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From Eden to Exile: Unraveling Mysteries of the Bible
In this provocative yet persuasive book, now in paperback, Eric H. Cline uses the tools of his trade to examine some of the most puzzling mysteries from the Hebrew Bible and, in the process, to narrate the history of ancient Israel. Combining academic with an accessible style that has made him a favorite with readers and students alike, he lays out each mystery, evaluates ...more
Paperback, 239 pages
Published
June 17th 2008
by National Geographic
(first published June 19th 2007)
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This could have been a really fascinating look into the archeological research of famous Biblical events and objects, but instead it feels a bit catty; most of the book is spent trashing amateurs, and he comes to conclusions much too quickly - he'll say, "so-and-so, a respected archeologist, says thus-and-such", and that's the end of that.
And as you might expect, none of the 7 "mysteries" in the book (including the location of the Garden of Eden, the whereabouts ...more
And as you might expect, none of the 7 "mysteries" in the book (including the location of the Garden of Eden, the whereabouts ...more
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First let me say that I was disappointed in this book. Second, let me say that this may not be the fault of the book, but of my expectations.
The title rather promises an “Unraveling [of the] Mysteries of the Bible.” However, in reality few mysteries are unraveled. They simply either re-confirm known mysteries (i.e., where is the Garden of Eden?) or 'solve' the mystery by debunking the Biblical account (i.e., Joshua could not have fought the battle of Jericho). Much of the debunking...more
The title rather promises an “Unraveling [of the] Mysteries of the Bible.” However, in reality few mysteries are unraveled. They simply either re-confirm known mysteries (i.e., where is the Garden of Eden?) or 'solve' the mystery by debunking the Biblical account (i.e., Joshua could not have fought the battle of Jericho). Much of the debunking...more
This book was put out by National Geographic. If you are into Biblical Archaeology then this is a simple to understand must read book. I cuts through all the pseudo science out there and deals with the facts as they are. Helped me put thing into perspective. The book analyzed 7 mysteries presented by the bible. Out of the 7 only one has been resoled the fate of the lost tribes, who were never really lost to begin with. They just went to the Southern kingdom of Judea. While only 40thousand were ...more
An interesting look at some of the mysteries of the Bible. This is the kind of book I like to read, and the way in which I like to study the Bible: not taking it literally, but studying the texts and comparing them to archeological finds and extra-Biblical texts, such as those written by the Egyptians at the time, as well as by other sources. Eric Cline does this very well. He doesn't dictate the answers, but offers up among the existing theories those which seem most probable (possible) after s...more
Interesting book that provides the archaeological and historical evidence for events in the Hebrew Scriptures. By the end of the book, the reader will be aware of how much we can know about the locations of the Garden of Eden, Noah's Ark, Sodom and Gomorrah, the Ark of the Convenant, and the Lost Tribes of Israel. It also covers how much we can know about the Exodus and Joshua's battles.
It's not written in a particularly entertaining manner since the author is making a point about ...more
It's not written in a particularly entertaining manner since the author is making a point about ...more
Each chapter in this enjoyable book focuses on a question or puzzle in biblical / old testament archeology. Most of the chapters are an inconclusive round up and analysis of the evidence - but then sitting down to read the book I was expecting the actual location of the garden of Eden to be revealed. The pleasure in this case is in the journey and not the destination.
I was disappointed with this book. It read like a freshman term paper rather than a scholarly text. Of the seven 'mysteries' the author set out to address, no real conclusion was arrived at for any of them. Obviously, I don't want to be unrealistic - I am not expecting Cline to have found the Ark of the Covenant, but I dont understand the point of writing a book when you have nothing to really say or proved. Everything was inconclusive.
As another reviewer mentioned, he definitely sp...more
As another reviewer mentioned, he definitely sp...more
A refreshingly sober treatment of various archaeological mysteries, including the Ark of the Covenant, the Ten Lost Tribes, the Battle of Jericho, and more. Cline weighs evidence from all comers, including the enthusiasts, and fairly, but gently, rejects unfounded claims. Too bad this one won't be picked up by The History Channel.
Wow, so the Bible is not only wrong as a scientific document, but as a historical document as well...maybe we should let religion speak to religious issues and let science and history answer scientific and historical questions?
This wasn't a bad book. The writing was clear and generally interesting (though he has a bad habit of repeating bits of information, which might make sense if they were separated by 100 pages of exposition instead of 5).
There's just not a lot of meat on these bones. He quotes only one Bible version of any particular mystery (the New Revised Standard Version) and then glances cursorily at the hypotheses of credible and incredible researchers.
For someone who's just getting ...more
There's just not a lot of meat on these bones. He quotes only one Bible version of any particular mystery (the New Revised Standard Version) and then glances cursorily at the hypotheses of credible and incredible researchers.
For someone who's just getting ...more
Seriously, this is the type of book that makes me think that Goodreads needs another category. Either 1) read, 2) currently reading, 3) to-read, or 4) i just couldn't finish it.
No real steadfast conclusions, only more opinions and speculations based upon trying to tear apart others' opinions and speculations without hard facts.
I was hoping this book would have left me with more insight, but really I had the same amout of understanding about the topics as I had when I sta...more
No real steadfast conclusions, only more opinions and speculations based upon trying to tear apart others' opinions and speculations without hard facts.
I was hoping this book would have left me with more insight, but really I had the same amout of understanding about the topics as I had when I sta...more
Elementary scholarship into the different theories surrounding Biblical stories.
No meat but plenty of substance, nice read for brief education into the various theories as to the origins of Pentateuch.
No meat but plenty of substance, nice read for brief education into the various theories as to the origins of Pentateuch.
Not really what I thought. I wanted to read straight forward stories of the bible. I didn't care to know whether so and so really existed and what proof there is to support that.
I heard this author on NPR. He is a biblical archaeologist who supposedly delivers what is actually known (as opposed to hoped for) about biblical legends.
The book approaches some oft disputed biblical history from an archeological standpoint in an effort to dispel myth and hunt down truth. I didn't agree with him on practically anything, but he presents himself well and it was an interesting read. He does not include any possibility of divine intervention as explanation of anything he presents. Also, he insists that absence of proof does not mean absence of fact...when it is convenient for his point. At other times, he discredits events for lack ...more
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Dr. Eric H. Cline, a former Fulbright scholar, is chair of the Department of Classical and Semitic Languages and Literatures at the George Washington University in Washington, D.C., where he holds a joint appointment as an associate professor in both the Classics/Semitics Department and the Anthropology Department. He is the author or editor of seven books and has more than seventy articles and bo...more
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