Final answer:
Bullock likely analyzed the Old Testament's depiction of Sheol as a shadowy, lifeless place similar to Mesopotamian beliefs. He might have concluded that the concept of an afterlife in ancient Israel evolved to be more hopeful over time, influenced by neighboring cultures.
Step-by-step explanation:
How Bullock presented the doctrine of Sheol in the Old Testament (OT) and his conclusion about the idea of an afterlife in ancient Israel revolves around biblical and extra-biblical perspectives concerning the realm of the dead. Bullock likely examined texts referring to Sheol as a shadowy place, much like the Mesopotamian view, where all the dead are gathered in a state of semi-existence, devoid of the vibrancy of life. This gloomy depiction is consistent with the general ancient Near Eastern pessimism regarding the afterlife, contrasting vividly with the later Christian doctrine of salvation and eternal life through Christ.
Old Testament theology does not flesh out the concept of an afterlife as specifically as later religious texts. Bullock might have concluded that in ancient Israel, there was an evolution of thought from a vague notion of post-mortem existence toward a more hopeful outlook as influenced by the interaction with other cultures and religious philosophies, like those coming from Egypt and surrounding regions, which embraced more detailed conceptions of the afterlife. Hence, while the OT contains sparse information on Sheol, and the fate of the dead seemed bleak, a transition can be inferred in Jewish thought that opened the possibility for more nuanced ideas of an afterlife.