the gap between cultural-historical context and theological reflection, showing how ancient Israel’s everyday life shaped its theology—and how that theology can still shape modern faith. Backfish and Shafer-Elliott offer a work that is academically credible yet highly accessible. It is spiritually formative, blending thoughtful scholarship, engaging writing, and modern illustrations to bring the ancient world and its theological insights to life.”
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