The Bible and the ancient Near East

The essays of this volume, presented to Professor Albright on his seventieth birth-day, were written by nine of his outstanding pupils and five of this country's most eminent specialists in the study of the ancient Near East. The essays range almost as wide as the interests of the great scholar to whom they are dedicated, covering developments and trends of the past few decades in OT literature, history, language, archeology, paleography, chronology; South Arabian studies; Sumerian literature and religion; Egyptian language, literature, and religion; Hittite and Anatolian studies. John Bright in the opening essay on "Modern Study of Old Testament Literature" well says, "It is fitting that a volume in honor of William Foxwell Albright should begin with a chapter on Biblical literature and criticism. For, while it is possible that future generations will remember Professor Albright less as a Biblical critic sensu stricto than for his countless contributions to linguistic science, archeology, and the whole field of ancient Oriental history, it is probable that few men of our times have affected the course of Old Testament studies more profoundly than he. More than this, he has awakened an interest in, and imparted an understanding of, the Bible to many students who have sat at his feet, as the present writer would like gratefully to testify."--Http://www.jstor.org (Sep. 15, 2013).