Customer Reviews

The Stones Cry Out: What Archaeology Reveals About the Truth of the Bible

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Price's book is a wonderful basic level survey of archeology as it relates to the Bible. A fascinating read that you wont want to stop reading, this book is well worth the cost.

This book is also a builder of faith for the one who believes the authenticity of the bible and a good source of verifiable facts that skeptics should consider. There are a lot of references to the Bible in order to make sense of the archeology.

The book is written in a simple style, with ordered, digestable sections. The author conveys a good sense of the excitement of the discoveries that have been made over the years. Just as importantly, he explains the difficulties and tediousness of the field.

Topics include the Ark, King David, the dead sea scrolls, the temple, the exodus .. basically all of the major topics in the scripture are addressed here. There are also a lot of pictures/photographs that were helpful. The end of the book also contains a series of useful charts and tables that were very helpful; chronologies of Israel, outlines of archeological eras, lists of museums, you name it.

I also found that the author did not oversell the facts. That is, he used the evidence wisely and did not try to go beyond the facts to prove his theories. When he speculates it is clearly mentioned. He is academically honest.

This little tome is a good update to Joseph Free's 'Archaeology and Bible History'.

The author does a good job of presenting the finds with the liberal and conservative viewpoint. He is definitely conservative and believes in the inerrancy of Scripture, but is very wise to warn those of us in the field of apologetics not to make rash statements of how 'archaeology proves the Bible' or go too far in stating what the evidence we do have acutally proves.

I finished the book hoping that an update would soon appear, and wishing there was some way to increase funding for the worthwhile endeavor of archaeology. What an exciting job to have!

This book is technical but readable, accurate and realistic, and much too short. I highly recommend it.

Archaeology is one of many tools used to help our understanding of the Bible. With this great little resource you will be given access into this realm with a minimum of discomfort and expense. Read about the Rosetta Stone, the Behistun Inscription, Beni-Hasan Mural, Patriarchs, Sodom & Gomorrah, the Exodus, Jericho, King David, the Temple, the Ark, Philistines, Hezekiah, Dead Sea Scrolls and discoveries concerning Jesus. This is an easy read that shouldn't alienate anyone who is looking to bring the world of the Bible up close and personal. -- Moza

I read this book quite a while ago and remember that it was a good read. One impression I had was that the writer doesn't point out the obvious: Prior to the time of the Kings, there is a virtual dirth of evidence for anything. For example, in the chapter on the Exodus, after sifting through all of the dialogue, you come to realize that millions of pre-Israelites spent forty years in the desert and there is not a potsherd of evidence. At the end of the chapter, the author all but admits this. I realize that absence of evidence is not usually evidence of absence, but when you should expect to find evidence and you don't, well... To add some balance to what I've just said, this book was written in 1997 and I think that more evidence has emerged since then.

The chapter on Sodom was interesting, but full of speculation.

Read this book and enjoy it, but be sure to read what isn't said.

Prof. Price did a great job! For this book he interviewed the leading archaeologist in Israel about "how the spade can shade new light on the bible". The reader starts to a timemachine-travel and will meet King David and Solomon as well as Jesus and the people of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Prof. Price is today the director of the Qumran Plateau Excavations (digs in 2002 and 2004) and he is a well trained archaeologist. He shows the problems of the sensational claims like by Silberman & Finkelstein about the clash between the stories in the bible and the archaeological findings. Prof. Price present a so called "maximalist" position but a very good one rooted in the newest findings. Every reader will be getting exited by the new findings which shed new light on the old book.

This book has so many strong points:

First of all, the author's uncompromising integrity gives his information tremendous plausibility. He rejects popular theories that lack true evidence, even if those theories would support his own beliefs. He's very honest about the limits of archeology, whether you are a biblical skeptic or a believer. He also admits that, due to ongoing discoveries, any book on archeology is outdated before it goes to print. Such humility is a refreshing change from how many archeologists, both minimalists (biblical scholars who minimize the authority of biblical text as a reliable source of historical and factual information about the past)and maximalists (biblical scholars who give maximum authority to the Bible as a source of, etc.), present their finds. Regardless, the finds that have stood the test are presented here in fascinating detail, both photographic and literary.

Price also emphasizes archeology's limits (mostly due to financial constraints). For example, Price writes that only 10% of discovered cuneiform tablets have been published. So yes, 50,000 tablets is a lot, but remember that means that there are 450,000 tablets that haven't been published. There is a lot of information like this in the book.

The discoveries and their conclusions are fascinating. I particularly liked the chapter discussing Sodom, its possible location, and the evidence discovered there showing that the houses had burned from the rooftops and downward.

Great photos throughout the book, and good organization, including a glossary.

Price maintains an admirably respectful tone when writing about minimalist archeologists, even though their beliefs and archeological philosophies must totally contradict his.

Price is obviously and enthusiastically Christian, but he doesn't in any way force his religious views on the reader, nor does he put down other religions. I'm Jewish, so I think I would've picked up on any slights (to my own religion, at least).

The style and tone of his writing is enjoyable. He has a sense of fun and wonder about his work that really comes through. It could be a dry subject, but Price gives it life.

Just a FYI: Here in Israel, a minimalist archeologist repeatedly insists that archeological evidence shows that camels were absolutely not domesticated in the time of Abraham. When a maximalist archeologist showed him clear and numerous evidence that camels WERE domesticated then, and that the Bible wasn't lying, the minimalist said he didn't care, and continues to this day to restate his original (and proven false) claims. Minimalists are obviously no more objective than maximalists, which is why I think it's very important to read books by straight-shooting archeologists (regardless of their religious views)like Randall Price in order to get the whole story.

It goes without saying: I loved this book!

If you don't belive the Bible and think that it's a peice of mythogical crap written by some great story teller, you've got to read this book. It showcases excavations in places pointed out by the Bible. Interesting archeological evidences that proves that the Bible speaks the whole truth and nothing but the truth. I bet you won't regret buying this book.

As a Sunday School teacher, I'm always looking for something to bring the Bible alive for my students. This book, as so capably described by other reviews, is a great resource to supplement and enrich the study experience.

The Stones Cry Out is a great book for those who believe in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and would like to know what archeological evidence exists that authenticates that faith. This book demonstrates that indeed the very stones do cry out in pointing to a Creator God and His relationship with His earthly people, the Israelites.

This is a review of the VHS video available directly available from Randall Prices' website. Production was not the greatest, but who cares, its the content that counts. Good stuff. Covers a lot of ground fast without any lingering on one subject too long. Great for introducing someone to the trustworthiness of the scriptures. Good on site shots.

Would have been nice to have the Biblical narrative tied in more closely to what they were talking about...