BiblePlaces Newsletter
Vol 25, #4 - October 20, 2026
The history of ancient Israel has been a personal passion of mine since I was a teenager studying in Jerusalem, and I’m very excited to announce today that a book I’ve co-written on the subject is available from Zondervan Academic!
We wrestled for some time with the best title, and ultimately we went with the eminently creative A History of Ancient Israel! 🙂 There should be no confusion about the subject. The subtitle communicates the scope of the history: From Abraham to Exile.
My particular area of passion has always been the period of Israel’s kings, and that’s the portion of the book that I wrote—from the rise of David to the fall of Jerusalem. My co-author, Michael Grisanti, wrote about the patriarchs, exodus, conquest, judges, and reign of Saul as well as the concluding chapters on the exile and return.
What makes our book distinctive? We had three primary goals:
Comprehensive — We wanted to provide as thorough an account of Israel’s history as possible.
Conservative — We believe the Bible is God’s Word and that its historical record is accurate in every detail.
Current — We wanted readers to see how the latest archaeological discoveries illuminate our understanding of Israel’s history.
Throughout the book, I’ve included fascinating details and discoveries from my years of living in Israel, hiking the land, and exploring its ancient sites. I’ve wrestled with difficult historical questions that have intrigued me and my students over the years. Above all, I’ve sought to write a compelling narrative that shows how geographical details and archaeological discoveries provide greater insight into the biblical record of God’s people.
I plan to share some of the insights from my research in a series on the BiblePlaces Blog beginning later this week. But I wanted you to hear the exciting news first—and to let you know where you can get the book at the best price. My prayer is that this book will strengthen, encourage, and excite the hearts of many readers in the years to come.
Todd Bolen
Photographer, BiblePlaces.com
Professor of Biblical Studies, The Master’s University
Where To Buy the Book
The book is available for pre-order now, with an official release date of October 27.
For U.S. readers, the best price I’ve found for the hardcover is $35.99 from Zondervan Academic, with free shipping. Use the coupon code bibleplaces at checkout. This special offer expires October 28.
Hardcover editions
- Zondervan Academic: $35.99 with coupon code bibleplaces (regular website price $41.99)
- Christianbook: $43.99
- Amazon: $49.98 – with pre-order price guarantee
- Target: $49.99
- Barnes & Noble: $59.99
- Books-A-Million: $59.99
Digital editions
What They Are Saying
“The authors have provided us with a unique treasure, a history of Israel that distinguishes itself in three ways. First, this history embraces the Bible for what it is, God speaking to us through time and place to reveal who he is and how he thinks about us. Second, this history tells a story which is fully grounded. The authors write not just from their office desks but from their experiences in the Holy Land teaching the geography and archaeology of the biblical world. Context matters and these authors take that seriously. And third, this history is filled with an anthology of scholarly voices, some hold the authors’ views and others do not. As such, it models how Christian scholars might best engage the thoughts of others, even those with whom they disagree.”
—John A. Beck, author, Our Daily Bread Bible Atlas, The Holy Land for Christian Travelers, and A Walking Tour of the Gospels, Adjunct Faculty, Jerusalem University College
“Evangelicals will applaud the publication of this much-needed, up-to-date history of Israel. Grisanti and Bolen have provided us with an outstanding volume that is extraordinarily thorough, well-balanced, and reader/student friendly. Every evangelical pastor, scholar, and serious student of the Bible should consider adding this book to their library.”
—J. Daniel Hays, Professor of Biblical Studies Emeritus, Ouachita Baptist University, Senior Professor of Old Testament, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
“Scholars, pastors, students, and well-motivated laypeople should welcome this tour de force on ancient Israel’s history by Michael Grisanti and Todd Bolen. It stands as the most comprehensive history of Israel from an evangelical perspective, and it should serve as the gold standard for decades to come. The authors explain well the disciplines of historiography (history writing), archaeology, and more, topics often misunderstood or misused in evangelical and non-evangelical circles alike. They show that the study of history not only uses the Bible’s written texts, but also written and non-written sources outside the Bible, and yet they also acknowledge the necessary intersection of history and theology. They delve deeply into all the important historical issues from the patriarchal to the post-exilic periods. This book will serve well as a complement to overviews of the message and theology of the Old Testament. I recommend it highly!”
—David M. Howard, Jr., Professor of Old Testament, Bethlehem College and Seminary, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Professor of Old Testament, Emeritus, Bethel Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota
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All content © 2026 Todd Bolen. Text and photographs may be used for personal and educational purposes with attribution. Commercial use requires written permission.