Minimalist vs Maximalist Biblical Archaeology

On April 30, the Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem hosted the first in a series of lectures by archaeologist Yosef Garfinkel under the title “Revisiting the Bible.” It came shortly after Garfinkel’s discovery of a fortified wall at Tel Lachish that was dated to the 10th century BC.  The date of the wall, determined by olive pits found at its base, was pinpointed to 920 BC, the time when Rehoboam ruled the Kingdom of Judah. According to Garfinkel, this new finding confirms 2 Chronicles 11:5-12, stating that Rehoboam “built cities for defense in Judah… Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah…and made…