Introduction
For many people, the Old Testament can feel like it comes from a world entirely of its own: a world of patriarchs, prophets, kings, covenants, miracles and commandments. It is often read as though its stories appeared separately from the cultures around it. But historically, ancient Israel and Judah were never isolated. The people who produced, preserved and edited these writings lived in one of the most connected regions of the ancient world. They lived alongside Canaanite city-states, traded with Egypt, encountered Assyrian armies, experienced Babylonian exile and later lived under Persian rule. Their languages, religious practices, political systems and everyday lives were shaped by constant contact with neighbouring peoples. This was a world where stories travelled. Merchants, soldiers, diplomats, prisoners, scribes and migrants moved between cities and kingdoms. Kings exchanged letters. Temples kept records. Scribes copied laws, prayers, royal inscriptions, myths and wis...