What Did the Biblical Writers Know and When Did They Know It?: What Archaeology Can Tell Us About the Reality of Ancient Israel

For centuries the Bible has been the fountain-head of our Judeo-Christian tradition. Yet the Hebrew scriptures and their historical background remain a mystery to most people. This fascinating book by William Dever looks behind the Bible, showing how modern archaeology brilliantly illuminates both life in ancient Palestine and the sacred scriptures we have them today.

Written for general readers but dealing with very real problems in biblical studies, this book brings together a wealth of archaeological evidence to give the clearest picture yet of the "real Israel" that existed during the Iron Age of ancient Palestine (1200-600 B.C.). Dever's superb reconstruction of this key period recovers a reliable core history of ancient Israel that provides the best defense yet of the essential values of the biblical history and tradition under attack today.