William G. Dever

The Future of Biblical Archaeology

Biblical Studies & Commentaries

“The evangelical and conservative (not all Christian) scholars contributing to this volume are optimistic about the future of 'biblical archaeology,' confirming my view for many years that this inquiry will flourish largely in circles in America, where the Bible is still taken seriously as 'historical' in some sense. However, the secular parent discipline of Syro-Palestinian (or, increasingly, 'Levantine') archaeology must also survive, without which the conversation between text and artifact becomes an ineffectual and tiresome monologue. This book's contributors, who represent a variety of disciplines, enter the fray about 'the Bible as history' with a valiant attempt to reclaim the middle ground. One does not have to agree with all of their rather positivist views to find their statements a refreshing exception to the biblical 'revisionists' and other radical skeptics who are contemptuous of all serious belief. A must-read book for anyone interested in archaeology, biblical studies, and the dialogue between them.”

The Israelites

Biblical Studies & Commentaries

“The Israelites has many strengths. Chief among these is the breadth of its coverage...Isserlin makes more use of archaeological data than any comparable work I know. If the average reader of BAR...wants to purchase a single reference work, it should probably be Isserlin's The Israelites.”