A friend recently started a blog for TMS Alumni (that being alumni of The Master’s Seminary). I would be one of them, having graduated with an M.Div. in 1996 (and nearly finished with a Th.M.). Instead of posting here today, I decided to contribute to that blog. My comments are why I like A Biblical History of Israel, by Provan, Long and Longman (2003). You can read it here. The blog is too young for me to know how profitable it will be, but I know there’s at least one post there that I completely agree with!
Todd: If you could assign one book on the history of Israel for the TMS “Geography of Israel” class to read before they come to Israel, what would it be? We read Kaiser this year, and Dennis Swanson told me to tell him what I thought because he might change it. If you tell me what YOU think in terms of a replacement book, I can tell him that’s what I think. :)
For History of Ancient Israel class, I prefer Merrill as the best text (as you know). If I was teaching it at grad level, I’d add Provan et al and Shanks, Ancient Israel, revised ed.
For a geography class, I’d probably use a good Bible atlas, like Macmillan or Holman (together with various other texts). Those give a decent enough history for a geography class, in my opinion.
In no case would I use Kaiser. Funny too but yesterday I read on Dennis’ blog his (good) thoughts on plagiarism. Ironic if he requires Kaiser.