Challenging the fundamentalist readings of the scriptures and marshaling the latest archaeological evidence to support its new vision of ancient Israel, The Bible Unearthed offers a fascinating and controversial perspective on when and why the Bible was written and why it possesses such great spiritual and emotional power today.

author of Here I Stand: My Struggle for a Christianity of Integrity, Love, and Equality

A bold and provocative book, well researched, well written, and powerfully argued. It challenges many of the assumptions developed by the literal religious minds of the ages, opening traditional possibilities to new conclusions.

Los Angeles Times

A brutally honest assessment of what archaeology can and cannot tell us about the historical accuracy of the Bible...presented with both authority and panache.

Prologue:"In the Days of King Josiah

Introduction:"Archaeology and the Bible

1. Searching for the Patriarchs

2. Did the Exodus Happen?

3. The Conquest of Canaan

4. Who Were the Israelites?

5. Memories of a Golden Age?

6. One State, One Nation, One People? (C. 930-720 BCE)

7. Israel's Forgotten First Kingdom (884-842 BCE)

8. In the Shadow of Empire (842-720 BCE)

9. The Transformation of Judah (C. 930-705 BCE)

10. Between War and Survival (705-639 BCE)

11. A Great Reformation (639-586 BCE)

12. Exile and Return (586-C. 440 BCE)

Epilogue:"The Future of Biblical Israel

Appendix A:"Theories of the Historicity

of the Patriarchal Age

Appendix B:"Searching for Sinai

Appendix C:"Alternative Theories of the Israelite Conquest

Appendix D:"Why the Traditional Archaeology of the

Davidic and Solomonic Period Is Wrong

Appendix E:"Identifying the Era of Manasseh

in the Archaeological Record

Appendix F:"How Vast Was the Kingdom of Josiah?

Appendix G:"The Boundaries of the Province of Yehud

Bibliography

Index