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Archaeology of the Bible, The By James Hoffmeier (Author) Our Price $ 20.99   Retail Value $ 29.99   You Save $ 9.00  (30%)   Item Number 84872   Buy New Item Quantity: Available on the Internet only.

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	Confirms cultural accuracy of Biblical texts  Feb 25, 2009
Reviewed by Tyler R. Tichelaar for Reader Views (2/09) I have always been fascinated with the story of the Bible, and especially its discussions of the early origins of mankind. I have also always found archaeology fascinating--I might have been an archaeologist if not for the heat of the Middle East--so I was ready for an interesting, and even faith-filled journey in reading "The Archaeology of the Bible." For the most part, I was not disappointed. Hoffmeier begins the book by making it clear he will seek to affirm the Bible, yet he never fails to be scientific, rational and reliable in his assertions. The early portion of the book gives an overview of archaeology and its interest in the Bible, discussing the flaws of early archaeologists who often distorted discoveries simply in their enthusiasm to prove that the Bible was true, and equally, those who set out to prove the Bible was myth and story only. Hoffmeier admits we cannot prove most of the Bible stories, but we can explore the history, culture, and what archaeology has discovered from biblical times to see how it coincides with the biblical narratives. I found his discussion throughout to be absorbing and full of common sense, not misguided by what he wanted to be found. For the most part, readers of the Bible will be happy to learn that archaeological discoveries do support much of the Bible's narrative. For example, while archaeology cannot prove God parted the Red Sea, it can reveal a substantial argument for the Israelites' presence in Egypt and their subsequent conquest of Canaan. The early section of the book, through the early stories of Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham and Moses, looks to what we know of ancient Sumerian, Egyptian and Palestinian cultures to determine the likelihood and context of the stories of the Bible. The most fascinating part of the book for me was the discussion of Israel's conquest of Canaan up through the Babylonian captivity where the most detail seems to exist to support the Bible stories. The discussion of the conquest of Canaan was especially well proven, arguing that evidence of a sudden destruction of the cities of Canaan has not been found because no such mass destruction took place but rather that Israel slowly conquered the land so as not to let it grow into wilderness or be overrun by wild animals; Hoffmeier references the Bible for support of his statements. The last chapters about the New Testament were also interesting although I felt less archaeological research was necessary here since it seemed many of the places are well marked and known due to Christian devoutness in remembering these places, although as Hoffmeier explains, Christian tradition about where Christ was born or crucified or buried does not necessarily match up with archaeological findings. My only complaint about "The Archaeology of the Bible" was that I would have liked to read more about the process of archaeology, especially the digs and the discoveries. A lot of the time, I felt Hoffmeier was just telling us what was discovered and how it related to the biblical texts without getting into the details of the discoveries. I wanted to feel I was getting my hands dirty and to feel the thrill of discovering artifacts with him. I think the book could have been presented with a bit more of a feeling that a mystery was being solved to build suspense to keep the reader's attention, but Hoffmeier may have felt that kind of presentation was more for the television and movie producers than a scientific work on archaeology. Anyone interested in archaeology will find this book of interest. Anyone interested in the truth behind the Bible will find much to consider. Anyone who wants to find archaeological support for the Christian and Jewish faiths will not be disappointed by "The Archaeology of the Bible" by James K. Hoffmeier.
	Hardly objective  Feb 11, 2009
If you are looking for an objective examination of archaeological evidence that supports or refutes the Bible, keep looking. Hoffmeier stands well to the apologetic end of the spectrum, despite pretensions to the contrary. Where the Bible clearly propagates stories from other cultures (Moses in the basket, the flood) Hoffmeier cites trivial differences to argue that the Biblical stories were independently conceived, or at least derived independently from a common tradition. Disappointingly biased
	The Archaeology of the Bible, Hoffmeier  Oct 14, 2008
Hoffmeier's book has value for scholars and laypersons alike. Though simply written, the author's solid scholarship and on-site fieldwork are obvious at every point. Overall, I like Hoffmeier's work (though I disagree with Hoffmeier's 13th century B.C. date for the exodus--the evidence better fits a 15th century B.C. setting).
	Easy to Read  Jul 7, 2008
Easy to read book for the non specialist. Although the author tried to be as objective as possible, however, at the back of his mind he was trying to prove the writings of the bible.

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