Includes bibliographical references (page 142) and index.

Mesopotamia. Historical geography (The Sumerians -- The desert tribesmen -- Semitic domination) Religion (Anu and Enlil -- Enki, god of water -- Shamash, the sun-god -- Sin, the moon god -- Inanna or Ishtar, the mother-goddess -- Nebo and Marduk -- Ereshkigal and Nergal) -- The myths (The Babylonian new year festival -- The Babylonian creation myth -- Ishtar's descent to the underwolrld -- The myth of Adapa -- The Gilgamesh epic -- Gilgamesh and Enkidu -- The exploit against the giant Huwawa -- Gilgamesh spurns the goddess Ishtar -- The death of Enkidu -- Gilgamesh seeks immortality -- Utnapishtim and the flood -- Gilgamesh gives up his quest) -- The king (The myth of Etana -- The legend of Sargon of Akkad -- The king's social responsibility -- The tree of life).

Canaan. Historical geography (The land -- Cultural development) -- Religion (Canaanite texts -- El, the chief god -- Baal, the executive of the heavenly court -- Goddesses -- Minor deities -- The agricultural cycle) -- The myths (The Baal myth -- Baal and Anat -- The building of the house -- Baal's death and descent to the underworld -- The return of Baal and Mot's death -- The birth of the gracious and beautiful gods -- Myth in incantation) -- The king (The legend of Krt -- The legend of King Dn�il -- The birth of Aqht -- The death of Aqht -- Dn�il as dispenser of fertility -- The maiden avenges Aqht's death -- Sacral kingship).

Israel. In the beginning -- Myth and history in the Old Testament (The great deliverance and covenant -- The escape at the Sea of Reeds -- The appearance of God at Sinai -- The Deuteronomistic history -- The conquests of Joshua -- Aetiological myths -- The stories of Samson -- The sagas of Elijah and Elisha) -- Myth in poetic imagery in the Psalms and prophets -- The reign of God (The Feast of Tabernacles -- God as creator -- Job and the kingship of God -- Apocalyptic literature -- The triumph of the Messiah -- The development of Satan) -- The king and the Messiah (The king in the sacral community of Israel -- The king as executive of the Divine King -- The Davidic Messiah -- The Messianic banquet -- The son of Man).

Discusses the religion and mythology of Mesopotamia, Canaan, and Israel.