Made in Alexandria: The Origin of the Yahweh Cult

[A_Nony_Mouse]

I think you are just making shit up now, Mouse. BAR may be Hershel Shanks little bastard child but he hardly controls what get published. William Dever uses the term Syro-Palestinian archaeology rather than biblical archaeology.

When he changes the name of the magazine, get back to me. I have read some of the articles. The crucial issues have all mights, maybes, if and woulds found around ancient aliens. I read his interview of Finkelstein where he is desperately trying to get Finkelstein to say words to support believers. At one point Finkelstein interrupts saying to the effect. I know you want to get to the inclusion of the word israel on the Egyptian inscription and my answer is, I have no idea what the word might have meant at that date and in that context. That should be obvious to all non-believers but not to Dever.

In the early 20th century what you say was true but times have changed. Now it is only the fundies who try to pump life back into the OT. Everyone else has moved beyond them. You should try it. You are still fighting battles that have been over since the 1980's.

Do you not recall I pointed out the 2007 title where Finkelstein invented the currently pervasive hilltop warlord myth for Saul, David and Solomon? Have I not mentioned the City of David scam being currently run by Elad and once fronted (maybe still) by Mazel in occupied Jerusalem? Did I not mention the entire criminal Zionist movement is based upon these stories being true still being claimed today?

How much more would you like? READ some BAR articles on current digs in Palestine. Someone is paying for them. And they are current.

To make it simple. We agree the BAR is not an academic source. Why used anything tainted by it as though it had merit beyond that conferred by any other magazine?

Anyway, yes Redford is an Appeal to Authority because he is a Fucking Authority. Until you can demonstrate that you are not some pompous windbag tooting his own horn you are just going to have to deal with that fact.

If that is the way you want it we have nothing to discuss. I am completely willing to discuss the facts and physical evidence upon which he formed his opinions. By long experience of NEVER having found a single source supporting any bible story that was not going beyond the evidence I see no reason to start now. Not a one and I have been through every one I have heard of in the last 18 years.

Both Hoplites and Necho are middle iron age characters. The use of much more expensive brass when much cheaper iron would be easily worked into helmets and greaves is not reasonable.

One would think that was true yet, over a century later the Spartans at Thermopylae were wearing bronze armor, helmets, and shields against the Persians. I suppose you will now accuse those writers of being in on whatever conspiracy you have dreamt up?

BTW, when bronze breastplates went out of fashion they were replaced by linen not iron. Perhaps iron was too hot and heavy in that climate?
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I am not aware of the use of bronze during the Persian wars. I'll try to look into it. It is not just money. The same degree of protection weighs more as bronze. All metals are equally hot. Linen was available before the Bronze age and was probably under any metal shielding.

No problem with being wrong or in learning something new. That is half the value of public discussion.