Publisher's Weekly Review
Was there a historical basis for the Bible's account of the life of King David? Garfinkel (Dance at the Dawn of Agriculture), head of Hebrew University's archaeology institute, and his colleagues Ganor and Hassel insist that there was, pointing to their discoveries while excavating the city of Khirbet Qeiyafa in Israel's Elah Valley. While this volume accessibly details what was found, it is unlikely to sway many skeptics: the authors conclude that their finds, which include olive pits used for radiometric dating of the site and other artifacts (such as stone and pottery vessels-one boasting a rare inscription-and Egyptian scarabs) dating back to when David supposedly lived, have "provided archaeological evidence corroborating historical memories from the time of King David." The parts of the book that are not detailing the archaeological findings summarize the sometimes-conflicting biblical tradition regarding David's life and past archaeological study of the region; much space is devoted to condemning biblical minimalism (the view that the Bible is not a legitimate source of historical information) in ways that even open-minded readers are unlikely to find persuasive, for example, calling scholars' questioning of the historicity of biblical writings about David "surprising" given his "centrality... in the biblical story." A less biased and more cautious approach to the authors' unquestionably remarkable finds would have served lay readers better. (July) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Booklist Review
As recently as 2007, evidence for the kingdom of David in the early tenth century BCE, where biblical scholarship places it, was scant. That year, the excavation of Khirbet Qeiyafa, a large, well-preserved, long-unoccupied site a day's walk west of Jerusalem, began. Located in the Valley of Elah, where the Bible says David fought Goliath, by 2011, it had been confidently dated to precisely the right period (key to dating were olive pits). The place had been a walled city with, the evidence showed, commercial, military, and cultic functions. Other gods than YHWH evidently were worshipped there, and a miniature temple presaging the first great Jerusalem temple was found. That the city was a purely Jewish community, however, an utter lack of pig bones confirms. In chapters about tenth-century BCE urban planning, the artifacts found, and the inscriptions unearthed, and more, the three leaders of the project clearly and succinctly present what Khirbet Qeiyafa has thus far revealed. With 104 informative illustrations, this is an armchair archaeologist's delight.--Olson, Ray Copyright 2010 Booklist
Choice Review
Archaeological monographs are not often enticing reading for non-specialists, but In the Footsteps of King David proves to be exceptional. This well-written study focuses on excavations in Israel at Khirbet Qeiyafa, which researchers conclude is what remains of biblical Shaaraim and was probably destroyed by the Philistines. Located at the edge of the Elah Valley in Judea, this 10th-century BCE excavation provides strong evidence of an Israelite presence and lacks the cultic evidence of human-like figurines and other symbols associated with Canaanite and Philistine worship. Written by the researchers who excavated the site, this volume examines both macro and micro details, including the objects and artifacts found at the site, and it references other finds in Judea and elsewhere in Israel. The connection to the Davidic period and the intersection of data with biblical sources is engaging. While biblical archaeology asks and responds to questions of an order different from anthropological archaeology, the authors do speak to such issues as tool use, household construction and use, implications of social order, religious life, etc. Well referenced and indexed, this work should be of interest to specialists and non-specialists alike. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All levels/libraries.--Laurence D. Loeb, emeritus, University of Utah