narrative joshua judges major issue historicity debate narrative israelite conquest canaan described joshua judges american albright school asserted biblical narrative conquest would affirmed archaeological record indeed much th century archaeology appeared support biblical narrative including excavations beitin identified bethel tel ed duweir identified lachish hazor jericho ref name finkelsteinsilberman ref name oeane ref however flaws conquest narrative appeared high profile example fall jericho excavated john garstang ref name finkelsteinsilberman garstang
Humanities History Ancient history Biblical history