"This title considers archaeological evidence to shed light on how the Bible came into existence. It argues that the Bible was created by the people of the nation of Judah in a last-ditch attempt to keep their religion alive after the demise of the larger, wealthier nation of Israel to the north. A fascinating reinterpretation of the political reality, as revealed through archaeology, which lies behind the creation of this sacred text."--

"In this volume, Israel Finkelstein studies the world of ancient Israel, including the time-frame for the composition of historiographic texts in the Bible. He discusses key questions such as historical realities behind North Israelite traditions, the impact of Israel on late monarchic Jerusalem, the scope of composition of texts in the Persian period, and the legitimacy needs of the Hasmoneans."

"The book deals with key topics in Ezra, Nehemiah, and 1 and 2 Chronicles, such as the list of returnees, the construction of the city wall of Jerusalem, the adversaries of Nehemiah, the tribal genealogies, and the territorial expansion of Judah in 2 Chronicles. Finkelstein argues that the geographical and historical realities cached behind at least parts of these books fit the Hasmonean period in the late second century BCE. Seven previously published essays are supplemented by maps, updates to the archaeological material, and recent articles on the topics"--