"A century ago it was true that if you wanted to understand the ancient Israelites you had to read the Bible, the Old Testament. Today, if you want to understand the Old Testament, you need to study the history and archaeology of the ancient people of Israel"--Preface

Includes bibliographical references (pages 567-605) and indexes

Archaeology, the Bible, and epigraphy: discovery, techniques, and development. Introduction to the geography and archaeology of the ancient Near East / Gary P. Arbino -- Introduction to the Old Testament and its character as historical evidence / Mark Elliott, Paul V.M. Flesher -- West's rediscovery of the Holy Land / Victor H. Matthews -- "Bible lands archaeology" and "biblical archaeology" in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries / Rachel Hallote -- A critique of biblical archaeology : history and interpretation / William G. Dever -- Israel before settling in the land. In the beginning, archaeologically speaking : archaeology and the Bronze Ages in Canaan / K.l. Noll -- Archaeology and the Canaanites / Jill Baker -- Book of Genesis and Israel's ancestral traditions / Mark Elliott, J. Edward Wright -- Israel in and out of Egypt / J. Edward Wright, Mark Elliott, Paul V.M. Flesher -- Israel settles in the land of Canaan. Looking for the Israelites : the archaeology of Iron Age I / J.P. Dessel -- Looking for the Israelites : the evidence of the biblical text / Paul V.M. Flesher -- Philistines during the period of the Judges / Ann E. Killebrew -- The Kingdoms of the people Israel. United monarchy : David between Saul and Solomon / Baruch Halpern -- Israel : the prosperous Northern Kingdom / Randall W. Younker -- Southern Kingdom of Judah : surrounded by enemies / Aren M. Maeir -- Daily life in Iron Age Israel and Judah / Jennie Ebeling -- Israel and Judah under Assyria's thumb / J. Edward Wright, Mark Elliott -- Religions of the people Israel and their neighbors / Richard S. Hess -- Judah as a province : from the Babylonians to the Persians. Destruction and exile : Israel and the Babylonian Empire / Bob Becking -- Persia and Yehud / Charles Isbell