The Bible Unearthed

Archaeology’s New Vision of Ancient Israel and the Origin of Its Sacred Texts

By: Neil Asher Silberman, Israel Finkelstein

Narrated by: Bob Souer

Length: 12 hrs and 51 mins

Publisher's Summary

In this groundbreaking work that sets apart fact and legend, authors Finkelstein and Silberman use significant archeological discoveries to provide historical information about biblical Israel and its neighbors.

In this iconoclastic and provocative work, leading scholars Israel Finkelstein and Neil Asher Silberman draw on recent archaeological research to present a dramatically revised portrait of ancient Israel and its neighbors. They argue that crucial evidence (or a telling lack of evidence) at digs in Israel, Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon suggests that many of the most famous stories in the Bible - the wanderings of the patriarchs, the Exodus from Egypt, Joshua’s conquest of Canaan, and David and Solomon’s vast empire - reflect the world of the later authors rather than actual historical facts.

Challenging the fundamentalist readings of the scriptures and marshaling the latest archaeological evidence to support its new vision of ancient Israel, The Bible Unearthed offers a fascinating and controversial perspective on when and why the Bible was written and why it possesses such great spiritual and emotional power today.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2001 Israel Finkelstein and Neil Asher Silberman (P)2022 Blackstone Publishing

Quite Eye Opening

The authors provide a reasonably detailed reconstruction of the history of the ancient Hebrews, comparing the Biblical text with evidence drawn from archeology, including inscriptions and documents from other ancient kingdoms in the region. I found this evidence, and the conclusions inferred from it, to be somewhat startling. I had already been generally dubious of a literal interpretation of the Bible’s miraculous stories. But beyond this, Finkelstein and Silberman convincingly argue that many details of its prima facie plausible historical accounts also depart from what really happened, and present instead a crafted picture of what the redactors wanted its readers to believe. For example, both the “conquest of Canaan” and the stature of Israel at the time of David and Solomon turn out to have been different in reality than as depicted in the Bible.

Overall, The Bible Unearthed, is well written and not excessively pedantic. I did not find it to be “ideologically driven” as one scholar has alleged, though theirs is obviously not the last word on this topic.

As for the narrator, he did a great job, inspiring me to finish this audiobook before some others I had already begun. I also like the fact that he read through each of the appendices, which are all interesting and informative.

Objectively Presented

The author did well to cover a deep history objectively with archeological evidence for and against that history. I am quite familiar with ancient history of various parts of the world as well as the Old Testament, and I learned a lot from the material presented.

Great!

It was very informative, with great analysis and logical explanations. Thank you for hard work that gave us a different perspective.

Fascinating and helpful.

If you are interested in mapping the best of scholarly reconstruction of history onto the Biblical telling of it, this book is for you. This scholarship confirms and disconfirms various aspects of the biblical narrative, and is generally successful in doing so without much ideological axe grinding.

The book is dense in places (making the audiobook version challenging to keep up with at times), and presumes general knowledge of ancient history and geography, as well as general familiarity with the Old Testament. Listening to this book has prompted me to order the print version to fully digest its contents. Whether listening to or reading this book, have some relevant maps at hand.

Fascinating survey of archeological evidence.

THE authoritative archeologists of the Levant, telling you what REALLY happened there, based solely on evidence. It is not derisive or critical of Biblical texts, simply matter-of-fact about what the evidence shows.

Wonderful Guide to the Real Historical record!

This recent scholarly tome by one of the foremost researchers in the field of Biblical Archeology is one of the best I’ve come across. Full of high quality information while still being digestible for a lay audience. High recommend!

non-religious archeological treatment

what I was looking for, secular approach free of religious dogma, not a faith based treatment

Must for every history fan

This was mindblowing as a jew and history fan. It is really well made, coherent explanations on a solid evidence ground, and built in a logical and interesting way. I was hooked

I have a better understanding of the real history

Loved it. It really helped me understand the myth and the real history behind the Bible

OK but unsatisfying & problematic narration

Dr. Finkelstein serves up an enlightening treatise from the Judean and Jahwist perspective. I found the information occasionally revelatory.

The only reason I can't give the book a higher rating is its scant treatment of the Elohist perspective and the blurring of distinction between Judaic and Israelite society and source material. Dr. Finkelstein does mention that Israelites migrated to Judea, bringing their distinct traditions and mythologies after the fall of the northern kingdom to Assyria. But failing to delve deeper into that aspect was, in my opinion, a missed opportunity. This focus on Jahwist roots presents an excellent perspective on how priestly forms of Judaism evolved from southern Canaanite society. But Rabbinic, post-Hasmonean Judaism owes just as much to Elohist, northern Canaanite, and Ugaritic roots. And such northern traditions ended up being incorporated and codified in the penultimate corpus of Torah and Haftarah.

There was little mention whatsoever of the likely origins and structure of the ("First") Temple which was ostensibly destroyed by the Babylonians. If we simply don't know, in my opinion that should have been made more clear as a mystery remaining to be solved.

Lastly, the narrator frequently mispronounces Hebrew names and places.

Great book.

Had a lot of fun listening to this and hearing of the archologcal finds of around the 7th-8th centuryt bce. Has made me really want to learn more about the northern kingdom and it connections to the world.

My only problem with the book is that the reader keeps on saying Sumeria instead of Samaria for the capital of the northern kingdom.

Great Stuff

Looking for a book that tells you how the findings of modern archeology contradict the claims of the Hebrew Bible? Well, you've found it!