Beneath the Old Testament: History, Memory, and the Ancient Near East

The Old Testament is often forced into a false choice: treated as untouchable theology or dismissed as legend. This book takes a different path, approaching its narratives as historical material open to archaeological and geopolitical analysis.

From Joseph’s career in Egypt to Moses and Joshua’s leadership, from a forensic reconstruction of the Levite’s concubine to the historical figure behind Dānilu (Daniel), the author reads these accounts as events shaped by terrain, power structures, and regional politics.

Drawing on field archaeology, Near Eastern history, and long-term residence in the Middle East, this volume treats the Old Testament as a source for reconstructing how people actually lived, moved, and survived within real systems of authority and conflict.

Part of Beneath the Ancient World: Strategic Readings of Ancient Texts, this first edition represents ongoing research into the historical and material context of biblical narratives.

This is a living book. Periodic reloading of the book will reveal updated information and essays as the author's research continues.