Contents -- List of Figures -- Preface -- Abbreviations General -- Reference Works -- Chapter 1 Introduction -- 1.1. History of research -- 1.2. Interdisciplinary approach and temporal limitations of the subject -- 1.3. The structure of the present book -- Chapter 2 Methodological Reflections -- 2.1. Problems of modern and biblical terminology -- 2.2. The problem of living space in domestic buildings -- 2.3. Overcoming the discrepancy between the archaeological evidence and the biblical ideal -- 2.4. Relations between different types of family households and to additional kin -- 2.5. Conclusions for reconstructing the Israelite family and household religion -- 2.6. Religious-historical concepts regarding family religion -- 2.7. Family and household religion within the religion of Israel -- Chapter 3 Elements of Domestic Cult in Ancient Israel -- 3.1. Methodology -- 3.2. Diagnostic objects and cult patterns -- 3.3. Domestic cultic assemblages in Iron Age Judah and Israel -- 3.4. Patterns of domestic cult activities in Iron Age Israel and Judah -- 3.5. Comparative data from sites outside Israel and Judah -- Chapter 4 Typology of Iron Age Cult Places -- 4.1. Domestic cult: The house as space for ritual activities (Type IA) -- 4.2. Domestic shrines (Type IB) -- 4.3. Patterns of cult places outside the domestic realm -- 4.4. Conclusions -- Chapter 5 Personal Names and Family Religion -- 5.1. Introductory questions -- 5.2. Religious beliefs expressed in Hebrew personal names -- 5.3. Family beliefs related to the conduct of everyday life -- 5.4. The deities venerated in family religion -- 5.5. Iconographic evidence for iconic stamp seals serving personal piety and family religion (R. Schmitt) -- Chapter 6 Rites of Family and Household Religion -- 6.1. Introduction -- 6.2. Rites and rituals associated with the cycle of human life.

6.3. Rites, rituals, and observances set by the calendar -- 6.4. Occasional rituals -- 6.5. Taboos and other observances -- 6.6. Family rites and rituals and their significance for the symbolic system of the family -- Chapter 7 Care for the Dead in the Context of the Household and Family -- 7.1. Introduction -- 7.2. Status of the dead -- 7.3. Mourning the dead -- 7.4. Burying the dead -- 7.5. Feeding the dead and other forms of post-mortem care for the dead -- 7.6. Commemorating the dead -- 7.7. Interrogating the dead -- 7.8. Summary and conclusions: The functions of mortuary rites in the context of family and household religion -- Chapter 8 Summary -- 8.1. Research history -- 8.2. Methodology -- 8.3. Archaeological evidence for domestic religious practices -- 8.4. Typology of cult places outside the domestic realm -- 8.5. The symbolic world of family religion based on personal names -- 8.6. Rites and rituals of family religion -- 8.7. Care for the dead in the context of household and family religion -- Additional Tables: Tables -- Appendix A -- Appendix B -- 1.1. Divine attention -- 1.2. Divine salvation -- 1.3. Divine assistance -- 1.4. Divine protection -- Appendix B2 -- 2.1. Divine attention -- 2.2. Divine rescue -- 2.3. Divine assistance -- 2.4. Divine protection -- 2.5. Trust in god -- 2.6. Relationship of personal trust in god -- Appendix B3 -- Appendix B4 -- 4.1. Terms of kinship -- 4.2. Equating a personal/tutelary god with another god -- 4.3. Equating Baal with another god -- 4.4. Equating Yhwh or other major deities with another god -- 4.5. Old epithets -- Appendix B5 -- 5.1. The distress of infertility -- 5.2. Prayers and vows -- 5.3. Birth oracles -- 5.4. Conception and pregnancy -- 5.5. Creation and birth -- 5.6. Acceptance of the child -- care, naming, and circumcision of the child -- 5.7. Misfortune in the vicinity of birth.

5.8. Infant mortality and substitute names -- Appendix B6 -- 6.1. Names related to the situation of birth -- 6.2. Personality traits -- 6.3. Comparing the child with animals and plants -- Illustration Sources: Acknowledgments -- Bibliography -- Index of Authors -- Index of Ancient Personal Names -- Index of Textual Sources Hebrew Bible / Old Testament -- Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha -- New Testament -- Extrabiblical Sources -- Index of Sites and Place-Names -- Index of Subjects.