In tracing the development of three mythological themes - the conflict between the god of order and the chaos of the sea, the rhythm of fertility and sterility in terms of divine and human sexuality, and that quality of space known as the sacred mountain - Foster R. McCurley examines religious texts from Mesopotamia, Canaan, and Egypt, cultures which had direct contact with ancient Israel. The use of these themes in both the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament is discussed, with the thematic development providing a basis for exploring the relationship between myth and history in biblical faith.