"A comprehensive survey of archaeological data relating to the Bible and the biblical world. Archaeology of the Bible takes the reader from Genesis through Revelation in its listing of data on the material culture of the ancient Near East. The copious use of maps, drawings. and photographs on almost every page of the book gives a full illus-tration of the physical and cultural setting of the Old and New Testaments.

"A great deal of attention is given to the literary features of the bibli-cal books from the perspective of historical-critical analysis. The con-tents of the books are outlined and the process by which their present literary shape evolved is noted. The background to the message and the actual writing of the book is then illuminated by reference-fully illustrated-to the archaeological finds from the period and relating to the book's contents. Fuller discussions are given to special topics such as clothing, writing, the temple, Jerusalem, Jewish Christianity, and the like.

"The author is to be commended for his balanced handling of many sensitive issues such as the relationship of archaeological data to the literary-critical questions of the Bible-does archaeology prove or disprove the Bible?-and of differing interpretations of the Bible by Jews and Christians, and by differing Christian traditions. Archaeology of the Bible as a result can be read and used by both Christian and Jew, and by the wide spectrum of Christian interpretation of the Bible."