With so called "archeologists" like these who needs enemies!!!!!!!!!!!!!

when much of your conclusions involve specualtion over incomplete and scattered data, you can't put much confidence in it.

This article just shows how archeology has a long ways to go. Just because archeologists can't uncover the truth does not mean the truth of the Bible does not exist. I recall they used to say DAVID did not exist; then one day an archeological find proved them wrong.

We do all the morons attack our Bible and religion?

Your opinion counts for squat! Finkelstein and Silberman, please do not dirty Tanach again by either of you "reading" with your children! You are a disgrace to Israel and to Judaism! ANything to make a dollar. May Hashem forgive you for your most arrogant work to negate His truth and the unity of Jews. I cannot and will not. Why can't you Jew-haters make your money a more honest way, such as selling guns to our enemies? Ynet....SHAME on you for this provocative article! Guess you have to post my message. After all you are looking for ratings...right?

It's not the role of aggressive bigots like #s 1-4 but of scientists in this and other disciplines to confirm or refute the rectitude of the book's claims. So cool it. It doesn't matter if the Tana"kh is 100% true; it plays a crucial role in our national consciousness and identity. We wouldn't be what we are without it. As far as I'm concerned: David melekh Yisrael khay vekayam!

I guess the man really is an archaeologist, and my knowledge is not too deep on the subject. However, I know for a fact that the Temple Mound is itself man-made. Four walls were erected, 10s of meters tall and kilometers around, then filled with rocks, etc. so that a Temple could be built on top, higher than the rest of the buildings. That is a fact. Now...How is it that he says that it was an insignificant family building? Anybody can explain this please? B"H

Finkelstein;s minimalistic vew of Jewish history just writes himself out of it completely. Everytime there is yet another serious find that show Finkelstein to be off his rocker and on a political agenda, Finkelstein just writes it off like yesterday's news. And that's what it is all about for Finkelstein - archeology is just an extention of his political beliefs. A tool he abuses to promote his agenda. Better to read anything and everything by any of the Mazar family of archeologists.

Any cataclysmic events can have a great effect on findings at archeologic sites. Other uncertainties make error analysis required.

In my life-time I've heard so many 'educated' theories of Biblical studies and archiology that it reminds me of a new fashion season i.e. short skirts-long skirts; wide labels- narrow labels; wide ties-narrow ties and so on. There are so many conclusions based on flimsy evidence and a determination to disprove something rather than take a neutral stance and then weighing up the evidence, if there is sufficient evidence, that it is hard to take these guys seriously. Are people now convinced the Talmud was not written in the Middle Ages? Did Jews in Germany a thousand years ago suddenly appear in Germany out of nowhere? If an educated person hears some of the bizarre claims made he will be on floor in hysterics. Why don't these professors research the life of Mohamad and the true origins of the Koran - if they have the courage of their convictions?

the Bible was written by HaShem. no science or archeology crap can change that or "prove" that its false.

To number 8 I note bigotry in your reply and tone of the reply. I also note hypocrisy. Sorry that I don't worship the sacred cow you do.

I can't speak for the Koran, but they have "done this" (as you say) to the New Testament. There is a group of scholars known as the Jesus Seminar that has gone and sort of cherry picked through the New Testament deciding that certain things did happen and certain things didn't. The criteria they use is very controversial. (I think they're full of sh**, but that's my opinion.) As for the Koran, if someone tried the same thing, they'd get beheaded.

Archeologists Israel Finkelstein is an honest man who says the truth. Muslim scholars have been saying this for decades. I am happy there are honest Jewish voices emerging to challenge the myth. Wake up Israel.

Archeologists are just fallible men, in the case of the red sea crossing they have for years looked in the wrong place, and guess what they never found any evidence of the red sea crossing taking place where they believe mt Sinai is today and where all the tourist go. But findings of artifacts have been found where the red sea curves around and comes up as a border between Egypt and Saudi Arabia. And guess whose fenced the area off around the mount of Eben lawz?Called the mountain of 'Law' by Bedouin tribes? You guessed it a Muslim regeim

are now working for the Waqf??? What's with these two sick secularists? Does anyone see a recurrent theme running through all of their "work?" So much work boys to attempt to disprove Torah...tsk tsk...

In the article Finkelstein declares: "...David could have been a leader of a band of rowdies active in the area."

Generation after generation, century after century, the enemies of the Jews have attempted to utterly wipe out the Jews as a race of people - to this very day. Only G-D could have preserved the Jewish people. Jews have maintained a continuous presence in Israel for thousands of years, especially in and around Jerusalem, although most Jews were forced into exile. Thousands of years ago G-D prophesied He would bring Jews back from the exile: Bible, Ezekiel 37:21 Thus says the L-RD G-d, "Behold, I will take the sons of Israel from among the nations where they have gone, and I will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land." Before Jews returned in large numbers to Israel, the land was barren and almost treeless, with few inhabitants. G-D prophesied in Ezekiel 36: You will live in the land that I gave to your forefathers...I will call for the grain and mutliply it...I will mutliply the fruit of the tree and the produce of the field... The desolate land will be cultivated instead of being a desolation...This desolate land has become like the garden of Eden...

It is quite interesting. The key problem is the reliance on the absence of evidence as evidence for absence.The secondary problem is the historical philosophic bias against the bible. The point about the value of the bible as a founding text is quite intriging and certainly there are traditional opinions about scrolls and text predating the revelation. The position of Rabbi E. Berkovitz about biblical criticsm is quite thoughtful and briliant for thoes interested in an intelectual orthodox response

How impressive!

You forget, the Jews are not some ancient civilization swept into the dusty past like the Persians, Greeks, Romans , Assyrians, Philistines, Ammonites Moabites, etc. WE ARE STILL HERE. Our chronicles have been handed down from generation to generation, making us witnesses to the past.. You are trying to erase a national history with a few shards you found in the ground. The Tenach ittself, should carry more weight in your eyes, than your "physical evidence"

I agree with Michael Steiner.(#8) that Israel Finkelstein is a serious scientist contrary to the rest of the minimalists that appear purely politically motivated (denying Israel's past as a nation). However, I don't agree with Finkelsteins conclusions (as a non-professional but rational person). I haven't read the present book, but the previous (Bible Unearthed) left too many questions open in my mind. After reading Kenneth Kitchens "The Reliability of the Old Testament" that is an extremely well performed and scholarly undertaking (highly recommended), Finkelstein & Silberman appear as very light caliber storytellers with far too many degrees of freedom in their very liberal interpretations.

this archiological fool should resign too and join them in bet meshugaim without exception.GOD HELP US, WITH ALL THESE FOOLS IN ONE PLACE.ONLY IS MIRACLE WE HAVE NOT LOST ISRAEL YET.

Finkelstein has spent years making his name off the false premise that his initial digs prove that Hazor belongs to a period 100 years earlier and therefore disproves the historicity of Solomon and David. Of course, he completely ignores and refutes every single piece of evidence that keeps coming up inconvenietly disproving his timing theories. Hazor has now been proven to have been of the right period and recent discoveries in Jerusalem (where we don't have access to what is under the Temple Mount) have provided further evidence. What is sad - and I mean, truly sad - is that Finkelstein's work has created a small European movement of scholars that completely negates Israel's existence as a nation before the Common Era. That's right, this fool in trying to buttress his own academic theses, even when proven wrong, has allowed the political dimension of what this means work against Israel. Shame on him.

As an atheist, I know very little about what's in the bible, and care even less. However, having noted that these two archaeologists have been given a "seal of approval" by a denizen of Ramallah, would be enough to make me question their agenda.

You response was an intelligent response even for an atheist! :) You say you could care less about the Bible? Really? You might just be surprised what you might find. The Book of Psalms is a great book to read. As to the New Testament I would suggest reading the 4th Gospel called the "Book of John". The Book of John might touch you in such a way that delights you... Just a thought! Perhaps the Book of John might reinforce your notions on atheism. You won't know either way unless you give it a try. I, for example, despise Islam but have read the Quran. I am pro-Israel, but read Mein Kampf. A capitalist, but have read works by Marx & Engels. Such diverse writings can either reinforce your own deeply held beliefs or transform them! It would be interesting to know your ideas on the Book of John from your particular viewpoint.

Thank you for your response. Perhaps, I shouldn't have said that I don't care about what's in the Bible because I think it would interest me for its historical value and for the morality it promulgates (because, contrary to popular belief in some quarters, even atheists want to behave morally). Also, I think your post reveals a very intelligent point of view and I admire the way in which you're educating yourself...so maybe I'll even take your suggestion about the Book of John.