The Book of Joshua: Its Theme and Role in Archaeological Discussions

Abstract

The Book of Joshua: Its Theme and Role in Archaeological Discussions, by David Merling, Sr. Andrews University Seminary Doctoral Dissertation Series 23. Berrien Springs, MI: Andrews University Press, 1997. Pp. 353 + xvii. N.P. David Merling sets as his problem the question: What is the theme of Joshua and how does that theme relate to the archaeological data? His thesis is that when Joshua is read as it stands in its final, canonical form, it presents a picture of the origin of Israel that proves to be invisible to archaeological confirmation or refutation. After a survey of the archaeology of Palestine at the start of Iron I, the author reviews and criticizes the five commonly advanced portrayals of Israel's emergence: aggressive conquest, migration, indigenous revolt, metamorphosis of local elements in the Late Bonze/Iron I transition, and the fabrication of later ideological imagination. This critique is largely advanced by using the arguments of the proponents of the compering theories against each other. There are no particular surprises in the author's negative appraisal of the first three theories. Against the indigenous transition hypothesis, he argues that the mere process of sedentary settlement in a new area cannot explain the origin of a brand new ethnic group, especially one as unique and transformative as Israel proved to be. For such a phenomenon, the power of religion offers a more credible explanation. The hypothesis of T. L. Thompson (termed the by imagination theory) is said to depend on a selective use of archaeological data and overreliance on the dubious argument of climatic change. A proper interpretation of Joshua is one that does not let the violent, total conquest perspective dominate the whole picture. Merling's reading merges (or perhaps collapses) the variant perspectives of the book into a single overall impression. Properly understood as a whole, Joshua turns out to be a book that makes a theological claim about Israel through the use of various types of material. The events described are intended to confirm the uniqueness of Israel as evidenced by Yahweh's presence and power. Contrary to usual opinion, the war stories are not the central theme of the book. Rather they are present as part of Joshua's larger theological intention. These war stories affirm that Israel's origins were the result of Yahweh's power and presence. They actually claim so little in the way of military impact that what is described would be unlikely to leave any archaeological trace. Only a few cities are said to have been destroyed. Jericho was just a small place, and its defenders may have utilized only a minor defensive barrier, not a full-scale wall. Et-Tel may not be Ai, but in any case Joshua only asserts that it had a (freestanding?) gate, not a wall. Moreover, it is methodologically faulty to argue that an event never occurred on the basis of what has not been found, using negative nonevidence as though it were positive data. The identification of other sites remains highly uncertain, or they provide no really useful data. The engagements described involved only small forces and were decided quickly by panic resulting from the outcome of the first stage of the conflict. …