The Mound on the Mount: A Possible Solution to the 'Problem with Jerusalem'

Journal of Hebrew Scriptures - Volume 11: Article 12 (2011): Israel Finkelstein, Ido Koch, and Oded Lipschits, "The Mound on the Mount: A Possible Solution to the 'Problem with Jerusalem'": Following Knauf's suggestion (2000), the article raises the possibility that in most periods in the second and first millennia BCE the main built-up area of Jerusalem was limited to a mound on the Temple Mount. This mound, which may have covered an area of five hectares and more, was boxed-in under the Herodian platform. At these periods activity in the City of David ridge was restricted to the area near the Gihon spring. In the Iron IIB and late Hellenistic Periods the fortified settlement expanded simultaneously to both the City of David ridge and the southwestern hill. In these two periods there was no need to fortify the western side of the City of David, as this line ran in the middle of the city. >>> Leia mais, clique aqui.

In the Eye of Jerusalem’s Archaeological Storm (by Israel Finkelstein)

Jewish Daily Forward (26/04/2011): In the Eye of Jerusalem’s Archaeological Storm (by Israel Finkelstein): Archaeological activity in Jerusalem has been sucked into a whirlwind of conflicting political agendas, and the site commonly referred to as “the City of David” is in the eye of the storm. At issue is a place of seminal importance for the Jewish people and indeed for anyone who cherishes the heritage of Western civilization. When dealing with archaeology in Jerusalem, one must first know the facts. Otherwise it is easy to be led astray by unfounded historical interpretations or to succumb to misinformation from those pursuing their own political agendas. >>> Leia mais, clique aqui.

Veja mais:

• A História de Israel no Debate Atual
• Bíblia e arqueologia: Este livro, A Bíblia Desenterrada: Uma Nova Visão Arqueológica do Antigo Israel e da Origem de seus Textos Sagrados [o título da tradução brasileira é: A Bíblia não tinha razão], foi pensado como um instrumento para que o leitor leigo, mas interessado no assunto, possa ter acesso a um panorama atualizado do que seus autores acreditam ser evidências arqueológicas e históricas indispensáveis para uma nova compreensão do nascimento do antigo Israel e a emergência de seus textos históricos sagrados. Escrita por dois especialistas de reconhecida competência nos campos da arqueologia e da história, a obra defende que os estudiosos devem atualmente abordar os problemas das origens da Bíblia e da sociedade israelita antiga a partir de uma perspectiva inteiramente nova. Assim, Finkelstein e Silberman se propõem reconstruir uma história bem diferente do antigo Israel, deixando aos leitores o julgamento sobre a validade desta reconstrução.
  

Israel Finkelstein, “Archaeology as a High Court in Ancient Israelite History: A Reply to Nadav Na’aman”

Journal of Hebrew Scriptures - Volume 10: Article 19 (2010)

Israel Finkelstein, “Archaeology as a High Court in Ancient Israelite History: A Reply to Nadav Na’aman”
Abstract: This is a rejoinder to N. Na'aman, "Does Archaeology Really Deserve the Status of A ‘High Court’ in Biblical and Historical Research?," B. Becking and L.L. Grabbe (eds.) Between Evidence and Ideology (OtSt, 59; Leiden: Brill, 165–183) that claims that although archaeological evidence can be fragmentary and may be misinterpreted, when solid data from well-excavated sites is compared to assumptions regarding the nature of biblical texts and their date of compilation, the former should prevail, at least until tested by new archaeological evidence or extra-biblical texts.

To access the article directly please go to:

http://www.arts.ualberta.ca/JHS/Articles/article_147.pdf

Several new reviews have been published by the end of 2010:

• Blum, Erhard, Textgestalt und Komposition: Exegetische Beitrüge zu Tora und Vordere Propheten (ed. Wolfgang Oswald; FAT, 69; Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2010). (Reviewed by David M. Carr)
• Brueggemann, Walter, Divine Presence amid Violence (Eugene, Ore.: Cascade, 2009). (Reviewed by Richard Hess)
• Contreras, Elvira Martín, and Guadalupe Seijas de los Ríos-Zarzosa, Masora: La transmisión de la tradición de la Biblia Hebrea (Instrumentos para el estudio de la Biblia, 20; Estella [Navarra]: Verbo Divino, 2010). (Reviewed by Aaron D. Rubin)
• Stuckenbruck, Loren T., 1 Enoch 91–108 (Commentaries on Early Jewish Literature; Berlin: de Gruyter, 2007). (Reviewed by Anke Dorman)
• Van Wolde, Ellen, Reframing Biblical Studies: When Language and Text Meet Culture, Cognition, and Context (Winona Lake, Ind.: Eisenbrauns, 2009). (Reviewed by Anthony R. Pyles)