Book excerpt: Covering the period of the thirteenth century B.C.E. to the fall of Jerusalem in 586 b.c.e., Isserlin, a senior scholar, synthesizes the social, historical, geographical, and archaeological materials relevant to studying ancient Israel in its ancient Near Eastern context. Isserlin has an accessible style and brings the latest in biblical research to students and general readers. The stunning array of 85 photographs -- plus maps, line-drawings, and charts -- make this a rich resource for scholars as well.