Ancient Judaism

Judaism is one of the oldest religions in the world, and it has preserved its distinctive identity despite the extraordinarily diverse forms and beliefs it has embodied over the course of more than three millennia. A History of Judaism provides the first truly comprehensive look in one volume at how this great religion came to be, how it has evolved from one age to the next, and how its various strains, sects, and traditions have related to each other.

Josephus’ Retelling of the Bible—Now in a Fresh, Modern Translation From creation to the restoration under Ezra and Nehemiah, Antiquities of the Jews, Part One (Books 1–11) recounts the story of Israel for a Greco-Roman world in sweeping detail. Covers biblical history from Genesis through Ezra-Nehemiah. Retells familiar stories—Abraham, Moses, David, Solomon—with added detail and perspective. Preserves Jewish tradition alongside the biblical narrative, making it a unique witness to ancient interpretation. Written by Josephus, a Jewish historian and eyewitness to the first-century...

One of the principal theological themes of the Hebrew Bible is the relationship between Israel and God. At the heart of this bond is the supernatural experience at Sinai. The Torah focuses on the uniqueness of God and His relationship with the people of Israel. The singularity of this relationship amidst surrounding polytheistic cultures is so much emphasized that Israel’s principal contribution to the world of religious ideology is often regarded as uncompromising covenantal monotheism. Israelite identity and in later centuries Jewish identity was also expressed in terms of ethnicity and...

They vanished without a trace, leaving behind no temples, no monuments, no written accounts of their own. But in the barren caves of Qumran, hidden away for two thousand years, the whispers of their world remained—sealed inside fragile scrolls. The Essenes were not merely a religious sect; they were purists, visionaries, and outcasts who believed they alone held the key to divine truth. Their story is one of discipline, prophecy, and an apocalyptic expectation that would echo through history, shaping both Judaism and Christianity in ways few understand. The lost sect that defied the world...

Shephard. Warrior. King. The biblical story of David and his visionary kingdom – as it has never been told before. The first king of Israel, Saul, has angered God, and the tribes of Israel are scattered once more. By God’s order, the prophet Samuel is sent with a prophecy that is about to change a young shepherd's life and the course of the Israelites' history forever. But David, the newly chosen king, has his flaws, and despite all his greatness, he shall have to pay for his sins. Experience the epic biblical story of David and his legacy like never before in simple and straightforward...

Discover the origin of the Watchers, the fall of the angels, and one of the most influential apocalyptic texts of the ancient world. The Book of Watchers (1 Enoch 1–36) is the oldest and most foundational section of the Book of Enoch—an ancient Jewish apocalyptic work that profoundly shaped early Jewish and Christian thought. Written between the third and first centuries BCE, this text introduces themes that later appear throughout the Bible: fallen angels, forbidden knowledge, cosmic judgment, the Nephilim, and visions of heaven, hell, and divine order. Yet most modern readers ...

Two manuscripts in one book: Jewish Magic: Unlocking Everything You Need to Know about Jewish Spirituality, Mysticism, and Angels Kabbalah: Unlocking Hermetic Qabalah to Understand Jewish Mysticism and Kabbalistic Rituals, Ideas, and History With Jewish Magic as your starting point, you will discover the important things you need to know as one who follows the Jewish path. You’ll discover a life that’s far more meaningful and richer than anything you could have ever imagined by choosing to express Ein Sof’s divine will here on earth. In the first part of this book, you will: Discover ...

“Masekhet Atzilut... is a Baraita of the wisdom of the Kabbalah of the ancient Sages from the days of King David (upon him be peace), discussing the subject of the Ten Sefirot. It was written by Y’ari’shiya, Zecharia, and Eliyah the sons of Yeruham, mentioned in 1 Chronicles 8.” The Zoharic Kabbalah did not invent Kabbalah; but it did radically reinterpret and replace the older schools of Kabbalah that had been in existence since Biblical times. Masekhet Atzilut is an excellent example of the “older” Kabbalah that predates the Zohar and Zoharic influence. Masekhet Atzilut ...

Walton and Walton offer in The Lost World of the Torah a restorative vision of the ancient genre of instruction for wisdom that makes up a significant portion of the Old Testament. In the ancient Near East, order was achieved through the wisdom of those who governed society. The objective of torah was to teach the Israelites to be wise about the kind of order needed to receive the blessings of God's favor and presence within the context of the covenant. Here listeners will find fresh insight on this fundamental genre of the Old Testament canon. 

The history of early Christianity is shrouded in mystery. Jesus and his early followers were Jewish, but most Jews and Christians know little of the origins of either. Since the third and fourth centuries CE, Judaism and Christianity have crystallized to the point of apparent distinction so much to obscure shared history and even theology. Consequently, people legitimately ask what connections could Judaism and Christianity have. A variety of textual discoveries including the Dead Sea Scrolls, however, has brought about a renewed interest in the subject of early Christianity in its Jewish ...

Matthew presents Jesus Christ as the Jesus as the Meshiach Nagid, the Messiah the King, the Lion of the tribe of Judah. It was written by a Jew, to Jews, about a Jew. This book of the Bible uses more Old Testament quotes than any other. The Gospel of Matthew emphasizes the saying of Jesus, including 10 parables not found in any other Gospel. After first establishing the royal genealogy, he then goes on to focus on the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies.

Surprised by Christ combines an engrossing memoir of one man's life in historic times and situations from the Six-Day War to the Civil Rights Movement to the Jesus Movement in Berkeley with an examination of the distinctives of Orthodox theology that make the Orthodox Church the true home not only for Christian Jews, but for all who seek to know God as fully as he may be known.

Following up on the first volume, The Atheist Handbook to the Old Testament: Volume 2 takes up the challenge of providing a clear and useful guide to those wanting a better understanding of the Old Testament, including its cultural and historical background, as well as discussions on contentious topics like violence and genocide, and whether the Exodus was a real historical event. Volume two also covers the narrative of the Old Testament, from the conquest to the divided monarchy, and a brief history of Egypt to help situate the biblical text within agreed historical events.

With impressive examples von Däniken illustrates some of the numerous cities that were dug underground as safe harbors from the destructive boulders. Miles and miles of underground passageways have been discovered around the world as they made space for villages and entire cities. To end the book, von Däniken presents his newest discoveries of an event: In 2017, the author was informed that strange mummified creatures were found near the Peruvian village of Nazca. One of the mummies, apparently several thousand years ago, had been implanted with a metal plate under the skin.

For 2,500 years, the Celts have continued to fascinate those who have come into contact with them, yet their origins have remained a mystery and even today are the subject of heated debate among historians and archaeologists. Barry Cunliffe's classic study of the ancient Celtic world was first published in 1997. Since then, huge advances have taken place in our knowledge: new finds, new ways of using DNA records to understand Celtic origins, new ideas about the proto-urban nature of early chieftains' strongholds. All these developments are part of this fully updated edition.

In this groundbreaking book, husband and wife authors Derek P. Gilbert and Sharon K. Gilbert show how the giants of old shaped the worldview and religion of the Hebrews—and the terrifying role they’ll play in the end times.

Unlock the Hidden Depths of The Bible Dive into the sacred writings that have shaped Judaism, Christianity, and the study of ancient texts. This large print, easy-to-read volume brings together the lost books from the Old Testament era—Enoch, Jasher, and Jubilees—each with clear introductions, exegesis, and hermeneutics to guide your Bible study. Why You Will Love This Book: Large Print & User-Friendly Designed for comfortable reading and in-depth study. Expert Explanations & Historical Insights Each book features background on its place in the oral tradition, connections to the Torah, ...

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER From the acclaimed author of No god but God comes “a lucid, intelligent page-turner” (Los Angeles Times) that challenges long-held assumptions about Jesus. “Riveting . . . [Reza] Aslan synthesizes Scripture and scholarship to create an original account...

Reveals the tradition of goddess worship in early Judaism and how Jesus attempted to restore the feminine side of the faith Provides historical and archaeological evidence for an earlier form of Hebrew worship with both male and female gods, including a 20th-century discovery of a Hebrew...

Judaism is one of the oldest religions known to man, with a tradition that reaches back to the dawn of recorded history. It is a faith that has contributed richly to civilization and has grown and developed and kept pace with the changing spiritual needs of more than a hundred generations. It has a genealogy, a ritual, and a wealth of lore and custom richer, perhaps, than any other religion on earth. It has survived in the face of relentless persecutions, despite the fact that its adherents are vastly outnumbered and are scattered over the face of the entire globe. For all these reasons, as...