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Home / Periods / Ancient Near East / Ancient Israel and Judah

Period

Ancient Israel and Judah

c. 1200–586 BCE

Ancient Israel and Judah refers to the Iron Age societies and kingdoms associated with much of the Hebrew Bible’s historical setting. It includes tribal traditions, monarchy, temple worship, conflict with neighbouring peoples and pressure from larger empires. The histories of Saul, David, Solomon, Israel, Judah and Jerusalem belong to this broader historical setting.

This period matters because it shaped biblical literature, religious identity and later Jewish, Christian and Islamic historical imagination. The kingdoms were small compared with Egypt, Assyria or Babylon, but their cultural influence became enormous. Their story is also one of borderlands, faith, monarchy, civil division and imperial threat.

Historical novels set here include Anita Diamant’s The Red Tent, Geraldine Brooks’s The Secret Chord, and many biblical fiction series focused on kings, queens, prophets and families.It also connects naturally to Assyria, Babylon, Persia and Roman Judea.

Related people for Ancient Israel and Judah

Absalom1010 BCE–979 BCE Amnonc. 12th century BCE–c. 11th century BCE David1040 BCE–970 BCE Joabc. 12th century BCE–971 BCE Nathanc. 11th century BCE–c. 11th century BCE Ramesses II1304 BCE–1214 BCE Saul1081 BCE–1011 BCE Simeon1669 BCE–c. 21st century BCE

Books

8 Best Novels About Ancient Israel and Judah

Non-Fiction

2 Best Non-Fiction Books About Ancient Israel and Judah

Histories, biographies and reference works are listed separately from the historical novels above.