Biblically Compatible Archaeology and Geography

Taken from: http://adamzertal.co.il/articles/adam_zertal/HEFER.pdf ARUBBOTH, HEPHER AND THE THIRD SOLOMONIC DISTRICT   Adam Zertal   Dpt. of Archaeology, Haifa University   Pp. 4-5   ….   The Jewish presence in northern Manasseh … is well-attested in the book of Judith of the Apocrypha …. The geographical background of the book, with the valley of Dothan in northern Manasseh as the focus of the events (Jdt 3:9-10) suits well the possible location of the third Solomonic district, with long continuity of the pattern of settlement (Zertal 1989, ). Moore (1985, 47) underestimates the geographical value of the text, stating, as an evidence against the historicity of the text: ‘For instance, of the eight Israelite places named in 4:4, five are totally unknown, namely Kona, Belmaim, Choba, Aesore and the valley of Salem’. But it seems that the reason for this is the simple fact that the territory has never been surveyed before,...

Their contemporaneity, and indeed, familiarity one with the other, see: The Book of Judith Expands the Prophet Isaiah http://www.academia.edu/4408289/The_Book_of_Judith would be the AMAIC'S explanation for the striking likenesses between the Book of Isaiah and the Book of Judith, as recognised in the following article, from: http://chs.harvard.edu/wa/pageR?tn=ArticleWrapper&bdc=12&mn=4703 .... History out of the Prophecies of Isaiah As many scholars have already shown, the Book of Judith’s use of biblical texts was not merely a matter of incorporating scatted expressions from favored texts; it also took characters and whole episodes as models for the composition of its own corresponding characters and events. For instance, the Song of the Sea and the Song of Deborah evidently served as exemplars for the song that Judith herself sings in celebration of the victory of the Israelites over Sisera and the invading Assyrians. But...