BIBLICAL HISTORY
THE BIBLE AND ARCHAEOLOGY, by Sir Frederic Kenyon; George G. Harrap & Co. Ltd. English price, 15/-. IR FREDERIC KENYON became famous for his work in purchasing the Codex Sinaiticus manuscript from Russia in 1922, but as Director and Principal Librarian of the British Museum for 21 years he has built up a more enduring reputetion in archaeological scholarship. This, his fourteenth book, is a major work, the first edition of which was largely obscured by the outbreak of war. Now it is available to the interested public. He surveys the results of the last hundred years of archaeological discoveries as they affect the authenticity, in‘terpretation and text of the Bible, and his book gains immensely in interest through plates which show the most significant of the obelisks, tablets, wallpaintings, bas-reliefs, steles, monuments and papyri. The first impression made upon the reader is one of surprise at the extent of the evidences available; the second is the remarkable degree of authenticity in the Biblical record. Adjustments in location of battles, the size of the armies involved and the extent
of the victories achieved need. to~ be made in all ancient documents to correct national and political bias, but the broad themes of the history of Egypt, Syria, Palestine and Mesopotamia recorded in the Bible are amply verified. The Hittites of the Pentateuch, once only a question mark, have now assumed major historical stature. The earlier roots of the primitive codes and myths (using the word in its technical meaning) of the Bible are now visible, and there is scarcely any critical question upon which some light is not thrown, On the basis of this evidence the author gives his verdict that the text of the Bible has been more firmly established, its general authenticity confirmed and its meaning elucidated by modern re-
search.
F.R.
B.
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New Zealand Listener, Volume 21, Issue 544, 25 November 1949, Page 16
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306BIBLICAL HISTORY New Zealand Listener, Volume 21, Issue 544, 25 November 1949, Page 16
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