Search - The Bible Unearthed on DVD

Exploring the Mysteries

Amos Lassen | Little Rock, Arkansas | 05/20/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

""The Bible Unearthed"

Exploring the Mysteries

Amos Lassen


There is no other book with as many mysteries as the Bible and it is both a religious and historical document. Thierry Ragobert takes us on a four part journey and tries to show us what is myth and what is history. (I used the word "tries" so as not to offend anyone who takes the Bible as gospel truth). The film is an investigation of the origins of the Bible and we go to archaeological digs in Egypt and Israel and begin at Megiddo, the home and cradle of Biblical architecture. What we see in the film is a work of true scholarship that shows us that the quest to understand the Bible continues until this day--we still know little about the society and history of the Biblical period and even less about the men who wrote it.
Using rare archival footage and ancient maps as well as illustrations and computer simulations, we can see the overall context. We have interviews with leading Biblical scholars and we see artifacts in major museums--anything to make us understand a bit better. This is documentary viewing at its finest and should not be missed.
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Very interesting and serious french documentary: What does a

Tatiana | France | 05/03/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This documentary is based on the works of archeologist Israel Finkelstein and historian Neil Silberman (that had previously published a book): they confront biblical events of the Old Testament with what history and archeology tell us. The documentary is divided into 4 parts: the Patriarchs (about Abraham), the Exodus (about Moses), the Kings (about David and Solomon), the Book (about the first Israelites, the part I actually prefered). Finkelstein and Silberman comment on their discoveries throughout the documentary, along with other interventions like the very useful one of Thomas Romer, eminent theologian. In the US, many people believe that all of the Bible is historically true, but it's impossible, just like 1+1 will never be equal to 3. Here I'm talking about facts, not interpretations. It's a fact, for instance, that some elements mentioned as happening at the time of Abraham (around -1800 if you follow the Bible) can't have happened before -700. This shows the text was written around that time. It's fact. It doesn't mean Abraham didn't exist, but it means the text we have is not a trustworthy representation of the period it refers to (-1800) but on the contrary is full of elements refering to the period and context in which it was written (or edited if we suppose there were texts mentioning Abraham earlier but they were lost). So, you have various interpretations and hypotheses of those facts, and the documentary presents those of Finkelstein and Silberman, which are quite logical and not eccentric at all. However, they do not talk much about the oral tradition, and if you're interested on that point you should see Nova's documentary The Bible's Buried Secrets. I wish everyone thinking the Bible historically true could see this documentary and... well, let's say could broaden their minds! The purpose of this doc isn't to attack faith (it even brings proof of the existence of David), but to study the Bible for what it is: an ancient text."

Our body of knowledge today about the society and history of

Midwest Book Review | Oregon, WI USA | 09/14/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Based on the book "The Bible Unearthed" by Israel Finkelstein and Neil Silberman, The Bible Unearthed: The Making of a Religion is a captivating examination of the origins of the Bible, offering firsthand visits to archaeological digs in Egypt, Jordan, and Israel (including Megiddo, one of the most fundamental sites of Biblical archaeology known). Computer simulations and rare archival footage bring to life the wisdom of world-renowned archaeologists and biblical scholars, including experts from the Louvre, the British Museum, and the museums of Cairo and Jerusalem. Our body of knowledge today about the society and history of the men who wrote the Bible continues to evolve with new discoveries; The Bible Unearthed: The Making of a Religion is sure to fascinate casual viewers and religious scholars alike. Highly recommended, especially for public library DVD collections. Four episodes, 208 minutes."

A treasure trove of archeological information

Thinkerthinker | Chicago, IL USA | 09/03/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Have just watched "The Bible Unearthed " for the second time and know that I will watch it again and again. This DVD (and book) is a treasure trove of new research and scholarship in the field of Biblical archeology. Fascinating viewing for anyone interested in history and especially in the history of Egypt, the Levant, Syria, Mesopotamia, etc. B.C.E. A real eye-opener and brain-opener."