Watch the new season of Amazon Original series Reacher now on Prime Video. Yours with Prime.
Buy new:
-40% $11.99
FREE delivery Wednesday, February 26 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Ships from: Amazon.com
Sold by: Amazon.com
$11.99 with 40 percent savings
List Price: $20.00
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
FREE delivery Wednesday, February 26 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Or Prime members get FREE delivery Sunday, February 23. Order within 29 mins.
In Stock
$$11.99 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$11.99
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Ships from
Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Ships from
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Returns
30-day refund/replacement
30-day refund/replacement
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Payment
Secure transaction
Your transaction is secure
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
$8.19
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
FREE delivery Wednesday, February 26 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Or fastest delivery Tuesday, February 25. Order within 29 mins
Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
$$11.99 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$11.99
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the authors

Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

The Bible Unearthed: Archaeology's New Vision of Ancient Israel and the Origin of Its Sacred Texts Paperback – June 11, 2002

4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 1,036 ratings

{"desktop_buybox_group_1":[{"displayPrice":"$11.99","priceAmount":11.99,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"11","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"99","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"4Z8%2FhtCXS2%2FtzOJNEhsxt01NLZSGD5t2J446E%2BzfblYpP4xa9il6VKnRkUj2NWzvKLNdEAhcLmA%2BFyu9fe6VV5NOnTpaqHGWFXG7AnF04FLmdVlkU%2B7Y1k690qEGjpNJfBdmuk%2BMV%2Fg%3D","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"NEW","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0}, {"displayPrice":"$8.19","priceAmount":8.19,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"8","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"19","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"4Z8%2FhtCXS2%2FtzOJNEhsxt01NLZSGD5t2xsfkrsnvUOUnqERT8JyuThrsgDdzfahV2652aASYdkbHZUWcbv1U%2BN3TsflPsbgyhY2m%2FkMf7eAuq%2FFC%2BF17SLTKoNJQtXa0kkMl%2FCD1KXBt1kG3g9k4pA5IJKgYf%2FE3MFlGFPyyZsMKuH908OOaJeg9Zgpr4oD1","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"USED","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":1}]}

Purchase options and add-ons

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.
The%20Amazon%20Book%20Review
The Amazon Book Review
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.

Frequently bought together

This item: The Bible Unearthed: Archaeology's New Vision of Ancient Israel and the Origin of Its Sacred Texts
$11.99
Get it as soon as Wednesday, Feb 26
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
$12.99
Get it as soon as Wednesday, Feb 26
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
$27.49
Get it as soon as Wednesday, Feb 26
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
Total price: $00
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Details
Added to Cart
spCSRF_Treatment
Choose items to buy together.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Baruch Halpern author of The First Historians: The Hebrew Bible and History The boldest and most exhilarating synthesis of the Bible and archaeology in fifty years.

John Shelby Spong author of
Here I Stand: My Struggle for a Christianity of Integrity, Love, and Equality A bold and provocative book, well researched, well written, and powerfully argued. It challenges many of the assumptions developed by the literal religious minds of the ages, opening traditional possibilities to new conclusions.

Jonathan Kirsch
Los Angeles Times A brutally honest assessment of what archaeology can and cannot tell us about the historical accuracy of the Bible...presented with both authority and panache.

About the Author

Israel Finkelstein is a professor of archaeology at Tel Aviv University. He is a leading figure in the archaeology of the Levant and the laureate of the 2005 Dan David Prize in the Past Dimension—Archaeology. Finkelstein served for many years as the Director of the Institute of Archaeology at Tel Aviv University and is the co-Director of the Megiddo Expedition. He is the co-author, with Neil Silberman, of The Bible Unearthed and the author of many field reports and scholarly articles.

Neil Asher Silberman is director of historical interpretation for the Ename Center for Public Archaeology and Heritage Presentation in Belgium. He is a contributing editor to
Archaeology magazine and the author of The Hidden Scrolls: Christianity, Judaism, and the War for the Dead Sea Scrolls; The Message and the Kingdom; and Digging for God and Country, among other books.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Touchstone; Reprint edition (June 11, 2002)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 385 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0684869136
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0684869131
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.05 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 1 x 8.44 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 1,036 ratings

About the authors

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
1,036 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers

Customers say

Customers praise the book for its well-researched and valuable information about ancient history of Israel. They find it interesting and a great read for amateurs. The writing is lucid and clear, with a gift for scholarly knowledge. Readers describe the book as well-put together and reliable. However, opinions differ on the archaeology, with some finding it descriptive and accurate, while others criticize inaccurate assumptions about the Biblical timeline.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

138 customers mention "Research quality"130 positive8 negative

Customers appreciate the book's research quality. They find it well-researched, presenting archaeology and Biblical scholarship in an understandable way. The book effectively melds ancient myths and stories of real events, providing valuable information. Readers praise the book as written by the best biblical archaeologist alive.

"...This book is a popular work where they make accessible to a broad public the main facts, interpretations / arguments, and their conclusions...." Read more

"...Finkelstein and Silberman have succeeded in presenting archaeology and Biblical scholarship in a very readable style suitable for a general audience...." Read more

"...The book examines the historical and archaeological evidence for the Bible. F&S believe that most of the OT was written in the seventh century BCE...." Read more

"...To a religious person, this book should still be very fascinating, because the authors by no means diminish the literary meaning and rather amplify..." Read more

91 customers mention "Readability"86 positive5 negative

Customers find the book engaging and interesting. They describe it as a wonderful, well-written, and brilliantly argued book. Readers mention it's fun to read, not overly academic, and a must-read for Bible readers.

"...It deals with many interesting issues and arguments in a calm and serious manner, a manner that respires intellectual honesty and inspires trust...." Read more

"...The authors praise the OT as a literary masterpiece...." Read more

"...the Hebrew scriptures should be read for what they are: Brilliant literature, produced by a particular community at a particular time in history,..." Read more

"...This is very good. Humanity need no longer be chained to vile and destructive mind viruses. As light replaces darkness, so truth supplants lies...." Read more

58 customers mention "Writing quality"41 positive17 negative

Customers find the book well-written and readable. They appreciate the author's dedication to making the material available. The writing style is clear and concise, with a good summary of each section of the Bible.

"...in presenting archaeology and Biblical scholarship in a very readable style suitable for a general audience...." Read more

"...Its collection of legends, law, poetry, prophecy, philosophy, and history has had an immense impact on Western civilization...." Read more

"...He is not only a gifted writer but the duos spot on scholarly knowledge of the historical facts of the Pentateuch give the two of them instant..." Read more

"...metaphorical meanings of some of the biblical stories, it did not sufficiently explain why these stories existed beyond the basic statement, &#..." Read more

12 customers mention "Sturdiness"12 positive0 negative

Customers find the book well-made and reliable. They appreciate that the pages stayed intact, though some feel the material is not organized or presented properly. Overall, readers find the book interesting and well-written.

"...on these issues, the present book is the one that seems to be the most reliable and that I like most out of all of them. Greatly recommended." Read more

"...was not the villainous evil portrayed by the bible, but were instead strong and competent rulers for their people...." Read more

"...The fortress is indeed impressive, and its construction could only have been carried out by a centralized state...." Read more

"This was bought as a gift. All of the pages stayed intact. The recipient was happy with it...so am I." Read more

41 customers mention "Archaeology"27 positive14 negative

Customers have different views on the archaeology. Some find it detailed and useful in viewing the history of Ancient Israel from a moderated perspective. However, others feel the book makes inaccurate assumptions about the Biblical timeline and provides inadequate archaeological support for its claims.

"...The book is organised according to the chronology that is traditionally derived from the Old Testament, starting with the patriarchs and ending with..." Read more

"...The authors praise the OT as a literary masterpiece. Its collection of legends, law, poetry, prophecy, philosophy, and history has had an immense..." Read more

"...Specifically, it did provide some but insufficient archaeological basis for its claims, and while it did go into metaphorical meanings of some of..." Read more

"...I was amazed at how much the bible got right, at how much the bible knew about places, dates and people which existed 500 years or more before the..." Read more

Good
5 out of 5 stars
Good
Easy to read
Thank you for your feedback
Sorry, there was an error
Sorry we couldn't load the review

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on March 19, 2004
    The authors are directors of Archeological institutes and are authorities concerning the archeology of the early Palestine. This book is a popular work where they make accessible to a broad public the main facts, interpretations / arguments, and their conclusions. The book is organised according to the chronology that is traditionally derived from the Old Testament, starting with the patriarchs and ending with the return out of Babylon.
    This field is quite controversial. On one side some (sceptical, "minimalist") authors will assert that event described in the Old Testament for which there is no archeological evidence (actually most of the Old Testament) is 100% fabrication and does not contain one shred of truth. On the other side some (fundamentalist) authors will maintain that everything contained in the Old Testament occurred exactly as described, even if it runs contrary to the archeological results. Fortunately the authors of this book seem to hold a very reasonable position.
    For example, concerning the story of the exodus of the Hebrews out of Egypt, the authors make clear that given that there is no trace whatsoever of the exodus in spite of the extensive high tech archeological research in the Sinai area and given that the Pentateuch (the five first books of the Old Testament) describes an exodus involving 600 000 persons for 40 years, the biblical account simply can't be true - so much for the fundamentalists. On the other hand, the authors are wise enough to avoid entirely discarding the exodus story - so much for the minimalists. The archeological finds only prove that the exodus did not happen in the manner described in the Pentateuch. It has probably a kernel of truth but was only immensely exaggerated by those who wrote the Pentateuch. An other example of the author's wise approach is the controversial issue of the existence of the Hebrew kings David and Solomon. Out of the weak evidence for the existence of David and the lack of evidence for the existence of Solomon, they do not conclude that these kings never existed, but only that the extent and splendour of their realm have been enormously exaggerated by the people who wrote the Ancient Testament.
    The book has hardly any footnotes but ends with a detailed bibliography. It deals with many interesting issues and arguments in a calm and serious manner, a manner that respires intellectual honesty and inspires trust. Although I have read quite more difficult (scholarly) works on these issues, the present book is the one that seems to be the most reliable and that I like most out of all of them. Greatly recommended.
    26 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on April 6, 2009
    Accounts of the history of ancient Israel up to the fall of Jerusalem in 586 BCE have relied on stories in the Hebrew Bible. These versions usually go from the patriarchs to the Exodus, then forty years of wandering around the Sinai Peninsula leading to the conquest of Canaan and the emergence of a united kingdom and a golden age under David and Solomon. Using archaeology to present a revised view of this history, Finkelstein and Silberman argue that much of this history "clearly never happened at all." (p. 5)

    They also present a view of the origin of the Torah and Deuteronomistic History (the books of Joshua, Judges, 1 & 2 Samuel and 1 & 2 Kings) which differs from traditional Biblical scholarship. Nineteenth century scholars dated sources of the Torah back as far as the reign of Solomon (c. 970-930 BCE). Finkelstein and Silberman see the Torah and the Deuteronomistic History as the product of the seventh century BCE religious reform in the reign of King Josiah. They describe a great many of the historical events in these first books of the Bible as "creative expressions of a powerful religious reform movement "(p. 23) around King Josiah.

    A radical revision of Israelite history is presented. Stories of the patriarchs are shown to describe conditions in the seventh century rather than indicating memories of an earlier patriarchal period. There is no evidence of the Israelites in Egypt or the Sinai, so their conclusion is "that the Exodus did not happen at the time and in the manner described in the Bible..." (p. 63) The Israelites did not appear in Canaan as conquerors, rather "the emergence of early Israel was an outcome of the collapse of Canaanite culture, not its cause. And most of the Israelites did not come from outside Canaan - they emerged from within it." (p. 118)

    Perhaps most surprising is their conclusion that there was no united monarchy and thus no golden age of David and Solomon. They argue that there were always "two distinct societies in the highlands" (p. 153) corresponding to Israel and Judah, but only the northern area was an organized state until the fall of Israel to Assyria. Judah was rural and under populated until after the fall of the north to Assyria. With the influx of population from the north to the south, the kingdom of Judah took shape. Finkelstein and Silberman do not doubt that David and Solomon existed, but they were chieftains in the south and Jerusalem was merely a village during their period. Instead of Solomon, it was Omri and his son Ahab who reigned over a state known for monumental buildings - and these kings of Israel were vilified in the Deuteronomistic History.

    The reign of Josiah was central in the development of the texts of the Torah and the Deuteronomistic History through the influence of a dramatic religious reform movement. "Instead of a restoration, the evidence suggests that a centralized monarchy and national religion focused in Jerusalem took centuries to develop and was new in Hezekiah's day." (p. 214) They support the view of the scholar Baruch Halpern that it was during the Hezekiah to Josiah period when "the monotheistic tradition of Judeo-Christian civilization was born." (p. 247)

    Finkelstein and Silberman have succeeded in presenting archaeology and Biblical scholarship in a very readable style suitable for a general audience. Their conclusions are bold and call for drastic revisions of the history of ancient Israel and of the development of the early books of the Hebrew Bible.
    20 people found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
  • Mrs Marie Spraggs
    5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 21, 2024
    This book is great, it's really easy to read. And makes you very thorough full
  • Samantha Sabovitch
    5.0 out of 5 stars Gripping, fascinating
    Reviewed in Canada on May 25, 2021
    This book answered so many questions I've had swirling around in my head since I was a fresh-faced child sitting in Sunday School, avidly drinking up everything my teachers told me. Despite walking away from Christianity, I'm still fascinated by the things in the Bible. This is amazing, and it answers so much.

    I will admit I struggled with the beginning. It was slow. But once it set the stage, it really took off. And the slow beginning was necessary to build the context for the time that the Bible was written in. So I appreciate it, even if it was difficult sometimes--and geography is not my forte. But an understanding of the geography of the people of the Bible is crucial to understanding it.
  • E.S.M.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Uma excelente introdução para entender a bíblia.
    Reviewed in Brazil on July 11, 2018
    Este livro não é para a mente religiosa-cega. É um livro para quem quer conhecer a Bíblia do ponto de vista arqueológico, escrito por dois dos grandes arqueólogos israelenses. Vale a pena cada frase. O livro em sim é uma impressão barata, que ficam amareladas as paginas em um ano de uso, mas seu conteúdo é excelente para quem quiser conhecer as descobertas que reafirma ou contradizem a Bíblia.
  • José Macaya
    5.0 out of 5 stars Arduo pero muy interesante
    Reviewed in Spain on June 28, 2019
    Respaldo arqueológico inexistente para muchos pasajes importantes de la Biblia
  • Ady Unglik
    5.0 out of 5 stars Laïcité de la Bible ?
    Reviewed in France on February 10, 2018
    Voilà une lecture sérieuse, documentée, intelligente de la Bible, à l'aune de l'Archéologie et du Sens Critique des auteurs, dont les compétences académiques sont notoires.
    Le livre remet en question nombre de certitudes, il est profondément intéressant et interpellant.
    Il remet en question l'histoire de la Bible telle que racontée en première lecture,mais ne remet pas en question le message qu'elle véhicule.
    En tentant de répondre à la question "d'où venons-nous?" , il soulève indirectement la question "où allons-nous?".
    Nul ne peut s'intéresser aux origines de l'Occident, né du mariage hybride de la Bible et la Grèce, sans passer par cette incontournable ouvrage.