The Bible & Archaeology

The Bible and Archaeology is a brief, popular (but very informed and up-to-date) introduction on the relationship between the Bible and archaeology. Material culture (i.e., artifacts) and the biblical text illuminate each other in various ways, but laypeople—especially those who consider the biblical text sacred—rarely have a nuanced understanding of how this process works or how archaeological discoveries should be interpreted. This book provides an irenic and balanced perspective on this issue, showing how texts and artifacts are in a fascinating “dialogue” with one another that sheds light on the meaning and importance of both. The emerging picture is a rich and complex one that enlivens our understanding of the Bible and helps us appreciate its message and the historical and cultural contexts in which it was written, and that helps us be realistic about the limits of our knowledge.

Reviews
“In an age of ever-increasing specialization, Matthieu Richelle exhibits his masterful control over both the biblical text and the material culture. Moreover, he demonstrates the value of studying the Bible and archaeology together, in order to reveal the most that we can learn about ancient Israel and its most precious legacy, the literary productions that eventually emerged as the books of the Bible.”
—Gary A. Rendsburg, Blanche and Irving Laurie Professor of Jewish History, Rutgers University

“Timely. Judicious. Lucid. A rising star in French biblical scholarship offers an excellent, up-to-date teaching book on the nature of archaeology, the evidence with which it works, and the kinds of insights it can provide biblical scholars. Richelle's welcome, moderate approach is exemplified in his superb survey and evaluation of contemporary positions surrounding the kingdom of David and Solomon.”
—David M. Carr, Professor of Old Testament, Union Theological Seminary

Author Bio
Dr. Matthieu Richelle is professor of Old Testament at the Faculté Libre de Théologie Évangélique, Vaux-sur-Seine, France. A former student at the French Biblical and Archaeological School in Jerusalem, he received his PhD from the École Pratique des Hautes Études (Sorbonne) and has taught courses on ancient Semitic inscriptions there for years. Richelle has written dozens of scholarly and popular articles on the Bible and the history and inscriptions of Syria-Palestine, and he is the author of several books (in French), including A Guide to Old Testament Exegesis, Understanding Genesis 1–11 Today, and The Testament of Elisha: Masoretic Text and Septuagint in 2 Kings 13:10–14:16.