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Leicester: IVP, 1977. Pbk. ISBN. 0851102301. pp.48.
[2 Chapters reproduced by permission]
Publisher's Preface
Alan Millard has written this booklet in response to a series of TV programmes entitled BC: The Archaeology of the Bible Lands, presented by Magnus Magnusson. The series appeared to many viewers to suggest that events which many had believed to be historical facts be dismissed as legend.
In this booklet, the author, a practising archaeologist and a specialist in near eastern languages, assesses the strengths and weaknesses of archaeology as commentary on the Old Testament. His vivid account makes clear that archaeology, like any other living science, is always in motion. Fresh discoveries lead to the abandonment of old theories. New theories arise to re-interpret known facts. Facts are always to be welcomed; problems arise when facts are misinterpreted, or theories are built on too limited a foundation.
To ask whether archaeology proves the Bible is to ask a wrong question. Equally, the absence of evidence from the ground does not disprove events recorded in the Bible. The revealed truth of the Bible and the observable facts of the past cannot conflict. Rightly interpreted, they can only enrich each other.
Contents
| Publisher's Preface | ||
| Foreword | ||
| 1 | Introduction: archaeology annd writings from the past | 5 |
| 2 | Archaeological Methods | 8 |
| 3 | The Bible: an Ancient Book | 13 |
| a. The development of writing | ||
| b. Written documents | ||
| 4 | Archaeology and the Patriarchs | 17 |
| a. Personal names | ||
| b. Social Life | ||
| c. Abraham's camels | ||
| 5 | Archaeology, Egypt and ancient Israel | 20 |
| a. The Exodus | ||
| b. The tabernacle | ||
| c. The 'Israel Stele' | ||
| d. Pharoah Shishak | ||
| 6 | Archaeology and King Solomon's Glory | 23 |
| 7 | Archaeology and the Book of Daniel | 28 |
| a. Language | ||
| b. History | ||
| 8 | Archaeology and Political History | 31 |
| a. The Kings of Israel and Judah | ||
| b. Foreign names | ||
| 9 | Archaeology and the People of the Bible  pdf |
37 |
| 10 | Archaeology and the Problems of Interpretation pdf |
40 |
| a. Joshua's Jericho | ||
| b. Tirkakah, king of Ethiopia | ||
| c. Creation and the flood. | ||
| Conclusion | ||
| Suggestions for Further Reading | 45 | |
| Time Chart for the Old Testament Period | 46 | |
| Map | 48 | |
Two chapters reproduced by kind permission of the publisher. |
