Description
Is the book of Joshua an accurate historical rundown, a tall theological tale, or something in between? Did those epic conquest stories actually happen or are we dealing with ancient storytelling? And what does archaeology have to say about it all?
In this live class, archaeologist and Hebrew Bible scholar Dr. Cynthia Shafer-Elliott will dig into how Joshua fits into the big-picture Bible narrative and tackle big ethical and theological questions about divine warfare, land possession, and how these texts have been used—and misused—in modern times.
Topics We’ll Cover:
- The Conquest Narratives: History or Theology? – Examining the structure of the book of Joshua and whether it presents a historical account, a theological interpretation, or something in between.
- Archaeology and the Conquest: What Do We Actually Know? – Exploring the archaeological evidence (or lack thereof) for the events described in the book of Joshua, including key sites like Jericho, Ai, and Hazor.
- The Ethics of Joshua: Violence, Land, and Theology – Addressing the moral and theological questions surrounding divine warfare, land possession, and how these texts have been used (or misused) in modern contexts.
This Class Includes:
- Link to live class on March 19, 2025 at 8:00pm ET
- Live Q&A following the class
- Access to the class recording
- Downloadable class slides
Your Instructor:
Cynthia Shafer-Elliott
Dr. Cynthia Shafer-Elliott is an Associate Professor of Hebrew Bible at Baylor University. Her expertise and research focus on the historical, cultural, and social contexts of ancient Israel and Judah as reflected within both the archaeological record and the Hebrew Bible (with a particular interest in the Former Prophets). More specifically, Dr. Shafer-Elliott’s research emphasizes households, food, gender, religion, and social memory. She is an experienced field archaeologist and is part of the archaeological excavations at Tel Halif and Tel Abel Beth Maacah in Israel.
