The Rural Community in Ancient Israel during Iron Age II
This article focuses on the social organization of Iron Age II villages in ancient Israel. Based on an analysis of house size, size and distribution of agricultural-industrial installations, the presence of terrace systems, storage facilities, and other elements such as a boundary wall, several conc...
| Published in: | Bulletin of ASOR |
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| Main Author: | |
| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
The University of Chicago Press
2000
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| In: |
Bulletin of ASOR
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| Online Access: |
Volltext (JSTOR) Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Summary: | This article focuses on the social organization of Iron Age II villages in ancient Israel. Based on an analysis of house size, size and distribution of agricultural-industrial installations, the presence of terrace systems, storage facilities, and other elements such as a boundary wall, several conclusions are presented. The basic social units were large extended families that dwelled together. These families were organized in larger kinship groups (probably lineages) which, to some extent, were probably responsible for production and storage facilities and can be seen as "corporate groups." The lineage frequently comprised an entire village, but in some cases several lineages constituted a settlement. In any event, in light of the archaeological evidence it seems that there was a forum responsible for decision-making on the village level, even when the village was larger than the lineage. These conclusions are compared with the biblical/historical data concerning the organization of the "traditional Israelite society" and are examined in light of our knowledge of similar societies throughout the world and in the ancient Near East. |
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| ISSN: | 2161-8062 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: American Schools of Oriental Research, Bulletin of ASOR
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.2307/1357482 |