“the 9th century BCE.”
I automatically skeptical of anyone who uses the BCE designation. It’s not my intent to hijack the thread.
Gibsonguy,
Interesting that you should say that.
I am familiar with the work of Israel Finkelstein. He is thorough going, but he is a controversial figure in Biblical archeology. He is a Bible skeptic and at every opportunity he takes a contrarian view. Here, you can see he is delighted to be able to even plausibly offer a reading that diminishes the traditional reading of the stele and it’s inscription: House of David.
>>>I automatically skeptical of anyone who uses the BCE
The original article qas written in The Journal of the Institute of Archaeology of Tel Aviv University. There is a good chance these researchers still consider the world to be in the BC period.