William G. Dever's autobiography provides an honest and reflective account of his life and career, highlighting his experiences within the prominent field of archaeology in Israel. It explores the influential figures of his generation and the development of biblical and Israeli archaeology. With candid insights into personal and professional challenges, the memoir also offers a forward-looking perspective on the future of biblical archaeology. An annotated bibliography is included for readers interested in delving deeper into the scholarly context of his narrative.
Bringing the Bible and ancient Israel into a new and brighter light In the last several decades, archaeological evidence has dramatically illuminated ancient Israel. However, instead of proving the truth of the Bible—as an earlier generation had confidently predicted—the new discoveries have forced us to revise much of what was thought to be biblical truth, provoking an urgent If the biblical stories are not always true historically, what, if anything, is still salvageable of the Bible’s ethical and moral values? Has Archaeology Buried the Bible? simplifies these complex issues and summarizes the new, archaeologically attested ancient Israel, period by period (ca. 1200–600 BCE). But it also explores in detail how a modern, critical reader of the Bible can still find relevant truths by which to live.
Kniha vypráví o jednom z nejnaléhavějších témat archeologie a biblických studií – o původu prvních Izraelců. Západní civilizace kladou po staletí počátky své tradice do starověkého Izraele. V posledních letech však někteří historici a archeologové zpochybňují realitu Izraele, jak ji podává biblická literatura. W. Dever, přední současný znalec dějin starověkého Blízkého východu, konfrontuje tyto kontroverze s archeologickými důkazy, aby posoudil správnost zavedených biblických příběhů. Na základě poznatků z vlastního třicetiletého výzkumu na Blízkém východě seriózně a nezaujatě přehodnocuje starozákonní texty. Podle vlastních archeologických výzkumů, které prováděl ve více než 300 starověkých zemědělských občin ve středním Izraeli, se Dever domnívá, že nejpravděpodobnějšími předchůdci Izraelitů byli Kananejci (spolu s nomády a skupinkou semitských otroků uprchnuvších z Egypta), kteří vytvořili první agrární, rovnostářskou a monoteistickou izraelskou společnost. Knihu doprovází bohatá fotografická příloha.
Focusing on the everyday religious practices of ancient Israelites, William Dever explores the significance of local shrines and the concept of "folk religion." He highlights the role of women in these practices, particularly in relation to the goddess Asherah, often dismissed by biblical authors but seen by modern scholars as a vital figure. This groundbreaking archaeological study synthesizes recent findings and offers a vivid portrayal of religious life, appealing to both experts and general readers while inviting lively discussion on its implications.
This book tackles a crucial topic in archaeology and biblical studies: the origins of early Israel. While the Western tradition has long traced its roots to ancient Israel, recent historians and archaeologists have challenged the biblical narrative's accuracy. The author explores ongoing debates about ancient Israel's true nature, presenting archaeological evidence to evaluate familiar biblical stories. He critically engages with both revisionist views, which dismiss biblical literature as mere "pious propaganda," and conservative perspectives that hesitate to question its factual basis. Drawing on three decades of archaeological fieldwork in the Near East, he offers a compelling interpretation of Israelite history.
In examining the circumstances surrounding Israel's emergence in Canaan, the author reevaluates the Exodus-Conquest narratives found in the books of Exodus, Numbers, Joshua, Judges, and 1 & 2 Samuel, using well-documented archaeological findings from the late Bronze Age and early Iron Age. Notably, he discusses the discovery of around 300 small agricultural villages in what would later become biblical Israel. He posits that the true ancestors of the "Israelite peoples" were likely Canaanites, alongside pastoral nomads and some Semitic slaves escaping Egypt, who formed a new agrarian, communitarian, and monotheistic society through cultural and socioeconomic struggles. Written in an engaging style and illustrated
