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

233 Pages·2007·1.99 MB·English

by  Israel Finkelstein

THE QUEST FOR THE HISTORICAL ISRAEL
Archaeology and Biblical Studies
Andrew G. Vaughn, Editor
Number 17
THE QUEST FOR THE HISTORICAL ISRAEL
Debating Archaeology and the History of Early Israel
THE QUEST FOR THE HISTORICAL ISRAEL
Debating Archaeology and the History of Early Israel
Invited Lectures Delivered at the Sixth Biennial
Colloquium of the International Institute for Secular
Humanistic Judaism, Detroit, October 2005
by
Israel Finkelstein
and
Amihai Mazar
edited by
Brian B. Schmidt
BRILL
LEIDEN • BOSTON
2007
THE QUEST FOR THE HISTORICAL ISRAEL
Debating Archaeology and the History of Early Israel
Copyright © 2007 by the Society of Biblical Literature
All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form
or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by
means of any information storage or retrieval system, except as may be expressly permit-
ted by the 1976 Copyright Act or in writing from the publisher. Requests for permission
should be addressed in writing to the Rights and Permissions Office, Society of Biblical
Literature, 825 Houston Mill Road, Atlanta, GA 30329 USA.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Finkelstein, Israel.
The Quest for the historical Israel : debating archaeology and the history of early Israel : lectures
delivered at the Annual Colloquium of the Institute for Secular Humanistic Judaism, Detroit,
October 2005 / by Israel Finkelstein and Amihai Mazar ; edited by Brian B. Schmidt.
p. cm. — (Society of Biblical Literature Archaeology and Biblical Study ; 17)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-90-401-5738-7 (cloth binding : alk. paper)
1. Bible. O.T.—Antiquities—Congresses. 2. Bible. O.T.—Criticism, interpretation, etc.—Congresses.
3. Bible O.T.—Evidences, authority, etc.—Congresses. 4. Excavations (Archaeology)—Israel—
Congresses. 5. Israel—Antiquities—Congresses. 6. Archaeology and religion—Congresses. I. Mazar,
Amihay, 1942- II. Schmidt, Brian B. III. International Institute for Secular Humanistic Judaism.
Colloquium (Detroit : 2005) IV. Title. V. Series.
BS621.F567 2007
221.9'5—dc22
2007010877
Printed in the Netherlands on acid-free paper.
Contents
List of Figures and Tables viii
Preface ix
Introduction 1
PART 1: Archaeology and the Quest for Historical Israel in
the Hebrew Bible 3
A Summary Assessment for Part 1 5
Brian B. Schmidt
Digging for the Truth: Archaeology and the Bible 9
Israel Finkelstein
On Archaeology, Biblical History, and Biblical Archaeology 21
Amihai Mazar
PART 2: Using Archaeology to Assess the Bible’s Traditions
about “the Earliest Times” 35
A Summary Assessment for Part 2 37
Brian B. Schmidt
Patriarchs, Exodus, Conquest: Fact or Fiction? 41
Israel Finkelstein
The Patriarchs, Exodus, and Conquest Narratives in Light
of Archaeology 57
Amihai Mazar
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vi THE QUEST FOR THE HISTORICAL ISRAEL
PART 3: The Historical Origins of Collective Israel 67
A Summary Assessment for Part 3 69
Brian B. Schmidt
When and How Did the Israelites Emerge? 73
Israel Finkelstein
The Israelite Settlement 85
Amihai Mazar
PART 4: The Tenth Century: The New Litmus Test for the
Bible’s Historical Relevance 99
A Summary Assessment for Part 4 101
Brian B. Schmidt
King Solomon’s Golden Age?: History or Myth? 107
Israel Finkelstein
The Search for David and Solomon: An Archaeological
Perspective 117
Amihai Mazar
PART 5: On More Secure Ground? The Kingdoms of Israel
and Judah in the Iron II Period 141
A Summary Assessment for Part 5 143
Brian B. Schmidt
The Two Kingdoms: Israel and Judah 147
Israel Finkelstein
The Divided Monarchy: Comments on Some Archaeological
Issues 159
Amihai Mazar
CONTENTS vii
PART 6: So What? Implications for Scholars and Communities 181
A Short Summary: Bible and Archaeology 183
Israel Finkelstein
Concluding Summary: Archaeology’s Message 189
Amihai Mazar
Further Reading 199
Subject Index 209
Index of Biblical Passages 221
List of Figures and Tables
Map of Iron Age sites x
Fig. 1. The Tel Dan inscription. Photo courtesy of Zev Radovan. 6
Fig. 2. The stable in the northeastern sector of Megiddo. Photo
courtesy of the Tel Aviv University Megiddo Expedition. 109
Fig. 3. Palace 6000 at Megiddo. Photo courtesy of the Tel Aviv
University Megiddo Expedition. 110
Fig. 4. Tel Reḥov. Photo courtesy of the Tel Reḥov excavations. 120
Fig. 5. Divisions of the Iron Age in Israel. 122
Fig. 6. The Stepped Stone Structure in Jerusalem. Photo courtesy
of Zev Radovan. 126
Fig. 7. Plan of ancient Jerusalem. 128
Fig. 8. Plans of the six-chambered gates at Gezer (A), Hazor (B),
and Megiddo (C). 130
Fig. 9. Four-horned clay altar from Tel Reḥov (tenth to ninth
century). Photo courtesy of the Tel Reḥov excavations. 178
-viii-
Preface
This book contains the papers that were delivered at an important event.
That event was the Sixth Biennial Colloquium of the International Institute
for Secular Humanistic Judaism in Detroit. The Institute is the intellectual
arm of the worldwide movement of Secular Humanistic Judaism.
Humanistic Judaism depends on science for the story of the Jewish
people. With regard to the early history of the Jews it depends on archaeol-
ogy. It was our great desire to bring together two of the most famous Israeli
archaeologists to thrill our audience with the revelation of their recent dis-
coveries. We were not looking for final answers to our questions. We were
looking for believable answers.
With the help of Professor Brian Schmidt of the University of Michigan,
we were able to bring together Israel Finkelstein and Amihai Mazar to dia-
logue before an English-speaking lay audience for the first time. The results
of the 2005 colloquium lectures entitled “Digging for Truth” were spectacular.
This book is the consequence of a quite wonderful weekend.
Sherwin T. Wine, Provost
International Institute for Secular Humanistic Judaism
Note from the Authors and Editor
Rabbi Sherwin Wine was tragically killed on July 21, 2007 in an auto-
mobile accident while in Essaouira, Morocco, just as this volume was
approaching the final stages of preparation for publication. We, the authors
and editor, dedicate this volume to his lasting memory. Neither these essays,
nor the Colloquium in which this book has its roots, would have seen the light
of day without his tremendous support and unwavering encouragement.
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