excavation at Abel Beth Maacah
“It’s important to read Bible passages in their historical and cultural context, because (1) many beliefs commonly accepted and acted-upon today are not found in the Bible (and vice versa), and (2) many of our cultural practices today did not exist back then (and vice versa). We must be (or become) aware of these facts when interpreting.”
_From Women, Leadership, and the Bible: How Do I Know What to Believe? A Practical Guide to Biblical Interpretation by Dr. Natalie Eastman (p. 120)
For an interesting perspective on how archaeological evidence can assist our understanding of biblical history, including how people lived day-to-day in the past, in general, consider Dr. Lauren Monroe’s article.