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Stones Still Speak: How Biblical Archaeology Illuminates the Stories You Thought You Knew
When we first encounter the Bible, we are taught its stories--Adam and Eve, Moses and the Red Sea, David and Goliath, Jonah and the whale, and more. When a story lacks the details we crave, we fill in the blanks--with what we've seen in movies, read in books, and been told by our Sunday school teachers. But there's a better way to encounter the whole story of Scripture: uncovering and understanding the ancient world and the people who experienced biblical events.
In Stones Still Speak, Harvard-trained archaeologist and theologian Amanda Hope Haley scrapes back 2,000 years of misguided cultural interpretations to reveal God's Word in its historical, archaeological, and literary contexts. Far from a dry academic exercise, this process explains how our misunderstandings developed and revitalizes the Scripture you thought you knew, with the greater purpose of encouraging a more intentional, rigorous study of the Bible in your daily life.
In Stones Still Speak, Harvard-trained archaeologist and theologian Amanda Hope Haley scrapes back 2,000 years of misguided cultural interpretations to reveal God's Word in its historical, archaeological, and literary contexts. Far from a dry academic exercise, this process explains how our misunderstandings developed and revitalizes the Scripture you thought you knew, with the greater purpose of encouraging a more intentional, rigorous study of the Bible in your daily life.
224 pages, Paperback
Published September 23, 2025
17 people are currently reading
7074 people want to read
About the author
Amanda Hope Haley
9 books79 followersAmanda Hope Haley is a lover of the Bible—its God, words, people, and history. Writing and speaking as the Red-Haired Archaeologist®, she teaches how artifacts contextualize Scripture. She hopes to see Bible lovers work together to learn history, interpret Scripture, and apply God’s Word to their lives. Amanda earned an MTS in Hebrew Scripture and Interpretation from Harvard University. She contributed to The Voice Bible as a translator, writer, and editor, and she has been a collaborator for popular Christian authors. She and her husband, David, live in Tennessee with their beloved basset hound, Copper.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
January 5, 2026
In “Stones Still Speak,” you will be inspired as you “discover the rich layers of meaning” within the Bible more purposefully—filling in what you read in the Word with an archeological, historical, and literary lens as author Amanda Hope Haley seeks to show the reader how ancient history, language, culture, artifacts, and more bring important context to God’s Word.
Bringing us back to the Bible stories so many of us know, this book piques our interest by:
• pointing out often-missed details.
• giving food for thought where there might be misunderstanding.
• inspiring awe about God and His working in the story of redemption
The beauty of this book is that you could read it cover-to-cover or read chapters whenever you’re simply curious or reading related passages in the Bible. Likewise—though not aimed at teachers or parents—the book would serve as a useful resource to consult as you teach children and youth about the stories of the Bible.
This book easily kept my focus and interest as I read. If you’re looking for a fascinating book on the stories and passages of the Bible, you’ll enjoy this interesting book.
Highlights:
“God is epically powerful and wonderfully loving. He could have done anything with that so-called singularity, but He chose to make us out of nothing.”
“God did not give us His Word to predict the future or hide some special knowledge of Himself; He gave it to us so we could glimpse holy mysteries and develop a deeper relationship with Him.”
“Objectivity barely exists today, as advertising and algorithms work to reinforce what we already believe.”
Thank you to the publisher for gifting me a copy of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily and was not required to leave a positive review. All opinions are my own.
Bringing us back to the Bible stories so many of us know, this book piques our interest by:
• pointing out often-missed details.
• giving food for thought where there might be misunderstanding.
• inspiring awe about God and His working in the story of redemption
The beauty of this book is that you could read it cover-to-cover or read chapters whenever you’re simply curious or reading related passages in the Bible. Likewise—though not aimed at teachers or parents—the book would serve as a useful resource to consult as you teach children and youth about the stories of the Bible.
This book easily kept my focus and interest as I read. If you’re looking for a fascinating book on the stories and passages of the Bible, you’ll enjoy this interesting book.
Highlights:
“God is epically powerful and wonderfully loving. He could have done anything with that so-called singularity, but He chose to make us out of nothing.”
“God did not give us His Word to predict the future or hide some special knowledge of Himself; He gave it to us so we could glimpse holy mysteries and develop a deeper relationship with Him.”
“Objectivity barely exists today, as advertising and algorithms work to reinforce what we already believe.”
Thank you to the publisher for gifting me a copy of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily and was not required to leave a positive review. All opinions are my own.
physical_to-read_stack
November 21, 2025I received my copy free through Goodreads Giveaways.
January 10, 2026
This book is, as the author describes in her chapter on Jonah and the whale, a chance to go beyond the Saturday-morning cartoon version of many of the stories we grew up with. As a layperson who has not studied Greek or Hebrew and has only dabbled in looking up the meanings of those ancient languages, this book digs deep into places I wouldn’t even know to look. I appreciated Haley’s unbiased opinions, her seeking of truth rather than accepting the status quo, and her challenge at the end of the book to “strengthen your faith by asking questions and spending time learning the answers.” This is a great place to start if that’s where you find yourself. Haley’s writing style is easy to understand, and you won’t find yourself bogged down by a vocabulary that is out of your comfort zone (if she does use big words, she makes sure to explain them). I could have easily sat with this book for hours and hours in one sitting, but I also wanted to take my time with each chapter. I definitely see this book as one I will reread in the future and reference often.
November 18, 2025
While not in complete agreement with the author on all aspects, I do agree with her main points. A worthwhile read for anyone interested in Christianity, history, and knowing why you believe what you believe.
December 10, 2025
2.5 rounded down. I really wanted to like this book, but it really fell flat for me. I was hopeful that this was going to take archaeological truths and match it with biblical stories that I knew to my understanding of the word. Instead, what I read was a whole lot of “ we don’t really know“ “we’re not sure” “this may be what it was” and it felt very wishy-washy and uncertain. While there were a few places where I found my faith to be challenged in a good way, I was mostly bored and found myself skimming what felt like a history textbook instead of a rich and engaging Piece of literature. I read this with my community group, I wouldn’t have read this on my own. I can’t say that I would recommend but maybe for the right reader they’ll get more out of it than I did.
October 10, 2025
Thank you so much to Goodreads Giveaway & Revell @ Baker Publishing for an ARC of this book. I really enjoyed this book. It sent me on several deep dives. I learned alot of things I was not aware of. I would definitely read from this author again. This is a good study on why faith is so important and searching in vain for a "burning bush" to prove all of God's miracles is actually more of a hindrance than a help. All things through faith.
October 9, 2025
Biblical interpretation from the perspective of an archaeologist.
December 21, 2025
In thinking I was getting a book that covered biblical archaeology, what Haley provides is more commentary on biblical passages to help correct people to think through what they might think one knows. I'm not opposed to that type of book but when the book is supposed to be about archaeology and from a Christian perspective, I didn't get as much from it as I was expecting. On top of all that it appears that Haley is quick to side with the idea that if secular mainstream knowledge hasn't confirmed the biblical accounts we just can't know if certain parts of the biblical account are accurate or historical. However, where secular mainline science has spoken she is quick to point out where those who believe God's Word as being straightforward and accurate are mistaken and biblical accounts need to be softened with spiritualization as its contextualized lens. There is not much in allowing for explanation that fits inside the biblical narrative in a historical sense here.
There are also times where Haley adds stories that are not professional and backbiting at fellow Christians. For example, she takes umbridge with the fact that the Ark Encounter charges a fee to enter and that her dogs weren't allowed to come on property. What a thing to cry over. She also says that if Young Earth Creationists were consistent in their reading the Bible, they would also believe in a flat Earth and the Earth being the center of the universe. This condensending tone carries throughout the writing and where she wants to point out poetic writing as a genre lens to view things, she will conflate that for those she's critical of. When she gets into biblical translation of text she presents her perfered side but doesn't really address some of the concerns with them. For example, if you are a backwater hick who takes the "days" in Genesis 1 as being a literal 24-hour period of time well you just need to realize that this could just be "a period of time" but then tries to tie the same concept to Sabbath keeping and why people work 6 days and rest for one. This is done within the span of less than a page in the book. Then says "God spent six yoms (13.8 billion years, give or take) making perfection, and humanity went and ruined it in what seems to be a short amount of time" (p.26). So, what? Ruined it in a few million years, give or take? But for her, as she said at the end of the chapter, it doesn't really matter what you believe when it comes to how long creation occurred.
The global flood and giants during Genesis 6 to her are "a fun read, but it is not history" (p.39). Not using BCE and CE? Well, that's just a "nonbiblical, medieval-government-imposed tradition" that you want to keep BC and AD (p.52). Most stories in Genesis "don't have much moral value...but they do have redemptive value" (p.58). When knocking translations, especially with the use of the Septuagint, she offers no discussion on why certain considerations were made or the implications of it. After a while this start to reads like Peter Enns. And again, I kept flipping through the book waiting for actual archeology. Joseph in Egypt, the Exodus, David and Golliath - all those haven't been shown by mainline science so we don't really know about them maybe if the experts wrote papers about them we could maybe think Golliath is really tall but he probably wasn't. Moses couldn't have made all the trips up and down the mountain. Jonah couldn't really have been swallowed by a big fish but it's neat to think about isn't it? Moses didn't write the first five books of the Old Testament but JEDP Theory is probably accurate. She doesn't give a reason for why these supposed inaccuracies would be the case. Why would Jonah talk about Niniveh in a way that wasn't accurate. Why would the story add extra trips up the mountain for Moses? There's no attempt to harmonize anything and it appears it's because there's no study to give permission to go that route.
There's no talk of Cyrus's scroll allowing for the Jews to return and rebuilt the Temple. The chapters on the New Testament are so short, and the areas where we have a ton of archaeological evidence is more of a discussion point on why we shouldn't think of "hotel" for "inn" at Jesus's birth. True, yes. However, so much is missing! So much archaeology is missing. The sources are bleak as well. Citing things like movies and Veggie Tales with limited scholarly works that would have been interesting to take someone in the field to write a popular-level book on a subject that does require that to convey the intricacies of archaeology into common parlance.
This is the only thing by Haley I read and I am not questioning her Christian convictions. This is a review solely based on the book at hand. And for the claim that the Stones Still Speak, it looks like we'll need someone else to help transmit the message. Final Grade - D+
There are also times where Haley adds stories that are not professional and backbiting at fellow Christians. For example, she takes umbridge with the fact that the Ark Encounter charges a fee to enter and that her dogs weren't allowed to come on property. What a thing to cry over. She also says that if Young Earth Creationists were consistent in their reading the Bible, they would also believe in a flat Earth and the Earth being the center of the universe. This condensending tone carries throughout the writing and where she wants to point out poetic writing as a genre lens to view things, she will conflate that for those she's critical of. When she gets into biblical translation of text she presents her perfered side but doesn't really address some of the concerns with them. For example, if you are a backwater hick who takes the "days" in Genesis 1 as being a literal 24-hour period of time well you just need to realize that this could just be "a period of time" but then tries to tie the same concept to Sabbath keeping and why people work 6 days and rest for one. This is done within the span of less than a page in the book. Then says "God spent six yoms (13.8 billion years, give or take) making perfection, and humanity went and ruined it in what seems to be a short amount of time" (p.26). So, what? Ruined it in a few million years, give or take? But for her, as she said at the end of the chapter, it doesn't really matter what you believe when it comes to how long creation occurred.
The global flood and giants during Genesis 6 to her are "a fun read, but it is not history" (p.39). Not using BCE and CE? Well, that's just a "nonbiblical, medieval-government-imposed tradition" that you want to keep BC and AD (p.52). Most stories in Genesis "don't have much moral value...but they do have redemptive value" (p.58). When knocking translations, especially with the use of the Septuagint, she offers no discussion on why certain considerations were made or the implications of it. After a while this start to reads like Peter Enns. And again, I kept flipping through the book waiting for actual archeology. Joseph in Egypt, the Exodus, David and Golliath - all those haven't been shown by mainline science so we don't really know about them maybe if the experts wrote papers about them we could maybe think Golliath is really tall but he probably wasn't. Moses couldn't have made all the trips up and down the mountain. Jonah couldn't really have been swallowed by a big fish but it's neat to think about isn't it? Moses didn't write the first five books of the Old Testament but JEDP Theory is probably accurate. She doesn't give a reason for why these supposed inaccuracies would be the case. Why would Jonah talk about Niniveh in a way that wasn't accurate. Why would the story add extra trips up the mountain for Moses? There's no attempt to harmonize anything and it appears it's because there's no study to give permission to go that route.
There's no talk of Cyrus's scroll allowing for the Jews to return and rebuilt the Temple. The chapters on the New Testament are so short, and the areas where we have a ton of archaeological evidence is more of a discussion point on why we shouldn't think of "hotel" for "inn" at Jesus's birth. True, yes. However, so much is missing! So much archaeology is missing. The sources are bleak as well. Citing things like movies and Veggie Tales with limited scholarly works that would have been interesting to take someone in the field to write a popular-level book on a subject that does require that to convey the intricacies of archaeology into common parlance.
This is the only thing by Haley I read and I am not questioning her Christian convictions. This is a review solely based on the book at hand. And for the claim that the Stones Still Speak, it looks like we'll need someone else to help transmit the message. Final Grade - D+
January 5, 2026
I have read several chapters of this book, and cannot continue reading it because while the author asks us to have an open mind, her bias is presented as fact. Some of her biases do not align with the word of God.
I was excited to start reading this book, as archaeology, history, and science interest me. Haley’s introduction piqued my interest further still as she began to dismantle our “flannelgraph” images of the Biblical texts. On page 13, she asked the reader to be open to challenging their long-held beliefs, to hold up her book against the word of God, and if necessary, be willing to change our minds or to be okay with not knowing all the Bible’s mysteries. Page 14 contradicts the previous page, as she quotes 1 Cor. 3:11, reminding the reader that the Bible is the final authority.
In chapter one, I appreciated Haley’s critical look at the romanticized paintings of Adam and Eve’s fall from grace, and how those shape our view of the Biblical account. However, as I continued to read, I found it disturbing that Haley calls Adam and Eve’s sin of rebellion against God “misbehavior,” (pg. 25) Further troubling is that Haley considers a literal six-day creation as just one option for Gen. 1, (pg. 25, 28). She belittles Christians who hold to a literal interpretation of the word of God and who choose to hold man’s interpretation of science loosely, (pg.27).
Chapter 2 is spent denigrating the Christian apologetics ministry Answers in Genesis. I have visited both attractions she mentioned, and do not agree with her negativity towards the attractions. She calls those who believe in the literal interpretation of Genesis 1 & 2 “Young Earth Creationists.” She believes that AIG “and their affiliates” promote a “very narrow reading” of the word of God. However, if you cannot trust the foundation of God’s word, Genesis 1-11, then you cannot trust the rest of the Bible to mean what it says.
Haley seems to believe in the “natural evidence” of our earth being 4.5 billion years old, and criticizes those who hold to the Biblical text as being “narrow-minded”. She asserts that “Young Earth Creationists” can’t possibly take all of the Bible literally anyway, or they would believe the earth is flat and the center of the universe, (pg. 30 & 31).
Haley is contradictory on whether we can believe the Bible to be true when it records a universal flood; on page 32, she seems to suggest that the Bible is only making a theological point regarding a universal flood that destroyed the whole earth. However, on page 36, she claims that “there is no evidence of a single flood that struck all of Mesopotamia at the same time, let alone the entire earth. Only regional flooding was common.” She goes on to claim that since there is no physical geological evidence to support “Noah’s voyage,” the “best witnesses��� are not the word of God, but ancient Near East literature like the Epic of Gilgamesh.
On page 38, she discounts the truth of God’s word once again: to her, it is immaterial whether the flood was global or not. All that really matters is that it affected Noah’s life and family. Haley believes that however the flood happened, the importance of the flood was to show “how humanity can be reconciled to God,” as stated twice on page 38. Her blatant denial of God’s stated purpose for the flood is deeply concerning. Genesis 6:1-13 is very clear: the purpose of the global flood was to completely destroy ALL life upon the entire world (save Noah and his family of seven) as a punishment for the continual wickedness and rebellion of all mankind.
While she urges that we read the Bible in context and as a whole, Haley has willingly overlooked global flood evidence outside of Genesis. The flood was not a local flood, was sent as divine judgment by God, and was confirmed outside of Genesis by both Jesus and the apostle Peter.
Finally, in chapter 3, page 58, Haley claims the text in Genesis 12:10-20 implies that Pharaoh slept with Sarai, Abram’s wife. The Biblical text doesn’t say one way or another, so an implication cannot be made.
The reader of this book must truly read it in one hand with the word of God in the other. Yes, there are silly paintings and interpretations of Biblical events that have shaped our thinking over time. However, if the truth of God’s word is final and absolute as it is recorded, then this must be our plumb line, not our hopes, assertions, or opinions.
—reviewed by CL
I was excited to start reading this book, as archaeology, history, and science interest me. Haley’s introduction piqued my interest further still as she began to dismantle our “flannelgraph” images of the Biblical texts. On page 13, she asked the reader to be open to challenging their long-held beliefs, to hold up her book against the word of God, and if necessary, be willing to change our minds or to be okay with not knowing all the Bible’s mysteries. Page 14 contradicts the previous page, as she quotes 1 Cor. 3:11, reminding the reader that the Bible is the final authority.
In chapter one, I appreciated Haley’s critical look at the romanticized paintings of Adam and Eve’s fall from grace, and how those shape our view of the Biblical account. However, as I continued to read, I found it disturbing that Haley calls Adam and Eve’s sin of rebellion against God “misbehavior,” (pg. 25) Further troubling is that Haley considers a literal six-day creation as just one option for Gen. 1, (pg. 25, 28). She belittles Christians who hold to a literal interpretation of the word of God and who choose to hold man’s interpretation of science loosely, (pg.27).
Chapter 2 is spent denigrating the Christian apologetics ministry Answers in Genesis. I have visited both attractions she mentioned, and do not agree with her negativity towards the attractions. She calls those who believe in the literal interpretation of Genesis 1 & 2 “Young Earth Creationists.” She believes that AIG “and their affiliates” promote a “very narrow reading” of the word of God. However, if you cannot trust the foundation of God’s word, Genesis 1-11, then you cannot trust the rest of the Bible to mean what it says.
Haley seems to believe in the “natural evidence” of our earth being 4.5 billion years old, and criticizes those who hold to the Biblical text as being “narrow-minded”. She asserts that “Young Earth Creationists” can’t possibly take all of the Bible literally anyway, or they would believe the earth is flat and the center of the universe, (pg. 30 & 31).
Haley is contradictory on whether we can believe the Bible to be true when it records a universal flood; on page 32, she seems to suggest that the Bible is only making a theological point regarding a universal flood that destroyed the whole earth. However, on page 36, she claims that “there is no evidence of a single flood that struck all of Mesopotamia at the same time, let alone the entire earth. Only regional flooding was common.” She goes on to claim that since there is no physical geological evidence to support “Noah’s voyage,” the “best witnesses��� are not the word of God, but ancient Near East literature like the Epic of Gilgamesh.
On page 38, she discounts the truth of God’s word once again: to her, it is immaterial whether the flood was global or not. All that really matters is that it affected Noah’s life and family. Haley believes that however the flood happened, the importance of the flood was to show “how humanity can be reconciled to God,” as stated twice on page 38. Her blatant denial of God’s stated purpose for the flood is deeply concerning. Genesis 6:1-13 is very clear: the purpose of the global flood was to completely destroy ALL life upon the entire world (save Noah and his family of seven) as a punishment for the continual wickedness and rebellion of all mankind.
While she urges that we read the Bible in context and as a whole, Haley has willingly overlooked global flood evidence outside of Genesis. The flood was not a local flood, was sent as divine judgment by God, and was confirmed outside of Genesis by both Jesus and the apostle Peter.
Finally, in chapter 3, page 58, Haley claims the text in Genesis 12:10-20 implies that Pharaoh slept with Sarai, Abram’s wife. The Biblical text doesn’t say one way or another, so an implication cannot be made.
The reader of this book must truly read it in one hand with the word of God in the other. Yes, there are silly paintings and interpretations of Biblical events that have shaped our thinking over time. However, if the truth of God’s word is final and absolute as it is recorded, then this must be our plumb line, not our hopes, assertions, or opinions.
—reviewed by CL
January 10, 2026
As someone who studies biblical theology and commentaries regularly (in addition to the Bible), I enjoyed this book. Amanda addresses common misconceptions about Scripture, the things we envision about different Bible passages, but aren’t really true at all. Her commentary and knowledge bring to light the actual contexts of Scripture. It’s a great read for anyone looking to deepen their biblical knowledge without having to go into deep dives of commentaries and other resources. The author is very knowledgeable and informative.
While it makes sense to include popular media that inaccurately portrays Scripture for believers, and I relate to the author’s frustration with the misconceptions, it came off as a negative tone at time and I didn't love that. These resources aren’t 100% accurate, but they serve a purpose in giving us a creative, memorable way to understand the general meaning of Scripture. They, in no way, replace the Word of God. While making the distinction of the media’s inaccuracy and the actual, archeological evidence is important, I wish it was clearer that these resources still have some value, either for children, those new to faith, or the seasoned believer looking to revitalize their love of Scripture. The author does make the point that these should not be where our study of Scripture ends, and we should be reading it ourselves, which I strongly agree with.
Overall, I would recommend this book for someone who is looking for more insight into the cultural context of Scripture. This book will enhance your Bible study and understanding in a way many resources do not.
While it makes sense to include popular media that inaccurately portrays Scripture for believers, and I relate to the author’s frustration with the misconceptions, it came off as a negative tone at time and I didn't love that. These resources aren’t 100% accurate, but they serve a purpose in giving us a creative, memorable way to understand the general meaning of Scripture. They, in no way, replace the Word of God. While making the distinction of the media’s inaccuracy and the actual, archeological evidence is important, I wish it was clearer that these resources still have some value, either for children, those new to faith, or the seasoned believer looking to revitalize their love of Scripture. The author does make the point that these should not be where our study of Scripture ends, and we should be reading it ourselves, which I strongly agree with.
Overall, I would recommend this book for someone who is looking for more insight into the cultural context of Scripture. This book will enhance your Bible study and understanding in a way many resources do not.
December 19, 2025
Learn how physical artifacts can bridge the gap between modern readers and ancient writers. This book explores how we can study and appreciate the Bible even more deeply by understanding its historical context.
Stones Still Speak delves into the cultural and historical background of scripture, and will challenge you to rethink well-known Bible stories through the lens Biblical history. Harvard-trained archaeologist and theologian Amanda uncovers the ancient world for readers, providing a nuanced understanding of scripture through a combination of historical and literary analysis. Amanda explores topics from the Biblical creation narrative to the early church, highlighting major stories and their archaeological counterparts!
With a focus on fostering a more thoughtful and intentional engagement with scripture, Amanda emphasizes the importance of contextual understanding, and she encourages readers to approach the Bible with a new level of curiosity.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Stones Still Speak delves into the cultural and historical background of scripture, and will challenge you to rethink well-known Bible stories through the lens Biblical history. Harvard-trained archaeologist and theologian Amanda uncovers the ancient world for readers, providing a nuanced understanding of scripture through a combination of historical and literary analysis. Amanda explores topics from the Biblical creation narrative to the early church, highlighting major stories and their archaeological counterparts!
With a focus on fostering a more thoughtful and intentional engagement with scripture, Amanda emphasizes the importance of contextual understanding, and she encourages readers to approach the Bible with a new level of curiosity.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
November 14, 2025
3.5 audio
I liked this book and am still thinking days later about some of the details that changed my understanding of stories I’ve known since childhood.
but…
The point is what physical objects can teach us about our common understanding of well worn Bible stories. And the first few were great. And some were about physical objects. And others weren’t so much - she strayed from her lane and got more into interpretation, which is more anthropology, which is very related but not the same.
Also, the author narrated, and many Bible place and people names were pronounced differently than I’ve ever heard them. Tbh it made her seem untrustworthy, though •maybe• hers is the correct pronunciation? I don’t know.
However there were many gems in this book that gave me pause about how I understand and teach my child the details of certain stories she’s learning in church. A worthwhile read.
I liked this book and am still thinking days later about some of the details that changed my understanding of stories I’ve known since childhood.
but…
The point is what physical objects can teach us about our common understanding of well worn Bible stories. And the first few were great. And some were about physical objects. And others weren’t so much - she strayed from her lane and got more into interpretation, which is more anthropology, which is very related but not the same.
Also, the author narrated, and many Bible place and people names were pronounced differently than I’ve ever heard them. Tbh it made her seem untrustworthy, though •maybe• hers is the correct pronunciation? I don’t know.
However there were many gems in this book that gave me pause about how I understand and teach my child the details of certain stories she’s learning in church. A worthwhile read.
October 29, 2025
DNF at 35%. Super interesting premise, and honestly, a nice foil to The Red-Haired Archaeologist Digs Israel--I think the two could have been combined nicely, as the latter was heavy on the scripture references and light on the archaeological content that this one excelled in. I just found that this one was _too_ heavy (for me) on the archaeological content, so it ran dry and I struggled to keep my interest.
I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
October 31, 2025
By far the most approachable book that teaches us to discern between tradition and scripture. I enjoyed every page! The humor and stories made the vocabulary and topics easy to understand and a fun way to learn how to apply scripture to my every day life. The archaeology examples don't "prove" the Bible stories but illuminate the context and my ideas of what peoples were like in that time period. The difference in what I thought an "inn" looked like and the actual home that Mary and Joseph probably went up to were very different and made the story even more alive to me. Everyone needs to pick this up and start learning from Amanda!
December 31, 2025
This was the perfect book snuggled up by a fire with my dog. I have always been a history lover and enjoyed an archaeologist’s perspective on what the science confirms and also does not confirm about what we as Christian’s have been taught. I enjoyed “thinking outside of the box” on many of biblical topics and even assumptions I grew up with. I look forward to the authors other works as well. Thanks to Baker House for the early copy!
January 8, 2026
Written by a Biblical archeologist to help contextual the Bible as opposed to prove the Bible. There is a lot of historical information here about life before the common era (BCE) to explain what was happening around the ancient world, who the players in the Bible might have been, and when the events of the Bible potentially happened.
December 14, 2025
Loved this book! Amanda connects faith and history in a way that will strengthen your confidence in scripture and bring those familiar stories (that you thought you knew) to life. Perfect for curious hearts that want to dig deeper and cultivate a love for God’s Word!
December 10, 2025
Read this as a small group, was really hopeful about it in the beginning- middle got really historical in a way that wasn’t super easy to grasp. Overall liked the end and the message.
January 13, 2026
Really enjoyed this book! Having never read the Bible in its entirety, I found this book to be a great introduction to finding how history & science tie in to it.
August 22, 2025
The Publisher Used The Perfect Review Tagline! I'm not joking on that headline either. As I write this review just over a month before this book publishes, the very first line of the current description of this book says "Untangling the Sunday School Stories You Learned from the Biblical History You Haven't". And dammit, had they not used that line, *I WOULD HAVE!*.
That book is the singular **PERFECT** way to describe this book in a succinct manner. It really is exactly what you're getting here.
In this book, an actual field archaeologist goes through the Bible nearly cover to cover showing what the field of archaeology has discovered... and what it hasn't. Written from an unequivocally Christian perspective, this is a book that doesn't try to destroy faith - and yet also actively debunks claims that the evidence simply can't support, even while fully acknowledging and even actively embracing the supernatural in instances where there is wiggle room. (Absence of evidence not being evidence of absence and all that jazz. ;) )
In many of my reviews of Christian books I've deducted a star for prooftexting, and while Haley does in fact cite Bible verses frequently throughout this text... she never actually engages in that practice. Indeed, she cites the verse specifically to place it *within* its context both Biblically and historically and archaeologically. Thus, she's actually doing quite the *opposite* of prooftexting, even while employing a similar mechanism.
No, the star deduction here is simply the dearth of the bibliography, clocking in at just 8% or so of the text I have in my Advance Review Copy - vs the roughly double that that would be an acceptable (ish) minimum per the documentation standards of other nonfiction books I've read over the years. (And indeed, many of the remaining nonfiction ARCs I have clock in at or north of 30% documentation, a few even hitting the 40% and above mark!)
Overall though, this really is a particularly strong book that may potentially be controversial for the hyper religious (both Christians and those who oppose anything remotely related to Christianity), but is well within the Overton Window for most readers. The writing style is very approachable, far from the dense and dusty academy-speak one might fear they would be getting into here, and thus truly very much approachable for most any reader capable of reading chapter books at all.
Very much recommended.
That book is the singular **PERFECT** way to describe this book in a succinct manner. It really is exactly what you're getting here.
In this book, an actual field archaeologist goes through the Bible nearly cover to cover showing what the field of archaeology has discovered... and what it hasn't. Written from an unequivocally Christian perspective, this is a book that doesn't try to destroy faith - and yet also actively debunks claims that the evidence simply can't support, even while fully acknowledging and even actively embracing the supernatural in instances where there is wiggle room. (Absence of evidence not being evidence of absence and all that jazz. ;) )
In many of my reviews of Christian books I've deducted a star for prooftexting, and while Haley does in fact cite Bible verses frequently throughout this text... she never actually engages in that practice. Indeed, she cites the verse specifically to place it *within* its context both Biblically and historically and archaeologically. Thus, she's actually doing quite the *opposite* of prooftexting, even while employing a similar mechanism.
No, the star deduction here is simply the dearth of the bibliography, clocking in at just 8% or so of the text I have in my Advance Review Copy - vs the roughly double that that would be an acceptable (ish) minimum per the documentation standards of other nonfiction books I've read over the years. (And indeed, many of the remaining nonfiction ARCs I have clock in at or north of 30% documentation, a few even hitting the 40% and above mark!)
Overall though, this really is a particularly strong book that may potentially be controversial for the hyper religious (both Christians and those who oppose anything remotely related to Christianity), but is well within the Overton Window for most readers. The writing style is very approachable, far from the dense and dusty academy-speak one might fear they would be getting into here, and thus truly very much approachable for most any reader capable of reading chapter books at all.
Very much recommended.
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