Hester's book is fortunately back in print. It was written for college students and is an excellent resource. It is not an exhaustive text - many times the author states the disclaimer that a topic is too involved to go into in detail, but this is not a serious drawback. Certainly the map quality is adequate but modern maps are a significant improvement. The coverage of the archaeology of the area is entertaining and rich in information. For the reader desiring to learn the history of the Hebrew people during this time period, this book is a good buy.