The Archaeology of the Holy Land: From the Destruction of Solomon's Temple to the Muslim Conquest

Just about the best archaeology textbook this reader has seen on the Middle East and I would sorely like to see a book that does similar justice to Mesopotamia or Asia Minor. The figures and photos are plentiful and very well explained. I especially liked the background analysis. For example the theme of showing the consistent trends of Samaria going towards inclusiveness while Judah seeking to keep the realm in the ever tighter grip of the Temple elite. One of the more difficult aspects of the archaeology is representing the famous water system of Jerusalem, with the confusion over Warren's Shaft and the nature of the Siloam Pool. The clear photos of the footings for the defensive structures that surrounded the critical Gihon spring in the Canaanite city go a long way to show how much speculation had to go into any specific model of what those structures were like. Superb coverage of the Dead Sea Scrolls, the archaeology of Qumran, and the Ein Gedi caves. The same for the remains of the Roman encampments around Masada where the author has personally investigated. The relative clarity in explaining what is confirmed and what is speculation is remarkable. The book tells a coherent story with as many illustrations as you could ask for, with top quality photos of artifacts and line drawings remarkable for their clarity.

I don't agree with Dr. Magness on every issue, but overall I have to say she is one of the top archaeologists in the Holy Land today. She is very clear and straightforward in her presentation. Scholarly, she's top notch. Yet she handles herself in a way that doesn't make it appear she has a chip on her shoulder, laying out the information that even most informed laypeople can understand. In fact, if you haven't seen her Great Courses 36-episode series, I do recommend that as well. In this book, the reader is provided a timeline regarding the history and archaeology of the Holy Land. I do want to respond to an earlier reviewer said the book was dry. For a book with this type of information and what is being shared, and for the reader who has interest in learning more, I would disagree. And the multiple photographs throughout makes the material come even more alive, making the book even more interesting. When it comes to better understanding the archaeology of Israel, this book is completely understandable and one of the best resoruces I have ever read. It is definitely well worth its price and, for somone who has led five group tours to the Holy Land since 2009, is one I certainly endorse for my travelers.

Excellent introduction into the field of archaeology in Israel. Great insights for 1st century study in general. As an Mdiv student studying abroad in Israel it was a valuable tool in my coursework.

This book is well organized and pretty thorough if not comprehensive. It's set up in chronological order with each era being designed with a historical overview and then a description of the evidence in four aspects of archaeology (pottery, coins, etc.). The format makes it easy to jump around and read about specific topics you're interested in. The book is well written with plenty of pictures of artifacts and digs, helpful historical maps, and a plethora of interesting sidebars that allowed me to reconstruct my visit to the Holy Land and put all those amazing things I saw into the proper context. In my humble opinion, Ms. Magness is respectful of all beliefs in her writing and is very easy to understand. I also appreciate her providing various scholarly opinions and from time to time providing her own. I am relatively new to the topic and this book has greatly informed me on the historical evidence available today and it's complement to religious/historical texts. I wish it was a little more comprehensive (e.g. I didn't read anything on evidence of Solomon's mines or the changes of Jericho over the centuries), but perhaps that would require a larger time frame and a few hundred more pages. Very happy with the purchase.

My wife and I read portions of this entire book to each other, every night over a period of weeks in preparation for a religious retreat, along with Bible study. We wanted to learn more about the personalities, customs, culture and events surrounding Jerusalem and its history in the time before, during and after Jesus. I had looked in vain for an archeology of the Holy Land (or Jerusalem/Israel, if you would prefer) that didn't have an agenda or theory to prove - until I found Prof. Magness's book. From a layman's point of view, this book provides a broad overview and matter-of-factly (generally) compliments and does not seek, one way or the other, to contradict the Bible. My wife and I would marvel with delight each evening with one new discovery after another regarding the historical figures, customs, architecture, geology and geography of Jerusalem and Israel. Each chapter of the book builds upon the previous chapters and it is not a "fast paced" novel. This is not casual reading. However, if you have a genuine curiosity regarding the history of ancient Israel and Jerusalem and are willing to take the time to dive in and *read* the book, you will be immensely rewarded with a deeper understanding of the key personalities, common people, customs, geography, architecture and events of the ancient "Holy Land." Highly recommended

Excellent comprehensive guide with good maps. It deals well with the politics and the ever advancing technology of Archeology. Inevitably with such a complex subject there is some repetition but the style is a good blend of the readable and the erudite.

Excellent book well written and concise. Material for each chapter is supported by good illustrations. References provided are useful and help me in my research.