Biblical Archaeology Review

Eugene Ulrich and Peter W. Flint, Qumran Cave 1: II The Isaiah Scrolls, Parts 1 & 2, Discoveries in the Judaean Desert XXXII (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 2010).

Reich’s book often refers in a subtly derogatory way to those who conjecture a relationship between archaeology and the Bible. An example: “There were those who jumped right away to the Book of Books, seeking and finding the biblical concept of the ‘gate between the two walls’ (Jeremiah 39:4) and connecting to our discovery” (Reich, p. 181). So far as I could tell, Reich never bothers to consider the specific matter conjectured here.

Except in the case of the Bible, however, it is perfectly appropriate, according to Ronny. As he reports, “We reached [this discovery] through a proper process of logical reasoning, in which a question for study was proposed, then a theory or method for its solution was offered, and finally it was tested by means of an experiment, which in our scientific discipline is an archaeological excavation.” pp. 166–167.

Reich, p. 291. At one point, where Reich does turn to the Biblical text, he introduces the discussion by saying that “at this point we may dare turn to the biblical text” (p. 311). How daring can you get?

Reich, p. 266.

The accusation is made on page 267 of Reich’s book. Reich and Shukron had discovered a wall on the eastern slope of the City of David (their Area J) that they dated to Iron II. Mazar, however, suggested “in more than one article.” that the wall dates to the Middle Bronze II period. At this time, Reich and Shukron had not yet published the potsherds that in their view would date the wall.

Ronny’s partner in the direction of the excavation is Eli Shukron.

Eugene Ulrich and Peter W. Flint, Qumran Cave 1: II. The Isaiah Scrolls, DJD XXXII (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 2010). The volume also includes a critical edition of the Hebrew University Isaiah Scroll, a much less complete and more deteriorated scroll, designated 1QIsa^b.

See Hershel Shanks, Judaism in Stone—The Archaeology of Ancient Synagogues (New York: Harper and Row, 1979), p. 169.

Yigal Shiloh, “Torah Scrolls and the Menorah Plaque from Sardis,” Israel Exploration Journal 18 (1968), p. 54.