Second Edition of a classic: Stories from Ancient Cannan

[Kevin H]

A book I've enjoyed for over 40 years has reciently been released in a second edition. I hope you can start enjoying it!!! It helps to understand much Biblical background. Of course in this book Baal is the hero instead of the villian.  The story of Danel is very powerful. (Danel was one of the few Canaanites who saw the gods as personal and reached out for a relationship with the great friend he realized was there. His personal relationship caused him to become a very kind person, as well as a wise and fair judge. He wanted a son and prayed for Baal to investigate him and thus to judge him believing that if his name came up in an investigative judgement that the Baal would rule in his favor.  Even thought the son had a early tragic death, Danel's view of being judged by god has lessons for us. Many think that the Daniel of Ezekiel 14:14 is this kind, wise and faithful Canaanite King. Not too wild when you consider that our Daniel was still an unknown teenager, was very much alive, and could well have been named after King Danel.) 

https://www.amazon.com/Stories-Ancient-Canaan-Second-Michael/dp/0664232426

[Kevin H]

More keeping an eye on the Canaanite culture that the Bible was set in, and who's errors the Bible worked to correct. The Philistines came later, about, they came about the same time as Joshua, from Greece and other lands near Greece in the Mediterranean.  By the way, when they could not defeat the Hebrews, they had an attitude of "If you can't beat them join them!" and became faithful subjects to King David and a good ally through most of Israel/Judah's history.  

These stories were found in cities that were already in ruins before Abraham, much less the Philistines.