For the external history, E. Schrader, _Cuneiform Inscr. and the Old Testament_ (Eng. trans. by O. C. Whitehouse, 1885-1888) is still helpful; among the less technical works are J. F. McCurdy, _History, Prophecy and the Monuments_; B. Paton, _Syria and Palestine_ (1902); G. Maspero, _Hist. ancienne_ (6th ed., 1904); A. Jeremias, _Alte Test. im Lichte d. Alten Orients_ (2nd ed., 1906); and especially _Altoriental. Texte u. Bilder zum Alten Test._, ed. by H. Gressman, with A. Ungnad and H. Ranke (1909). The most complete is that of Ed. Meyer, _Gesch. d. Alterthums_ (2nd ed., 1907 sqq.). That of Jeremias follows upon the lines of H. Winckler, whose works depart from the somewhat narrow limits of purely "Israelite" histories, emphasize the necessity of observing the characteristics of Oriental thought and policy, and are invaluable for discriminating students. Winckler's own views are condensed in the 3rd edition--a re-writing--of Schrader's work (_Keilinschr. u. d. Alte Testament_, 1903), and, with an instructive account of the history of "ancient nearer Asia," in H. F. Helmolt's _World's History_, iii. 1-252 (1903). All modern histories of any value are necessarily compromises between the biblical traditions and the results of recent investigation, and those studies which appear to depart most widely from the biblical or canonical representation often do greater justice to the evidence as a whole than the slighter or more conservative and apologetic reconstructions.[6] Scientific biblical historical study, nevertheless, is still in a relatively backward condition; and although the labours of scholars since Ewald constitute a distinct epoch, the trend of research points to the recognition of the fact that the purely subjective literary material requires a more historical treatment in the light of our increasing knowledge of external and internal conditions in the old Oriental world. But an inductive and deductive treatment, both, comprehensive and in due proportion, does not as yet (1910) exist, and awaits fuller external evidence.[7]