The Archaeology of the Bible

by James K. Hoffmeier

How have the societies and events of the past affected the shape of the world as we know it today? How can we use archaeological data to help us understand the peoples and culture of the Ancient Near East? Can archaeological studies help us to understand the Bible, and if so, how? These are just some of the questions discussed in this fascinating journey around the archaeological remains of the Ancient Near East. James K. Hoffmeier provides the reader with a review of Bible history and examines the role of archaeology in understanding the Biblical text. Beginning with Genesis, this intriguing survey follows the Bible narrative right through to the early churches of Revelation. The book is divided into three sections—two of which cover the Old Testament and one to the New Testament—and is interspersed with stories from the author's own experience as an archaeologist, which bring the thrill of archaeological discovery vividly to life. Beautifully illustrated with photographs, charts, maps, diagrams, and illustrations of sites, this striking overview is for anyone interested in learning  more about the societies and events of the Ancient Near East and how they affect our understanding of the Bible.

Genres: Archaeology, Religion, Nonfiction, History, Theology, Biblical Studies, Reference

192 pages, Hardcover

First published May 28, 2008

Reviews

[David Woods · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was the textbook for a class I'm just finishing. It's hard for me to separate this book from the lectures and other class material I received. The class was amazing though, and I did enjoy my readings in this book. The chapters weren't too long which was nice, and had lots of nice visuals: maps, small topical articles, pictures of artifacts, etc. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more about archaeological finds that support the Bible. Basically it just starts at the beginning and goes through the Bible chronologically, providing archaeological support throughout. If you live in Bend, I definitely recommend the class, or if not, ask me, as I hope to be able to reproduce this information to the best of my ability to anyone interested!

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a solid introduction to the topic of biblical archaeology. The author tells the story of the Bible through the lens of archaeology. (Indirectly the book has a nice apologetic in that it provides a catalog of archaeological evidence that supports the historicity of the biblical text.) The book is full color with lots of pictures, maps, and drawings. Every chapter provides recent archaeological finds to illustrate the biblical story. While the book has a bibliography, the most disappointing aspect to the book is a lack of citations for further research (i.e., there are no footnotes or endnotes, making it difficult to explore specific claims). I would enthusiastically recommend this book for any undergraduate course that seeks to introduce students to biblical archaeology.

[Nicole Cober-Lake · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hoffmeier has written an interesting survey of Biblical archaeology. While there will not be much new information for seasoned archaeology buffs, the book achieves its main aims very well: to introduce us to the ancient traces of the material culture of the Bible's various historical settings, and to argue along the way for a particular paradigm for integrating archaeology and Biblical studies. Rather than trying to use archaeology to "prove" or "disprove" the Biblical narrative, Hoffmeier consistently points to both the possibilities and the limitations of the discipline. His broad knowledge of his subject allows him to illustrate well the ways in which archaeology can supplement our understanding of the Bible by providing useful context, and lend it credibility by demonstrating that the Biblical narratives offer accurate reflections of the time periods and cultures in which they are set.

Hoffmeier's chronological organization allows the book to double as a primer on Biblical history. I could see myself assigning this as part of a high school-level homeschool curriculum, or possibly as a supplementary text for an introductory course on Old Testament studies. Its good-quality photographs and useful maps add to its accessibility and appeal. The fact that the author explicitly discusses some of the controversies surrounding the dating of specific sites and artifacts, as well as uncertainties about the Biblical timeline, makes the book a positive model for those learning how to engage respectfully and fruitfully in scholarly conversations.

A fun and enriching read!

[Michael King · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The Archaeology of the Bible" is a survey of archaeological research that informs our reading of the Bible.

Hoffmeier provides an accessible introduction to archaeology and its implication for Bible readers. The first chapter provides a history of "biblical archaeology" and a framework for reading the Bible and archaeology as companions. The rest of the book covers various biblical periods and shows relevant archaeology findings from that period.

I enjoyed reading through the first few chapters and will probably use this book in the future when trying to have a better understanding of the context in which some books of the Bible were written.

[David Tee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book years ago with much anticipation. I had read two of his earlier works and was hoping this book would be of the same quality and held top quality information. Needless to say, this is not his best work and the content was on the disappointing side.

The book read like the author needed to publish another work to maintain whatever academic standing he held. There was a lack of quality missing here that was evident in his two books on Israel. For the novice, it should still be a good read but there are better books to buy.

[Lucas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Develops a cogent picture of Biblical history by placing the text and stories next to artifacts and inscriptions that reflect the characters and events. I enjoyed this book for many reasons and the vivid illustrations of archaeological findings help reinforce the narrative without distracting the reader.

[Melinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book describing the archaeology of the Bible. Decent description of dating issues, though I didn't agree with all of it. Good for popular level as well as a good basic for more technical studies.

[Zachary Lawson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A perfectly serviceable basic introduction to relevant archaeological data pertinent to the Bible. There were no footnotes nor endnotes; a heinous sin that docks this to 3 stars.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite aspect of this book is the excellent timeline at the front. It's a Chronological Chart wiht Approximate Dates of the various peoples living in biblical places during biblical times. It's the first time I've seen all the players and the times of their existances and prominance layed out in one place and will be a great reference for my further reading and learning about ancient Mesopotamians, Egyptians, and Syro-Palestinians.

The text of the book follows the layout of the bible, going through chapters and their references to people and places and explaining what we know to be fact based on archaeological finds. Hoffmeier also entertains some theories where archaeology has been insufficent in explaining history, but he is careful to point out what is speculation, what is possible, and what is plausible. He also points out stories and statements from the bible which will always be impossible to prove, despite how much archeaolgy will explain.

I haven't read the Bible, but now am more likely to becasue I have a useful context to put it in. Before when I've tried I've found much of it pointless, not because I thought it was pointless, but because I knew I was missing context and much of the intent of the writers. While an author's intent for any work may be elusive, it can be rewarding to postulate what is meant by the inclusion of some historic events and the exclusion of others from the Bible.

[Sarah (TheLibrarysKeeper) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hoffmeier presents information on both biblical history and archaeology and makes a pretty decent case for how they relate to each other (obviously, as this is the intent of the book). Although I read it for school, it wasn't a bad read, and I really enjoyed the beautiful photographs on almost every page. It is so rare for a text book on this sort of topic to have such beautiful color photos. I really enjoyed seeing the things and places I was reading about.

[Jeremiah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A read this in concert with the IVP atlas by Lawrence and it complimented nicely. Obviously, this one focuses more on the archaeological finds of the area as it pertains to the content of the Bible. There are some great photos in here.

[Sarah - All The Book Blog Names Are Taken · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one, it was easily accessible for someone without a lot of background knowledge but still shared information that someone more well-read in the subject could still be interested in. I want do badly to travel to these places and see them in person!

[Ryan Patrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not amazing; feels a little random; but with a few nuggets of really interesting information. And some nice pictures.

[Brett McDonald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good insight. Worth a read and a must read if you are traveling to the holy land.

[Robert Coleman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good introduction. Too short in my estimation.