Author: Finkelstein, Israel. Title: Bible unearthed. Publisher:  New York: Simon and Schuster, 2002

Sodtke, Paul F.

English

Scholars Commons

Consensus
Volume 29
Issue 1 Hospitality - The Healing of the World Article 14
5-25-2003
The Bible Unearthed: Archaeology's New Vision of
Ancient Israel and the Origin of its Sacred Texts
Paul F. Sodtke
Follow this and additional works at: http://scholars.wlu.ca/consensus
This Book Reviews is brought to you for free and open access by Scholars Commons @ Laurier. It has been accepted for inclusion in Consensus by an
authorized editor of Scholars Commons @ Laurier. For more information, please contact scholarscommons@wlu.ca.
Recommended Citation
Sodtke, Paul F. (2003) "The Bible Unearthed: Archaeology's New Vision of Ancient Israel and the Origin of its Sacred Texts,"
Consensus: Vol. 29 : Iss. 1 , Article 14.
Available at: http://scholars.wlu.ca/consensus/vol29/iss1/14
Book Reviews 139 
The Bible Unearthed: Archaeology's New Vision of Ancient 
Israel and the Origin of its Sacred Texts 
Israel Finkelstein and Neil Asher Silberman 
New York: Simon and Schu1>ter, 2002 
385 pages, $18.70 Softcover 
If you want one clear and well written book to bring you up to date 
on the histc;>rical and archaeological investigation of the Hebrew 
Bible, this is it. A renowned archaeologist teams up with a fine textual 
scholar to present a thorough and eminently readable summary of 
current research. 
Both the subtitle and the introduction (22) claim that this is a 
"new vision" of biblical history. The prologue claims that recent 
archaeological work has "revolutionized the study of early Israel" 
(3). For those familiar with this field of ~tudy during the past couple 
of decades, there is nothing particularly new or startling here. On the 
other hand, readers who have not kept abreast of the discipline since 
seminary some years ago, or who are not familiar with the academic 
study of the Hebrew Bible, may well be surprised, even shocked. 
Finkelstein and Silberman argue persuasively that it was the time 
of King Josiah, the latter part of the seventh century BCE, which was 
the formative period for the major portion of the biblical story (Torah 
and Deuteronomistic history). The decline of the Assyrian empire, 
prior to the expansion of the Babylonian empire, provided a unique 
window of opportunity for the small states of the Levant. Since the 
larger and wealthier northern kingdom of Israel had been devastated 
by the Assyrian , it was now Judah's turn to shine, and to dream of "a 
great, Pan-Israelite state" guided by a centralized cult (283). 
Many would disagree, of course. Even so, earlier traditions were 
probably used in the creation of a national epic. Nevertheless, 
Finkelstein and Silbe1man are able to show how decisively the 
archaeological and historical evidence fails to support or even 
outright contradicts the details of the story. Students of the Bible will 
be familiar with challenges to the historicity of the patriarchal 
narratives, the exodus and the conquest. But in addition, the authors 
show that even the legendary united kingdom of David and Solomon 
is missing from the archaeological record. In fact, the evidence 
suggests that prior to the seventh century BCE, Judah was a relative 
backwater, and Jerusalem a rather small city. Thus they appropriately 
Published by Scholars Commons @ Laurier, 2003
140 Consensus 
call the northern state "Israel's forgotten first kingdom" (chapter 7), 
and argue that Jerusalem only belatedly came to prominence. 
If Finkelstein and Silberman find little historical accuracy in the 
biblical story, this does not lessen their appreciation of the Bible. 
Indeed their entire book is suffused with admiration for the biblical 
vision and its enduring power. In particular, it survived and adapted 
to the exile and return, when others would have given up. 
This book often reads more like a historical novel than a dry, 
academic tome. Yet it shows an intimate knowledge of the entire 
range of historical and archaeological research in the field. The lack 
of footnotes will occasionally annoy the specialist, but the 
bibliography (356-372) is carefully chosen, and is organized by 
chapters and topics. All in all, this book is highly recommended! 
Paul Sodtke 
Wilfrid Laurier University 
Waterloo, Ontario 
Preaching Mark 
Bonnie Bowman Thurston 
Minneapolis: Fortress, 2002 
21 8 pages, $27.90 Softcover 
If you are in the habit of preaching from the Gospels, this affordable 
volume will be a helpful addition to your library. Bonnie Brown 
Thurston has written a dry but useful book for preachers of Mark. 
There is nothing very exciting about it, to be sure, but her succinct 
and detailed approach will likely endure in value. 
Preaching Mark addresses the whole of the Markan Gospel (not 
just lectionary selections). Thurston has divided the material into 
eight progressive chapters. Within each chapter is a brief introduction 
followed by chapter-and-verse pericopes (sadly lacking helpful 
titles). Further reading is given at the end of each pericope (useful for 
those who have access to scholarly journals, frustrating for those who 
do not!); endnotes and two appendices (lectionary readings, helps for 
preaching Mark) are also provided. 
http://scholars.wlu.ca/consensus/vol29/iss1/14


The Bible Unearthed: Archaeology\u27s New Vision of Ancient Israel and the Origin of its Sacred Texts

Wilfrid Laurier University

ConsensusVolume 29Issue 1 Hospitality - The Healing of the World Article 145-25-2003The Bible Unearthed: Archaeology's New Vision ofAncient Israel and the Origin of its Sacred TextsPaul F. SodtkeFollow this and additional works at: http://scholars.wlu.ca/consensusThis Book Reviews is brought to you for free and open access by Scholars Commons @ Laurier. It has been accepted for inclusion in Consensus by anauthorized editor of Scholars Commons @ Laurier. For more information, please contact scholarscommons@wlu.ca.Recommended CitationSodtke, Paul F. (2003) "The Bible Unearthed: Archaeology's New Vision of Ancient Israel and the Origin of its Sacred Texts,"Consensus: Vol. 29 : Iss. 1 , Article 14.Available at: http://scholars.wlu.ca/consensus/vol29/iss1/14Book Reviews 139 The Bible Unearthed: Archaeology's New Vision of Ancient Israel and the Origin of its Sacred Texts Israel Finkelstein and Neil Asher Silberman New York: Simon and Schu1>ter, 2002 385 pages, $18.70 Softcover If you want one clear and well written book to bring you up to date on the histc;>rical and archaeological investigation of the Hebrew Bible, this is it. A renowned archaeologist teams up with a fine textual scholar to present a thorough and eminently readable summary of current research. Both the subtitle and the introduction (22) claim that this is a "new vision" of biblical history. The prologue claims that recent archaeological work has "revolutionized the study of early Israel" (3). For those familiar with this field of ~tudy during the past couple of decades, there is nothing particularly new or startling here. On the other hand, readers who have not kept abreast of the discipline since seminary some years ago, or who are not familiar with the academic study of the Hebrew Bible, may well be surprised, even shocked. Finkelstein and Silberman argue persuasively that it was the time of King Josiah, the latter part of the seventh century BCE, which was the formative period for the major portion of the biblical story (Torah and Deuteronomistic history). The decline of the Assyrian empire, prior to the expansion of the Babylonian empire, provided a unique window of opportunity for the small states of the Levant. Since the larger and wealthier northern kingdom of Israel had been devastated by the Assyrian , it was now Judah's turn to shine, and to dream of "a great, Pan-Israelite state" guided by a centralized cult (283). Many would disagree, of course. Even so, earlier traditions were probably used in the creation of a national epic. Nevertheless, Finkelstein and Silbe1man are able to show how decisively the archaeological and historical evidence fails to support or even outright contradicts the details of the story. Students of the Bible will be familiar with challenges to the historicity of the patriarchal narratives, the exodus and the conquest. But in addition, the authors show that even the legendary united kingdom of David and Solomon is missing from the archaeological record. In fact, the evidence suggests that prior to the seventh century BCE, Judah was a relative backwater, and Jerusalem a rather small city. Thus they appropriately Published by Scholars Commons @ Laurier, 2003140 Consensus call the northern state "Israel's forgotten first kingdom" (chapter 7), and argue that Jerusalem only belatedly came to prominence. If Finkelstein and Silberman find little historical accuracy in the biblical story, this does not lessen their appreciation of the Bible. Indeed their entire book is suffused with admiration for the biblical vision and its enduring power. In particular, it survived and adapted to the exile and return, when others would have given up. This book often reads more like a historical novel than a dry, academic tome. Yet it shows an intimate knowledge of the entire range of historical and archaeological research in the field. The lack of footnotes will occasionally annoy the specialist, but the bibliography (356-372) is carefully chosen, and is organized by chapters and topics. All in all, this book is highly recommended! Paul Sodtke Wilfrid Laurier University Waterloo, Ontario Preaching Mark Bonnie Bowman Thurston Minneapolis: Fortress, 2002 21 8 pages, $27.90 Softcover If you are in the habit of preaching from the Gospels, this affordable volume will be a helpful addition to your library. Bonnie Brown Thurston has written a dry but useful book for preachers of Mark. There is nothing very exciting about it, to be sure, but her succinct and detailed approach will likely endure in value. Preaching Mark addresses the whole of the Markan Gospel (not just lectionary selections). Thurston has divided the material into eight progressive chapters. Within each chapter is a brief introduction followed by chapter-and-verse pericopes (sadly lacking helpful titles). Further reading is given at the end of each pericope (useful for those who have access to scholarly journals, frustrating for those who do not!); endnotes and two appendices (lectionary readings, helps for preaching Mark) are also provided. http://scholars.wlu.ca/consensus/vol29/iss1/14

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The Bible Unearthed: Archaeology\u27s New Vision of Ancient Israel and the Origin of its Sacred Texts

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