The biblical book of Judges contains culturally familiar stories such as that of Samson and Delilah and Deborah and Baraq. But despite the popularity of these stories, other important stories in Judges such as that of Achsah, the raped pilegesh, and the final civil war are virtually unknown to the average reader.

Approaching Judges as a unified literary document, Tammi Schneider shows that the unity of the narrative reveals that when the Israelites adhere to the covenant established with their deity they prosper, but when they stray from it disaster follows. This is true not only in the Deuteronomistic refrains, as is recognized by many scholars, but in the whole book, and is reflected in Israel's worsening situation throughout its narrative time.

Schneider also highlights the unifying themes in Judges. She emphasizes the role of gender, family relations, and theology expressed in the biblical narrative, and uses intertextuality to better understand the text of Judges and its context in the Deuteronomistic history and the Hebrew Bible.

"Tammi J. Schneider is assistant professor in the religion department at Claremont Graduate University, in Claremont, California. She received her BA in Hebrew language and literature from the University of Minnesota, and a PhD in ancient history from the University of Pennsylvania. She has excavated at a number of archaeological sites in Israel and is co-director of the excavation of Tel el-Fara' South in Israel. She is project director at the Institute for Antiquity and Christianity in Claremont and area editor for Ancient Near East for "Religious Studies Review." Her publications cover topics in Assyriology, ancient Near Eastern history, archaeology, and biblical studies."

Learn about the scriptures of the Old and New Testament in The Bible Book. Part of the fascinating Big Ideas series, this book tackles tricky topics and themes in a simple and easy to follow format. Learn about the Bible in this overview guide to the subject, brilliant for novices looking to find out more and experts wishing to refresh their knowledge alike! The Bible Book brings a fresh and vibrant take on the topic through eye-catching graphics and diagrams to immerse yourself in. This captivating book will broaden your understanding of the Bible, with: - Entries organised to follow the course of the Bible from start to finish - Packed with facts, charts, timelines and graphs to help explain core concepts - A visual approach to big subjects with striking illustrations and graphics throughout - Easy to follow text makes topics accessible for people at any level of understanding The Bible Book is a comprehensive guide essential to understanding the the most widely printed religious book of all time, aimed at self-educators and religious education students wanting to gain an overview. Here you'll find clear factual writing offering insight into key figures, scriptures and passages. Your Bible Questions, Simply Explained How does God speak through prophecy? What is the significance of the Transfiguration? Explore these questions and the ideas and beliefs key to the teachings of the most widely printed religious book of all time. If you thought it was difficult to learn about one of the world's major religions, The Bible Book presents the information in a clear layout. Learn about more than 100 of the most important Old and New Testament stories and breakdowns of some of the most well-known passages ever written from The Bible. The Big Ideas Series With millions of copies sold worldwide, The Bible Book is part of the award-winning Big Ideas series from DK. The series uses striking graphics along with engaging writing, making big topics easy to understand.

In An Introduction to Mesopotamian Religion Tammi J. Schneider offers readers a basic guide to the religion of the peoples living in the region of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers from the beginning of the Bronze Age to the time of Alexander the Great and Darius III. Drawing from extant texts, artifacts, and architecture, Schneider reveals a complex, fluid, and highly ritualized polytheism and describes both its intriguing pantheon of deities and the religious experience of the people who spent their lives serving and appeasing them.

Sarah, the wife of Abraham and the mother of Isaac in Genesis, is a central biblical character because of her role in the establishment of the people later called Israel. In recent years, the image of Sarah has not fared well in scholarship where she is depicted as petty, indulgent, self-absorbed, and the oppressor of Hagar. This study examines Sarah and her role in Genesis to understand how women function in the biblical text, how the biblical writers constructed women's roles, and how this impacts a modern reading of the Hebrew Bible.