Unveiling the Kings of Israel by David Downs

My thoughts:  This is not a major archeological treatise on the land of Israel nor is it a book revealing the character of the Israeli kings.  It does not appear to be intended for the scholarly community interested in detailed archeological digs or retrieved treasures.  It seems to be a beautiful presentation of quality paper and pictures showing locales and archeological finds that survive to this day in the area where the Israelites began and where they journeyed and lived.  It follows chronologically the Israelites as their leaders interacted with the peoples and land during their own sojourn.

The book opens with an introduction to the challenge facing the authority of the Bible and its historical reliability.  As the book progresses through the Biblical accounts of the flood, the Exodus, the kings it is revealed by the author, David Downs, that archeological finds are supporting rather than discounting Biblical accounts as being historically accurate.

The book is a good introductory tool for youth into how mankind prefers to discount as a fable the Biblical account but that upon study it can be seen that man has left a record in the sands of time and in the stones left still standing of his archeological achievements that do indeed support what God has inspired as the Biblical account. Inscriptions retell stories that support Biblical accounts.

I envision families utilizing this lovely book as a devotional tool where they learn how God recorded His people's journey through history and also how they can "see" where it took place, "see" how they interacted with civilizations and nations whom they encountered. 

I envision children and teens passing the time by traveling with the Israelits, the Egyptians, the Canaanites, the Assyrians by "seeing" these revealing stones and revealing inscriptions.  This book will be a tool of learning for both child, teen, adult as they remove it from the book shelf or coffee table and simple turn its pages and grasp a bit of knowledge here and there.  Or perhaps it will facilitate a report for a student in high school.  Regardless, there is a lot in this book to fascinate, teach, and substantiate.

ISBN: 9780890516096  Publisher:  New Leaf Publishing Group/MasterBooks

I find myself desiring to further investigate with the book: Unwrapping the Pharaohs by John Ashton, David Down.

DISCLOSURE:     I was provided a complimentary copy of Unveiling the Kings of Israel by the publisher New Leaf Publishing Group/MasterBooks to facilitate my honest review.  All opinions expressed are my own and I was not required to render a positive review.