Unveiling the Kings of Israel combines biblical, historical, and archaeological evidence to defend the historical accuracy of the biblical timeline of the Old Testament. The introduction of this 176-page book begins with a litany of the evidence that shows contradictions between the biblical narrative and widely accepted timelines, particularly for Egyptian history. However, author David Down makes the bold claim:
The history of the kings of Israel as recorded in this book is based on the claim that the usually accepted chronology of Egypt and the archaeological strata in Israel have been grossly misdated. They need to be redated in some places by up to six hundred years. When this is done a remarkable synchronism can be found between the Bible records and the archaeological evidence.
The book proceeds to defend this claim and others that challenge biblical accuracy, beginning with the global flood and continuing through the patriarchs, the Exodus, entry into the Promised Land, the time of the judges, the kings of Israel and Judah, the exile, and the return. The final chapter summarizes the life of Jesus, the final and eternal king.
There’s much more in Unveiling the Kings of Israel than evidence for dating questions. For example, Down explains evidence for the biblical flood and the likely location of the original Tower of Babel at a location other than the one thought authentic for decades. He also identifies what he believes to be the location where Moses and the Israelites crossed the Red Sea, and why it’s not the few other places that have been advanced as less miraculous alternatives. Further, we learn what archaeologists have discovered about topics such as Abram’s hometown of Ur; the marriage customs behind Abraham’s servant Eliezer’s mission to find a bride for Isaac; the association of Petra, “the rock city,” with Esau; evidence of linkages between Egyptian history and the Israelites; and much more.
Down also explores some topics that have been investigated but for which there is no conclusive evidence, such as whether Abraham is really buried under the mosque at Hebron.
Appendices provide additional information and illustrations regarding the tabernacle, Solomon’s temple, the Dead Sea scrolls, and other significant chronologies.
Unveiling the Kings of Israel can be read on its own, but it’s also one of three books used with Master Books’ Biblical Archaeology course. The course book provides worksheets, quizzes, and a test for Unveiling the Kings of Israel. In its discussion of Egyptian history, the content of Unveiling the Kings of Israel overlaps a little with that of Unwrapping the Pharaohs, another book used in the course.
Summary
Unveiling the Kings of Israel should be of interest to serious students of the Bible. As a standalone book, I expect it will attract an adult audience, but it’s readable for teens and works well as part of the Biblical Archaeology course.