Israel Finkelstein and Neil Asher Silberman are, respectively, an archaeologist and a historian, and this book, published by Free Press, presents an archaeologically grounded reassessment of the biblical narrative, arguing that the archaeological record often does not match the traditional dating and scale of events like the Exodus or the united monarchy of David and Solomon. Its strength is that it is grounded in Finkelstein's own excavation work and current archaeological method, presenting evidence and its implications directly rather than assuming the biblical text's historicity by default. Its limit is that its specific chronological arguments, particularly on the dating of certain strata, remain actively debated among other archaeologists, so its conclusions should be understood as one influential and evidence based position within a genuine ongoing scholarly argument, not a settled consensus.
Facts
Assessment
Reliability Tier2
Published by Free Press, a mainstream trade nonfiction publisher, as Finkelstein and Silberman's synthesis of biblical archaeology for a general readership; a reputable secondary synthesis by working archaeologists rather than a peer reviewed academic monograph, hence the middle tier. NotesAn archaeology-based reassessment of the historicity of the Hebrew Bible's narrative, by an archaeologist associated with the low-chronology school of biblical archaeology, arguing that much of the biblical narrative reflects the later kingdom of Judah rather than the events it describes. Use to document this specific archaeological argument and chronology; it represents one prominent position within a genuinely contested field, and a claim resting on it should note that other archaeologists dispute its dating and conclusions.
Citation
AuthorIsrael Finkelstein, Neil Asher Silberman
PublisherFree Press
Publication Year2001
Source Typebook
Cross-Tradition Connections
Associated With
This source names Israel directly: "Israel Finkelstein and Neil Asher Silberman are, respectively, an archaeologist and a historian, and this book, published by Free Press, presents an archaeologically grounded reassessment of the..."
This source names King David directly: "the Exodus or the united monarchy of David and Solomon."
This source names Solomon directly: "or the united monarchy of David and Solomon."
Claims Backed By This Source (47 claims)
This source backs 47 claims across the atlas. As facts: 24 well-attested, 5 scholarly debate. As cited relationships: 3 holds. Plus 15 entities citing it as a general reference with no single fact or relationship attached.
Disposition By Topic
- Figures, 20 claims: 9 well-attested, 1 scholarly debate, 10 general references.
- Sources, 10 claims: 7 well-attested, 3 holds.
- Articles, 6 claims: 5 well-attested, 1 general references.
- Religious Events, 5 claims: 2 well-attested, 2 scholarly debate, 1 general references.
- Myths & Sacred Narratives, 3 claims: 1 well-attested, 1 scholarly debate, 1 general references.
- Bodies of Water, 2 claims: 1 scholarly debate, 1 general references.
- Historical Periods, 1 claims: 1 general references.
Well-attested
24Myths & Sacred Narratives
Scholarly debate
5Myths & Sacred Narratives
General References
15Myths & Sacred Narratives
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