Dictionary of Daily Life in Biblical & Post-Biblical Antiquity, Volume 2:De-H

Most Bible dictionaries on the market miss a number of cultural and sociological issues of interest to the study of the Scriptures. The Dictionary of Daily Life in Biblical and Post-Biblical Antiquity aims to fill this void. Written and edited by a world-class historian and a highly respected biblical scholar, with contributions by many others, this unique reference work provides background cultural and technical information on the world of the Hebrew Bible and New Testament from 2000 BC to approximately AD 600.

Articles explain details of domestic life, technology, culture, laws, and religious practices, and are accompanied by extensive bibliographic material for further exploration. Articles range from 5-20 pages long. Scholars, pastors, and students (and their teachers) will find this to be a useful resource for biblical study, exegesis, and sermon preparation.

This second volume covers around 41 topics from De-Ma, including: Dentistry & Teeth, Diseases & Plagues, Drama & Theaters, Dreams, Education, Food Production, Games & Gambling, Harbors, Heating & Lighting, Insects & Bees, Jewelry, Kisses & Embraces, Laws & Crimes, Literacy, Marriage, and many more.

This wonderful resource is much more than a dictionary. It is a compendium of substantive essays on numerous facets of daily life in the ancient world. I am frequently asked by pastors and students for recommendations on books that illuminate the manners, customs, and cultural practices of the biblical world. Now I have the ideal set of books to recommend.
--Clinton E. Arnold
Dean and Professor of New Testament, Talbot School of Theology (Biola University)

One of the important things that people need in addition to the biblical text is a solid reference work that addresses the everyday life and contextual aspects of the world of the Bible. The authors of this volume provide that essential aid in an easy-to-understand and intriguing manner. They help the Bible come alive and in the process transform a foreign and ancient setting into an approachable and interesting place to visit again and again.
--Victor H. Matthews
Professor of Religious Studies and Dean of the College of Humanities and Public Affairs, Missouri State University

Professors Edwin Yamauchi and Marvin Wilson, both distinguished scholars, have assembled a team of experts to produce a unique set of dictionaries that will be a great resource for students, pastors, and scholars alike. This is not your standard Bible dictionary, but one that focuses on aspects of daily life in Bible times, addressing interesting and sometimes puzzling topics that are often overlooked in other encyclopedias. I highly recommend the Dictionary of Daily Life in Biblical and Post-Biblical Antiquity and will be giving it "shout-outs" in my classes in the years to come.
--James K. Hoffmeier
Professor of Old Testament and Near Eastern Archaeology, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School