The Bible in Its World: The Bible and Archaeology Today

by Kenneth A. Kitchen

This book is a solid exposition of the relationship between the ancient near eastern world and ancient Israel. Contrary to popular conceptions that biblical literature was a response to the post-exilic condition, Kitchen demonstrates that in the light of the explosion of knowledge on the ancient near east it has become impossible to maintain critical and minimalist positions on the history and development of Israel and its religion. If one does decide to hold such a view, Kitchen explains that doing so makes Israel the only ancient nation incapable of transmitting its history and having elaborate religious rituals, which we now know were common characteristics of ancient civilizations from even before the time of Moses. Kitchen further explains that the modern minimalist views were born out of 19th century German critical theory, at a time when such knowledge of the ancient world simply did not exist. As a result, such scholars had to perform their research in a historical vacuum, and thus reconstructed the history of ancient Israel which has turned out, in the light of later research, to totally contradict the rest of the entire ancient near east. The momentum of this 19th century research, Kitchen explains, has carried on into the 20th (and 21st) centuries, coloring the views of many modern archaeologists and Old Testament scholars. This book is very important in the light of recent literature on the subject.

Genres: History, Theology, Biblical Studies, Archaeology

Paperback

First published January 1, 1979

About the author

Kenneth Anderson Kitchen was a British biblical scholar, Ancient Near Eastern historian, and Personal and Brunner Professor Emeritus of Egyptology and honorary research fellow at the School of Archaeology, Classics and Egyptology, University of Liverpool, England. He specialised in the ancient Egyptian Ramesside Period (i.e., Dynasties 19-20), and the Third Intermediate Period of Egypt, as well as ancient Egyptian chronology, having written over 250 books and journal articles on these and other subjects since the mid-1950s. He has been described by The Times as "the very architect of Egyptian chronology".

Reviews

[ladydusk · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this to be very readable, even when Kitchen was technical in his explanations he was clear enough for the layperson to follow the general discussion and argument. A greater knowledge with and facility with the time period and ancient languages would be a boon, but the deficit didn't hinder my enjoyment as much as, perhaps, my greater understanding.

In his concluding statements, Kitchen himself said what I was thinking about the book overall:

"If in the course of a fair and full investigation of the total available resources, the verdict is frequently a high measure of agreement between the Bible and the world that is its ancient and original context, then this result should not be specially prized or despised, but used quietly and sanely to gain a good understanding of both. When problems arise (as they do in all fields of study, without exception), usually from incomplete or defective information, then they should be treated alike in all cases (biblical and otherwise) -- critically, sympathetically, thoroughly, drawing only provisional conclusions when lack of data makes final ones impracticable. The biblical world has yet much treasure to yield to us in times to come ..., yet in human experience, none to be compared with the Bible itself." pg 134

Recommended to me by my now Pastor-Emeritus and also a Professor Emeritus of History and Near Eastern Languages at Ohio State, I add my enthusiastic approval. If only I could read my pastor's annotations LOL

[Nate Bate · Rating 5 out of 5]

So far, this is one of my favorites on biblical archaeology. It ranks up there with James B. Pritchard's Archaeology And The Old Testament. Kitchen is more thorough and goes deeper than Pritchard, and so each has charm in its own right. Kitchen gives me more in depth insights into some of the struggles of Archaeologists to agree on their findings along with a little more guidance on how to sort this out. He also gives more in depth information on the various archaeological finds. He is better sourced than Pritchard, but Prichard is a little more fun to read.

[Donald Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kitchen demonstrates a genuine command of his subject giving the reader a cogent survey of the ancient near east while providing clear context for both the Old and New Testaments. Certainly, his focus is on explicating the the Hebrew Scripture in its historical and cultural setting, in in so doing he establishes the credibility of both New and Old. He also handily deals with the eighteenth century biblical scholarly bias which assumed much on little to no evidence.

As long as you have the capacity for assimilating and assessing evidence, and regardless of your disposition toward Judaism, Christianity or their foundational texts, Kitchen is worth reading.

[David Tee · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want to understand the limitations of archaeology and the forces that destroy so much physical evidence that remained from ancient times, this is the book to read. The first chapter basically lays it all out in how an excavation is not even touching more than a drop in the bucket about the past.

Mr. Kitchen never achieved his doctorate yet was able to become a very respected Egyptologist who proved the price mentioned for Joseph given by the slave traders was true. His works are worth reading if you can afford them.

[Caleb Bratcher · Rating 3 out of 5]

A challenging read for someone like myself who has had almost no exposure to the topic, but a very valuable one. Despite the fact that there have been decades more research and discoveries since publishing, this book was very valuable in learning about the methods used by archeologists and other experts who study the ancient worlds of the Bible.

I'd like to see an updated version, but there is still a lot of timeless information here regarding not just the ways scholars study the ancient world, but also how we should approach and evaluate their findings in light of God's word.

[Douglas Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent.

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely worth reading. It is also much smaller than On the Reliability of the Old Testament, so it doesn't entail nearly the same investment of time.