Biblical Tradition and the Archaeological Record

This chart summarizes a great deal of information. Column I lists Canaanite cities mentioned in the Bible as having been conquered by the invading Israelites. In three cases—Ai, Arad and Debir—there are two candidates for each of these Biblical sites.

Column II indicates that at only four of these sites, at most, were there cities at the end of the Late Bronze Age.

Column III looks at the situation at the end of Middle Bronze II. Here we find that at only two sites were there no cities—Ai (Khirbet et-Tell) and Arad (Tel Arad). However, these are not important from our authors’ viewpoint because, according to them, these were not the Biblical sites of Ai and Arad; Bimson and Livingston believe the alternative sites listed (Khirbet Nisya and Tel Malhata) are the remains of these Biblical sites.

In summary, the chart reveals a basic inconsistency between the situation at the end of the Late Bronze Age and the Biblical account of the conquest of Canaan, while the situation at the end of Middle Bronze II is consistent with the Biblical account.