Episode Sixteen: The Northern Kingdom, the First 50 Years

Conversations in the Archaeology and History of Ancient Israel with Israel Finkelstein
Episode Sixteen: The Northern Kingdom, the First 50 Years
Israel Finkelstein is a leading figure in the archaeology and history of Ancient Israel. Over 40 years of work and research, he has helped to change the way archaeology is conducted, the bible is interpreted, and the history of Israel is reconstructed. Matthew J. Adams, Director of the W.F. Albright Institute of Archaeological Research in Jerusalem, sat down with Israel over several sessions to talk about how a lifetime of work has informed the story of Ancient Israel. These conversations became the series Conversations in the Archaeology and History of Ancient Israel with Israel Finkelstein.
Written and Produced by Israel Finkelstein and Matthew J. Adams.
Cinematography and Editing by Yuval Pan.
Conversations in the Archaeology and History of Ancient Israel with Israel Finkelstein is made possible with a grant from the Shmunis Family Foundation.

[@Achill101]

@20:39 Finkelstein says Jeroboam I was the founder of the Northern kingdom. But wouldn't it be more correct to say the Northern Kingdom was already there when Saul was king? The way Finkelstein describes the rise of Jeroboam, it seems that Pharaoh Sheshonk (Shishak) exchanged the ruler of that Northern kingdom, by destroying Saul and his power base and installing Jeroboam I as Saul's successor.
. . . That would also make King Jeroboam I a contemporary of King David, wouldn't it? (Contrary to the biblical story that makes Jeroboam a contemporary of the grandson of David.) Imaging these two kings reigning side by side in two neighboring kingdoms makes me a bit dizzy, I admit. @19:39 Finkelstein says we should trust the biblical numbers for the reigns of kings starting with Jeroboam I, if we have no strong reason to distrust them. But if his views on the United Monarchy are correct, the same biblical authors shifted the actual reign of David many decades into the past.