I sent him the question by email, and I hope he’ll answer.

Thank you very much!!

Hello,
1. Hard question. Start with Asael Abelman’s “History of the Jews,” and from there we can move on.
2. I’ve only read one volume. Overall, it’s nice. In my opinion there are a few things one could disagree with, but it is definitely mainly a historiosophical book. Again, it all depends on the level and the specific points you’re looking for in your study. It’s less my style.
3. This is a very old and outdated book. In some areas the information is anachronistic, though each case has to be judged on its own merits. Unfortunately, there is no good introductory book in Hebrew on biblical archaeology (intended for the general public and not belonging to the extreme critical schools).

Start with the above-mentioned book and we’ll talk from there; you can get my personal email from Rabbi Michi.

Good luck.

P.S. Wikipedia is also not a particularly good source when it comes to history in the biblical period. There is a lot of outdated material there, an emphasis on certain ideologies, uncritical presentation of arguments, and more. Sometimes I’ve even seen outright mistakes. Note that what I wrote applies only to issues relating to the history of the Bible.

With God’s help, the 5th of Nisan, 5781

And this is for Yehuda—

Besides the books M mentioned for the Bible, it is worth mentioning historical sources from the period itself, whose reliability is proven, among other things, by the fact that they did not refrain from criticizing even their own exemplary figures. In reading them you will fulfill, “Ask your father, and he will tell you; your elders, and they will say to you.”

Study the Torah and the books of Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings, Esther, Daniel, Ezra-Nehemiah, and Chronicles, along with the “Da’at Mikra” commentaries; the introductions and summaries will also enrich you by completing the picture according to the findings of historical and archaeological research.

Also helpful are the books of the archaeologists Dr. Yitzhak Meitlis (“Excavating the Bible” and “Crossroads”) and Prof. Yoel Elitzur (“A Place in the Portion”), which shed bright light on the Bible in light of the findings of historical and archaeological research.

And among internet sites, you can find high-level material on the sites “Ratio” and “Knowing How to Believe,” which deal with all the common questions of “Teacher and Science,” “Bible and Archaeology,” and the like.

And may you merit to celebrate the Festival of Matzot with joy, with abundant knowledge and counsel.

With blessing,
Yaron Fishel Ordner

To M,
Thank you very much for the quick and detailed response.
As for getting your email—I’d be more than happy to. How does that happen?
And regarding the book “The Bible as History”: I still haven’t started reading it, but honestly, from a quick look through it I really liked it, and it put my mind somewhat at ease since it surveys the picture from above. Because I’m at the very beginning of the process, I feel a need first to see the whole picture in broad overview, and only afterward to enter into more internal resolutions. First of all I want to prepare a good general map of the whole span of time in question, so that later I’ll be able easily to place the pieces of information I encounter into their relevant chronological drawers. And this book does serve that aspiration fairly well. (Or perhaps not?)
But I also hear what you’re saying, and I don’t want to build a picture that is outdated or mistaken.
You said that there is indeed information there that suffers from anachronism, but that each case is different. Could you perhaps point out which parts are involved? Or direct me to a place that addresses those parts that need correction / updating / qualification? (Sorry if the request is a bother.)

To And Additional Material,
Thank you very much to you as well 🙂

I sent it to your email.