Finkelstein noted: "In The Bible Unearthed, we invite you to follow our line of argumentation, first an archaeological analysis of the patriarchal, conquest, judges, and United Monarchy narratives, showing that while there is no compelling archaeological evidence for any of them, there is clear archaeological evidence that places the stories themselves in a late 7th-century BCE context."
Burton MacDonald, in East of the Jordan. 2000. Boston. American Schools of Oriental Research) has argued that the Exodus' World is that of the Late Iron Age II Period because it is only in this period that a dense settlement of Edom and Moab, capable of denying Israel crossing their lands to settle in Canaan, existed.
I note some scholars have claimed Moses wrote the Pentateuch circa 1446-1406 BC (on the basis of 1 Kings 6:1). Yet, excavations at Bozrah (Genesis 36:33), a capital of Edom, reveal it is no earlier than ca. 800 BC.
This date seems to align somewhat with Finkelstein's claim the Pentateuch was composed in the 7th century BC, for this is when Bozrah was in existence.
This 7th century BC also aligns with MacDonald's observation that Edom and Moab are densely settled to offer resistence to Israel attempting to cross their lands to conquer Canaan.
Finkelstein noted: "In The Bible Unearthed, we invite you to follow our line of argumentation, first an archaeological analysis of the patriarchal, conquest, judges, and United Monarchy narratives, showing that while there is no compelling archaeological evidence for any of them, there is clear archaeological evidence that places the stories themselves in a late 7th-century BCE context."
Burton MacDonald, in East of the Jordan. 2000. Boston. American Schools of Oriental Research) has argued that the Exodus' World is that of the Late Iron Age II Period because it is only in this period that a dense settlement of Edom and Moab, capable of denying Israel crossing their lands to settle in Canaan, existed.
I note some scholars have claimed Moses wrote the Pentateuch circa 1446-1406 BC (on the basis of 1 Kings 6:1). Yet, excavations at Bozrah (Genesis 36:33), a capital of Edom, reveal it is no earlier than ca. 800 BC.
This date seems to align somewhat with Finkelstein's claim the Pentateuch was composed in the 7th century BC, for this is when Bozrah was in existence.
This 7th century BC also aligns with MacDonald's observation that Edom and Moab are densely settled to offer resistence to Israel attempting to cross their lands to conquer Canaan.