Customer Reviews

The Quest for the Historical Israel: Debating Archaeology and the History of Early Israel (Archaeology and Biblical Studies)

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This is an excellent introduction to the latest research in Biblical Archaeology, presenting a middle ground between the Minimalist and Maximalist debate which has sought to polarise the issue over the last 15 years. Both Finkelstein and Mazar are leading exponents in the field of Post-processual Archaeology, but neither are afraid of examining where the Biblical record is confirmed or challenged by the findings of modern archaeology. For a balanced view, with good editorial summaries, this book looks at the various periods and brings the reader up-to-date with the findings of the latest ecavations.

This book is a great resource for those who are interested in the history of ancient Israel. It is written in a manner that is very informative, but not so academic that the material is meaningless to people to aren't scholars. The book is divided into sections, with each part consisting of a chapter by Finkelstein and a chapter by Mazar. The intent of the authors is to examine and evaluate the archaeological data that pertains to the history of Israel, which includes a look at what archaeology says about the period of the patriarchs, the story of the exodus, the conquest, and the monarchy. The book demonstrates in an engaging way that, while the authors disagree on the interpretation of some of the archaeological data they are both in agreement that the Hebrew Bible (the Old Testament) contains historical data within its pages, and is not, as some scholars would assert, a completely fictional work. The book also serves as a handy summary reference for the archaoleogical data pertaining to these topics.

In this collection, two prominent Israeli archaeologists share their credo and philosophy as well as their views on the history of early Israel. They are not far apart. Both make it clear that they differ from revisionists or minimalists like Philip Davies and Thomas Thompson and also from the biblical school founded by William Albright. Finkelstein calls his position the center between those extremes.

The view from the center is that the Deuteronomistic History, Torah, and many prophets were compiled and edited in the late monarchy, not in the post-exilic or Hellenistic periods as revisionists claim. This view also maintains that there is historical value in the biblical historical accounts. Finklestein makes it clear that he cannot go along with revisionists who maintain that much of the Hebrew Bible was invented out of thin air. He says: "It is unthinkable that the biblical authors invented stories only in order to serve their aims. Had they done that they would have lost credibility among the people of Judah, their target population." (p. 18)

These lectures also bring out significant disagreements between Finkelstein and Mazar. Mazar still maintains there was a united monarchy under David and Solomon while Finklestein argues that David and Solomon were no more than chieftains in an underdeveloped south that was not yet a state. Mazar also stretches the period of biblical origins to the eighth through the seventh centuries rather than limiting it to the reign of Josiah. He criticizes Finklestein as seeing too much of the Deuteronomistic History as a reflection of Josiah projected backward, for Mazar thinks the collecting and editing involved passing down recollections showing the influence of earlier periods. Both scholars believe in viewing history retrospectively by honing in on the period of Josiah and looking backward from that point as through a telescope to see what parts of early history have value.

All in all, these scholars are not far apart on most of what they have to say. One of their biggest differences is that they use different approaches to dating Yigael Yadin's discoveries at Megiddo, thus leading to their divergences over the united monarchy.

This collection can be recommended to anyone interested in seeing how archaeology impacts the history of early Israel. I would also recommend the statements of personal philosophy in the first and last lectures they give.

I have grown up reading the biblical stories recounted in the Hebrew bible as essentially historical recollections. I have always had some reservations about their accuracy as historical fact and their exaggerations of the scale of the Exodus. This book dispels any notion that the Bible records history accurately or factually. This book strongly suggests that the Exodus, as described in the Bible, is a work of fiction and that the 40 year wandering in the desert is more a theological wandering than a historical event. It does appear, from having read this book twice, that much of Israel's history is fabricated for political purposes and exaggerated toward the Southern Kingdom's benefit. Even the revered Solomon's very existence is questionable. At best he may be a fairly minor king whose exploits and building projects are either non-existent or greatly enhanced by later scribal embellishment.

Israel Finkelstein is surprisingly candid about presenting the research and inescapable conclusions with honesty and candid love for science regardless of whom the conclusions may displease.

I am halfway the book right now, have a anormous collecting of works on this topic, and am always on the look out for the ultimate wisdom of the day. Well, this is as close as you can get! I only wish authors would state that today's facts may be tomorrow's old news. Just as the Allbright's, the De Vaux's and the Yadin's have been re-interpreted, so will today's knowledge turn out to be in need of many revisions one day soon. As long as the minimalists stay away from the essence of this great book that's fine with me!

It is important for non-archaeologists to be aware that in November of 2010, Israel Finkelstein publicly admitted that his "minimalist" or "low" chronology--the basis for this work--does not accord with the archaeological data we now have. This is true in the light of the excavations of Khirbet Qayafah, all of which is 10th or 11th century BCE, and is a united monarchy border outpost, and the Jerusalem excavations of Eilat Mazar, 10th and 9th century, substantiating the united monarchy again. He publicly stated that the views propounded in this book are INCORRECT.
Any non-professional reader must be aware of this in evaluating this now-outdated publication.

This book promotes minimalist views (the title is not honest). For most archaeologists the historical Israel is merely a matter of ideology. "Political correctness" has decreed a priori that the Old Testament writings are historically unreliable and of negligible value.