Journal: Southern Baptist Journal of Theology
Volume: SBJT 25:2 (Summer 2021)
Article: Book Reviews
Author: Anonymous

SBJT 25:2 (Summer 2021) p. 161

Book Reviews

The Case for Biblical Archaeology: Uncovering the Historical Record of God’s Old Testament People. By John D. Currid. Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing, 2020, 288 pp., $22.50 paper.

John Currid wrote The Case for Biblical Archaeology to show the usefulness of archaeology in biblical studies. As Currid points out, his goal is not to prove the Bible but to show that it is grounded in history. This is an attempt to push against the modern tendency to view the world in an ahistorical way and the increasing biblical illiteracy in the western world (3–4).

The Case for Biblical Archaeology is intended to be an introduction to the field. The first section is an overview providing a geographic description of the land of Israel, a history of modern archaeology, and the development of the current excavation techniques. The final chapter of this introductory section is a brief history of the Near East from the Neolithic period to the Iron II period.

After the introductory surveys, Currid delves into the heart of the book: excavations. The second section is a list of archaeological sites organized by region (Galilee, Jezreel, Negev, Shephelah, Jordan river valley, southern coastal plain, and central highlands). Significant sites are listed in each region with a couple paragraphs about the dating of each site and the important discoveries there. At the end of each description is a short list of recent publications about the site, both excavation reports and more specialized studies.

The final section of the book is about society. Currid examines the developments of specific cultural aspects like architecture, ceramics, and agriculture. These specialized discussions are not tied to any specific site but instead trace general trends in ancient Palestine for each time period from the Neolithic to the Iron II.

The layout of the book is inviting to readers who are new to Near Eastern archaeology. Currid utilizes many photographs from excavations as well as maps of the ancient Near East and Israel/Palestine throughout the chapters. The appendices also contain tables to show the chronology of the ancient Near East and extrabiblical texts that mention Israelite and Judean kings. The additional information helps to orient a reader who may be unfamiliar with

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the land of Israel, and the interspersed photographs brings the archaeological site to life for those who have not seen an excavation before.

Though the book is designed to be introductory, readers might not be prepared for the contents of the book based upon the title. The Case for Biblical Archaeology: Uncovering the Historical Record ...