ABSTRACT
The paper examines Max Weber’s Ancient Judaism, one of the least studied of Weber’s works, and relates Ancient Judaism to Weber’s other writings, to its background in contemporary German scholar ship, and to the question of the nature of Weber’s historical sociology. Special emphasis is given to (1) Weber’s analysis of the early Israelite tribal confederacy, (2) the role of the priesthood in ethical rational ization, and (3) the contribution of secular historiography (especially that of Eduard Meyer) as well as biblical studies to Weber’s analysis.
