http://www20.sbs.com.au/sbs_front/
(From France, in English and French, English subtitles)This television series is now available on DVD from http://www.marcom.com.au/product_details.php?prod=6SBBE
1. LOST WORLDS - THE BIBLE UNEARTHED - The Patriarchs (July16th)
This four-part documentary series attempts to cast more light on the world's best-selling book, by analysing its history and the archaeological evidence for the Old Testament. Based on the 2002 book The Bible Unearthed: Archaeology's New Vision of Ancient Israel and the Origin of Its Sacred Text by Prof. Israel Finkelstein of Tel Aviv University and Neil Silberman of the Ename Centre of Public Archaeology in Belgium, this series brings together scientific findings as well as archaeological discoveries to try and cast light on whether certain aspects of biblical history are true. By particularly analysing the Old Testament collection of books, the archaeologists' findings challenge the original biblical stories in addition to creating contentious debate about the history of the nation of Israel. Israel Finkelstein and historian Neil Silberman's findings challenge both the original biblical stories and the scope of ‘biblical archaeology' that prevailed from the 19th century to the 1930s. Part one begins in the land of Canaan, a land where, according to the Bible, the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob lived. How has archaeology played a role in the grand narratives of the Bible? What can it tell us today about Abraham, his son and grandson? Did they exist? At what time? The film focuses on the destiny of the patriarchs in the bible, offering – by way of a written history – a family, or genealogy of a people.
2. LOST WORLDS - THE BIBLE UNEARTHED - The Exodus (July 23rd)
This four-part documentary series attempts to cast more light on the world's best-selling book, by analysing its history and the archaeological evidence for the Old Testament. Based on the 2002 book The Bible Unearthed: Archaeology's New Vision of Ancient Israel and the Origin of Its Sacred Text by Prof. Israel Finkelstein of Tel Aviv University and Neil Silberman of the Ename Centre of Public Archaeology in Belgium, this series brings together scientific findings as well as archaeological discoveries to try and cast light on whether certain aspects of biblical history are true. The archaeological and historical investigation continues in Egypt where, according to the biblical text, the descendents of Abraham were already installed, including the leaders Joseph and Moses. Moses liberates the Hebrews from slavery before leading them out of Egypt – called the Exodus – and towards the ‘Promised Land'. This episode of the series attempts to investigate if this event in the Old Testament really happened. When and why was Exodus written? What do we know of the kingdom of Judah and King Josiah?
3. LOST WORLDS - THE BIBLE UNEARTHED - The Kings (July 30th)
This four-part documentary series attempts to cast more light on the world's best-selling book, by analysing its history and archaeological evidence. Based on the 2002 book The Bible Unearthed: Archaeology's New Vision of Ancient Israel and the Origin of Its Sacred Text by Prof. Israel Finkelstein of Tel Aviv University and Neil Silberman of the Ename Centre of Public Archaeology in Belgium, this series brings together scientific findings as well as archaeological discoveries to try and cast light on whether certain aspects of biblical history are true. This episode returns to the history of the Israelite nation as recorded in the Bible. Moses entrusts the conquest of Canaan to Joshua, who led Israel into battle. At the time of a thunder storm, the tribes of Israel take possession of Canaan – the ‘Promised Land' – and settle there. The archaeological investigation in this episode contradicts the biblical account. This third episode then moves to King David and his son Solomon, asking the question, ‘What do we know of them?' And what do we know of the two Kingdoms of Israel that were located in Canaan: Israel of the north, rich and powerful; and Judah of the south, small and impoverished? How does the tension between these two brother kingdoms impact upon the drafting of some of the books of the Old Testament?
4. LOST WORLDS - THE BIBLE UNEARTHED - The Book (August 6th)
This four-part documentary series attempts to cast more light on the world's best-selling book, by analysing its history and archaeological evidence. Based on the 2002 book The Bible Unearthed: Archaeology's New Vision of Ancient Israel and the Origin of Its Sacred Text by Prof. Israel Finkelstein of Tel Aviv University and Neil Silberman of the Ename Centre of Public Archaeology in Belgium, this series brings together scientific findings as well as archaeological discoveries to try and cast light on whether certain aspects of biblical history are true. The investigation continues by focusing on who put the biblical texts into writing. Who were the Israelites of the Old Testament times? How did they appear in the area? What can we know of what characterises these ancient Israelites, their habits and their beliefs? This episode also looks at the fifth book of the Bible, Deuteronomy, as well as the fall of Judah and the exile of the Israelites in Babylon.