In this work, Karel van der Toorn explores the social setting, the intellectual milieu, and the historical context of the beliefs and practices reflected in the Hebrew Bible. While fully recognizing the unique character of early Israelite religion, the author challenges the notion of its incomparability. Beliefs are anchored in culture. Rituals have societal significance. God has a history. By shifting the focus to the context, the essays gathered here yield a deeper understanding of Israelite religion and the origins of the Bible.

Born 1956; 1985-98 professor of ancient religions in the Universities of Utrecht and Leiden; 1998-2004 dean of the faculty of humanities at the University of Amsterdam; 2006-11 president of the University; currently faculty professor of religion and society at the University of Amsterdam.