Acknowledgments
Abbreviations
Introduction
Part 1 The Varieties of Sociopolitical Experience in the Late Bronze Age Levant
Setting the Context of the Late Bronze Age Levant: Defining Policies and Perceptions
Cities of the Southern Levant
Lands of the Southern Levant
Other Categories of People in the Land: The Sutû and the ’apîrû
Part 2 Two Case Studies on the Varieties of Sociopolitical Experience in the Late Bronze Age Levant: The Land of Amurru and the Land of Shechem
Tracing the Political Trajectory of the Land of Amurru
The House of Lab’ayu and the Land of Shechem
The Land of Shechem in the longue durée
The Land before the Rise of Israel
Part 3 The Transition from the Late Bronze Age to the Iron I and the Rise of Early Israel
Setting the Context of Premonarchic Israel
Shechem, Israel, and the Historical Memories in Judges 9: The King and the Collective
Shechem, Israel, and the Historical Memories in Judges 9: The Shechemite Identity, the Identity of Shechem, and Identity in Israel
Reflections of the Multipolity Decentralized Nature of Early Israel
Conclusion: From Decentralization to Centralization and Back: Israel’s Return to Its Roots
Bibliography
Indexes
Index of Authors
Index of Scripture
Index of Other Ancient Sources