Assign. 4 –

The identification of Jebel Musa in the southern tip of the modern day Sinai peninsula only goes back to a fourth century CHRISTIAN tradition.  There are biblical texts that suggest this identification is incorrect.  The ambiguity of the exact route compounds the problem.

Assign.5 –

[Early Date = 15th century BC; Late Date = 13th century BC].  The date and circumstances of the Israelite exodus and the ensuing invasion of Canaan arguably constitutes the most exasperating problem in archaeology as it relates to the Bible.  The date depends in part on the archaeological data.  For example:  (1) Do "Pithom and Ramesses" in Exod. 1:11 force the conclusion that the Israelites left Egypt during the reign of Ramesses II (thereby forcing the conclusion that the "late date" of the 13th century BC is correct – in contradiction to II Kings 6:1); (2) what does the material culture of Canaan tell us?  Archaeologists are divided over whether there is evidence that the Israelites ever lived in Canaan before the 13th century BC (again jeopardizing the early date); (3) Does the archaeological evidence of sites said to have been destroyed in the book of Joshua support a violent conquest or not?; (4) Does archaeology in the Transjordan support an Israelite migration through those areas in the 15th or 13 th centuries BC?

Assign. 6 –

References to the Philistines in the OT earlier than the time of David are thought by many to be historical errors.

Assign. 7 –

One current archaeological "school" (the deconstructionists or "minimalists") insist that ALL biblical history is a fabrication – that ALL the biblical documents were written after the exile (circa 500 BC) and are hence far removed from the events the Bible portrays.  If the reference to David is correct, this flatly contradicts their position.

Assign. 8 –

Variant forms of Yahweh worship are archaeologically undeniably – is evidence of their existence a problem for Biblical accuracy?