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The Lost World of the Israelite Conquest: Covenant, Retribution, and the Fate of the Canaanites (Volume 4) (The Lost World Series) Paperback – August 15, 2017

by John H. Walton (Author), J. Harvey Walton (Author)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 132 ratings
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Biblical Foundations Award Winner

Holy warfare is the festering wound on the conscience of Bible-believing Christians. Of all the problems the Old Testament poses for our modern age, this is the one we want to avoid in mixed company.

But do the so-called holy war texts of the Old Testament portray a divinely inspired genocide? Did Israel slaughter Canaanites at God's command? Were they enforcing divine retribution on an unholy people? These texts shock us. And we turn the page. But have we rightly understood them?

In The Lost World of the Israelite Conquest, John Walton and J. Harvey Walton take us on an archaeological dig, excavating the layers of translation and interpretation that over time have encrusted these texts and our perceptions. What happens when we take new approaches, frame new questions? When we weigh again their language and rhetoric? Were the Canaanites punished for sinning against the covenanting God? Does the Hebrew word herem mean "devote to destruction"? How are the Canaanites portrayed and why? And what happens when we backlight these texts with their ancient context?

The Lost World of the Israelite Conquest keenly recalibrates our perception and reframes our questions. While not attempting to provide all the answers, it offers surprising new insights and clears the ground for further understanding.

The books in the Lost World Series follow the pattern set by Bible scholar John H. Walton, bringing a fresh, close reading of the Hebrew text and knowledge of ancient Near Eastern literature to an accessible discussion of the biblical topic at hand using a series of logic-based propositions.

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  1. Book 4 of 7
    The Lost World
  2. Print length
    288 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    IVP Academic
  5. Publication date
    August 15, 2017
  6. Dimensions
    5.5 x 0.8 x 8.25 inches
  7. ISBN-10
    0830851844
  8. ISBN-13
    978-0830851843
  9. See all details
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The Lost World of Genesis One book cover The Lost World of Scripture book cover The Lost World of Adam and Eve book cover The Lost World of the Israelite Conquest book cover
The Lost World of Genesis One The Lost World of Scripture The Lost World of Adam and Eve The Lost World of the Israelite Conquest
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Reader Level Intermediate Introductory Intermediate Intermediate
Description Walton presents and defends twenty propositions supporting a literary and theological understanding of Genesis 1 within the context of the ancient Near Eastern world and unpacks its implications for our modern scientific understanding of origins. Walton and Sandy summarize what we know of orality and oral tradition as well as the composition and transmission of texts in the ancient Near East and the Greco-Roman world, and how this shapes our understanding of the Old and New Testaments. Creating a new way forward in the human origins debate, Walton's groundbreaking insights into Genesis 2–3 create space for a faithful reading of Scripture along with full engagement with science. Walton and Walton take us on an archaeological dig, reframing our questions and excavating the layers of translation and interpretation that cloud our perception of these difficult texts & keenly recalibrate our perception and reframe our questions.
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The Lost World of the Flood book cover The Lost World of the Torah book cover 'The Lost World of the Prophets' book cover
The Lost World of the Flood The Lost World of the Torah The Lost World of the Prophets
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Reader Level Intermediate Intermediate Intermediate
Description The Genesis flood account has been probed and analyzed for centuries. In order to rediscover the biblical flood, we must set aside our own cultural and interpretive assumptions and visit the distant world of the ancient Near East. Using a consistent methodology to look at the Torah through the lens of the ancient Near East, Walton & Walton offer an understanding that will have dramatic effects in interpreting the text and in discerning the significance of the Torah for today. Walton provides a clear, helpful guide to the nature of biblical prophecy and apocalyptic literature that will help us avoid potential misuse and reclaim the message of the prophets for our lives.
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Also by John H. Walton:

Wisdom for Faithful Reading book cover Old Testament Theology for Christians book cover How to Read Job book cover Understanding Scientific Theories of Origins book cover The IVP Bible Background Commentary book cover
Wisdom for Faithful Reading Old Testament Theology for Christians How to Read Job Understanding Scientific Theories of Origins The IVP Bible Background Commentary
Customer Reviews
4.5 out of 5 stars
17
4.6 out of 5 stars
88
4.7 out of 5 stars
67
4.2 out of 5 stars
30
4.8 out of 5 stars
621
Price $18.99 $30.31 $15.69 $68.39 $24.99
Description: Principles and Practices for Old Testament Interpretation From Ancient Context to Enduring Belief Guide to reading and studying the book of Job Cosmology, Geology, and Biology in Christian Perspective Cosmology, Geology, and Biology in Christian Perspective
Author(s): John H. Walton John H. Walton John H. Walton and Tremper Longman III Robert C. Bishop, Larry L. Funck, Raymond J. Lewis, Stephen O. Moshier, and John H. Walton John H. Walton, Victor H. Matthews, and Mark W. Chavalas
Ebook available? ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The conquest of Canaan is arguably the most intractable ethical problem in the Bible, and to date no solution has garnered a consensus. These authors offer a genuinely fresh approach to mitigate the difficulties. Deeply rooted in ancient Near Eastern mores and reconsideration of key biblical words and texts, the arguments challenge many commonly held ideas. While provocative at times, this book deserves careful consideration." -- John W. Hilber, professor of Old Testament, Grand Rapids Theological Seminary

"The violence in the book of Joshua has long vexed devoted Bible readers. The father and son authors of this fine volume offer a fresh, more pacific reading of the book in light of what they deem to be relevant ancient Near Eastern parallels. They present their case in a series of propositions that rebut inadequate (in their view) modern solutions and support their alternative view with impressive close rereadings of biblical and extrabiblical texts and illuminating Hebrew word studies. They argue, for example, that the Hebrew verb herem means 'to remove from use,' not 'to annihilate,' and that its application to human communities 'is intended to destroy identity, not to kill people.' Indeed, ancient cultural ideas of order (versus disorder), identity (not ethnicity), and the suzerain-vassal model of what the authors call 'covenant order' drive their argument. Ultimately, they demonstrate that to read the Bible from an ancient (versus modern) perspective may yield a clearer, less distorted understanding of its controversial topics. They have proffered a commendable, thorough, thought-provoking rethinking of violence in Joshua and its implications for Christian identity today." -- Robert L. Hubbard Jr., professor emeritus of biblical literature, North Park Theological Seminary

"Into the many recent discussions concerning the ethical and moral problems of the Israelite conquest, Walton and Walton offer a much needed corrective, effectively arguing that to properly understand these troublesome texts one needs to interpret them in light of their ancient context. They boldly challenge common assumptions regarding the conquest, carefully examine biblical and ancient Near Eastern texts, and helpfully guide readers to apply these lessons, using them as a template to make sense of the New Testament." -- David T. Lamb, Allan A. MacRae Professor of Old Testament, Biblical Theological Seminary, author of God Behaving Badly and Prostitutes and Polygamists

"The Waltons have a provocative thesis that revises many popular and traditional views. They are attentive students of the Bible and its ancient context, and their argument is detailed. Bible readers who have wrestled with the implications of the conquest will find this work helpful." -- James Matichuk, Bible Study Magazine, Jan/Feb 2018

Review

"Into the many recent discussions concerning the ethical and moral problems of the Israelite conquest, Walton and Walton offer a much needed corrective, effectively arguing that to properly understand these troublesome texts one needs to interpret them in light of their ancient context. They boldly challenge common assumptions regarding the conquest, carefully examine biblical and ancient Near Eastern texts, and helpfully guide readers to apply these lessons, using them as a template to make sense of the New Testament."

-- David T. Lamb, Allan A. MacRae Professor of Old Testament, Biblical Theological Seminary, author of God Behaving Badly and Prostitutes and Polygamists

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ IVP Academic (August 15, 2017)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 288 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0830851844
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0830851843
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 11.9 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.8 x 8.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 132 ratings

About the author

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John H. Walton

John H. Walton

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John H. Walton (Ph.D., Hebrew Union College) is professor of Old Testament at Wheaton College. Previously he was professor of Old Testament at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, Illinois. Some of his books include Ancient Near Eastern Thought Essential Bible Companion), Old Testament Today (with Andrew Hill), Genesis NIV Application Commentary and IVP Bible Background Commentary (with Victor Matthews and Mark Chavalas).

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
132 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

S & L Perry
5.0 out of 5 stars Very. Well. Done.
Reviewed in the United States on June 27, 2021
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Glad I bought it in spite of my concerns about the author's dad's slippery slope allowing for God orchestrated Monkey to Man Evolution if "science" leads us there. This book is very helpful in understanding our responsibility as Christians. We are not given all the answers to all of our problems. We are given a record of how God acts toward those with whom He is in a mutual voluntary covenant where outsiders (Canaanite identity) is peripheral. The purpose of the Conquest is reasonable and rational when we understand its true context and meaning. Even when we fully understand the Bible, we must act responsibly making wise decisions in real time. We must mature regardless of knowledge.
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Jim B
5.0 out of 5 stars A MUST READ
Reviewed in the United States on August 22, 2017
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A must-read for all, especially for seriously-committed Christian and Jewish believers. The Waltons have explained, in detail, how we have all been misled by incorrect English translations of key terms in Joshua and elsewhere about the Amorites, Canaanites Amalekites and others, and the Conquest itself. The Conquest is NOT what you thought it was.

These wrong translations and conclusions drawn form the Conquest have, probably and very sadly, led to very bad actions by Christians in the past: the Crusades, the genocide of native Americans, and the executions of heretics by Protestants and Catholics in the middle ages, come to mind.

I would especially encourage pastors to read this book ad then actively reach their congregations the truth about the Canaanites and the Conquest. Of course, this will also require un-teaching them what they think they already know. And children's Bible story books may need fixing as well.
14 people found this helpful
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darren
4.0 out of 5 stars This should not be your first or only book by John Walton
Reviewed in the United States on August 12, 2020
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This should not be your first or only book by John Walton. For readers without a decent background in biblical studies and/or who are unfamiliar with the bible as ANE literature this book may be too much to digest.

Walton's exegetical work is well researched and his insights from the ANE worldview are illuminating but the presentation is lacking. While Walton's other books are easy to read and understand, I had to reread parts of this book several times and am still not sure I get all of what he is saying.

Overall, I appreciate Walton's scholarly contribution to the evangelical world of OT studies and that he takes time to make try to make it accessible to the general public. The more I study serious evangelical scholars work, the more I see how the Bible accomplishes it's purpose as ancient literature in it's cognitive context . Most hangs up I have had with the Bible are to due imposing modern ideas of historiography, literature, and genre on the text .
11 people found this helpful
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Vincent S Artale Jr
5.0 out of 5 stars This is a must read!
Reviewed in the United States on September 27, 2018
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If someone, anyone wants to know one of the most coherent approaches to the Israelite Conquest this is the book to read.
2 people found this helpful
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Stuart Kinniburgh
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Quality
Reviewed in the United States on July 24, 2019
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As advertised - quick shipping.
One person found this helpful
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Phillip Long
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States on December 7, 2017
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I meant to buy the real book not the kindle.
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gareader
3.0 out of 5 stars Not as good
Reviewed in the United States on March 9, 2018
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Not as good as Ancient Near Eastern History and Culture by William H. Stiebing
3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

sylvain lapointe
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in Canada on January 12, 2018
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Good
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E. Morgan
5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 20, 2017
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interesting book, full of information elsewhere difficult to find
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Gregory L. Smith
4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
Reviewed in Canada on May 17, 2018
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More esoteric and less compelling than others in the series.
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Teemacs
4.0 out of 5 stars It ain't necessarily so...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 15, 2019
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“The things that yo’ lible, t’read in the Bible” as Sportin’ Life put it in “Porgy and Bess”. And so it is here, sort of. Professor Walton has written a number of books based on the premise that the Bible was written for a world and, as he puts it, a cultural river, very different from ours, and it has to be understood in those terms. In this book, joint-authored by his son, he takes on one of the most problematic aspects of the Old Testament, the apparently divinely-authorised genocide of the local inhabitants when the Israelites finally enter the Promised Land.

So, do the words of the Biblical text, as rendered in English to we non-Hebrew readers, actually say what they appear to say? The Waltons think not – in essence, their summary is that the Hebrew word translated “utterly destroy” in modern Bibles actually does not mean this at all, but rather, “put beyond use” in the sense of destroying the identity of the Canaanites, but not necessarily the Canaanites themselves. They were simply to be driven out, not because they were wicked or sinful, but because the land was to be God’s land. It was the land that would bear God’s name and they had no place in it. It returns to Prof. Walton’s thesis of the importance of order in the ancient world, something as important to them as are human rights to us. Order was what was imposed on Canaan by the Israelites acting as God’s agents.

To get to this conclusion, be prepared to wade through much erudite technical discussion of the meanings of Hebrew words and comparison with the practices of other local civilisations, which the Israelites mirrored to a considerable extent. This can be tedious – you sometimes find yourself having to reread passages and think “would you please explain your explanation” – but the effort is worth it for the insight it gives into this ancient and far different world, with its completely different way of thinking.

But is it convincing? It’s like one of those scientific textbooks, where you need a certain minimum basic knowledge to comprehend it at all, otherwise a sea of alien words and concepts simply washes over you. However, I found it sufficiently comprehensible to make a solid case. As Prof. Walton says, this was a very different world with often very different values, not all of which would meet with our modern approval, but then, that’s not the point. The point is to illustrate one step along the way to the new covenant. In a final chapter, the Waltons equate the “put beyond use” concept with New Testament theology as expressed in Paul’s writings.
6 people found this helpful
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