Of what use is archaeology to Old Testament study?

Answer 1

A:Archaeology provides an insight into the reality of ancient cultures and events. Archaeology in Palestine and other nearby regions can shed new light on biblical texts, and even confirm or disprove information in the Old Testament.

A startling achievement of archaeology in recent years has been to show that there was no military conquest of the land of the Canaanites in the late Bronze Age, as described in the Book of Joshua. Further discoveries and analysis have shown a continuity between Bronze Age Canaanite archaeological artefacts and Iron Age Israelite artefacts. Nearly all scholars now believe that the Hebrew people were Canaanite people who migrated from the area of the rich cities on the Canaanite coast and settled peacefully in the hitherto sparsely populated hinterland. Whereas earlier students had no choice but to accept the Book of Joshua as a literal history of Hebrew conquest, it can now be studied in the context of a much later tradition.

In some cases, archaeology has served to provide evidence for the historicity of the Old Testament. A stele has been discovered that contains what is believed to be a reference to King David, demonstrating the likelihood that he really existed.

Archaeologists have also uncovered hundreds of religious artefacts throughout Israel and Judah, providing evidence that the early Israelites were thoroughly polytheistic. This sheds new light on the Bibles claims to monotheism in this period.

For serious students of the Old testament, archaeology means that they have a wealth of new information to help them understand the history and religion of the people of Israel and Judah.