Course

Archaeology and Biblical History

The relation between Biblical texts and archaeological findings is crucial for the reconstruction of Biblical history. Do texts and artefacts suggest the same picture of the past? This course offers insights about the political, social, and cultural history of Israel in antiquity, in the light of archaeological as well as textual sources. Archaeology’s contribution to Biblical Studies is discussed. The course includes an introduction to archaeological method and interpretation or archaeological artefacts. A central part of the course is the study trip to Israel/Palestine during a minimum of 7 and a maximum of 11 days. During this trip we visit museums and important archaeological sites and excavations, often together with local experts. The trip is coordinated with a corresponding PhD course. (Students who wish to take part in an excavation at their own expense in conjunction with the trip should contact the teacher well in advance.) Students who wish to take part in the course without joining the study trip might compensate for this with an expanded literature list and extra examinations.

The course literature may be subject to revision.

Cline, Eric, 2009. Biblical Archaeology: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford University Press (134s).

Finkelstein, Israel, The Forgotten Kingdom: The Archaeology and History of Northern Israel. Atlanta: SBL Press (164 s).

Finkelstein, Israel & Mazar, Amihai, 2007. The Quest for the Historical Israel: Debating Archaeology and the History of Early Israel. Atlanta: Society of Biblical Literature (232 s).

Knauf, Ernst Axel & Guillaume, Philippe, 2016. A History of Biblical Israel: The Fate of the Tribes and Kingdoms from Merenptah to Bar Kochba. Sheffield: Equinox (288 s).

Magness, Jodi, 2012. The Archaeology of the Holy Land: From the Destruction of Solomon’s Temple to the Muslim Conquest. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press (356 s).

Shafer-Elliot, Cynthia (red.), 2016. The Five-Minute Archaeologist in the Southern Levant. Sheffield: Equinox (272 s.) Valda delar, ca 100 s.

Steiner, Margreet L. 2019. Inhabiting the Promised Land: Exploring the Complex Relationship Between Archaeology and Ancient Israel as Depicted in the Bible. Oxford: Oxbow (181 s).

Wassén, Cecilia (red.), 2014. Dödahavsrullarna: innehåll, bakgrund och betydelse. Stockholm: Atlantis (392 s).

Diverse artiklar


Literature last revised on September 27, 2024.

The schedule is available at the latest one month before the course starts. We do not recommend that you print the schedule as some changes may happen.

Open the Schedule

Course Coordinator

Thomas Kazen

Professor

08-564 357 15

thomas.kazen@ehs.se

Grades

A = Excellent, B = Very good, C = Good, D = Satisfactory, E = Sufficient, Fx = Insufficient, F = Insufficient

Examination Format

  • Papers
  • Seminars

Kurser i teologi/religionsvetenskap, 120 hp, varav minst 15 hp bibelvetenskap på fördjupningsnivå, eller godkända kurser för en kandidatexamen i teologi/religionsvetenskap, 180 hp, där minst 150 hp utgörs av teologi/religionsvetenskap eller motsvarande. Dessutom kunskaper i svenska och engelska motsvarande kraven för grundläggande behörighet.

  • Completion of a course requires a minimum of 80% attendance at lectures and 100% attendance at seminars/group work and other assignments. Absence beyond that can be compensated by supplementing assignment(s) if the instructor finds it possible. In case of an absence of 50% or more, the course is considered as interrupted, even if assignments have been completed.
  • Students have the opportunity to take the exam according to the original course syllabus within two years after the course. If there are special reasons, such a re-examination can also take place later. Normally, teaching is not given according to an older syllabus. The possibility of exemption shall be decided by the president or vice president.
  • If a student due to disability has a decision from the EHS on special pedagogical support, the examiner shall, if necessary, adapt the examination and conduct the examination in an alternative way.

Established by Subject Representative College at Enskilda Högskolan Stockholm on December 16, 2014.