This book provides an introduction to the languages that are important for the study of the Hebrew Bible and ancient Israel. It contains articles on Akkadian, Arabic, Aramaic, Egyptian, Biblical and Epigraphic Hebrew, Post-biblical Hebrew, Hittite, Phoenician, the Northwest Semitic dialects (Ammonite, Edomite, and Moabite), and Ugaritic. The contributors are Peggy L. Day, Frederick E. Greenspahn, Jo Ann Hackett, Harry A. Hoffner, Jr., John Kaltner, Charles R. Krahmalkov, Baruch A. Levine, David Marcus, Simon B. Parker, and Donald B. Redford. A general introduction by John Huehnergard discusses the importance of the study of Near Eastern languages for biblical scholarship, helping to make the volume an ideal resource for persons beginning an in-depth study of the Hebrew Bible.Paperback edition is available from the Society of Biblical Literature (www.sbl-site.org).