Yosef Garfinkel thoroughly engages the archaeological data, historical record, and biblical traditions at the center of the heated debate surrounding the development of the kingdom of Judah and its most well-known kings, including David, Solomon, and Hezekiah. Garfinkel traces five stages in the kingdom’s development from its beginnings in the early tenth century BCE through its destruction in the sixth century BCE. The book offers a new interpretation of the development of Judah’s capital, Jerusalem, important not only for its role in the Hebrew Bible but also for its significance to the religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Garfinkel supplements each chapter with illustrations and images of sites, objects, and maps that clarify the archaeological picture and contribute to a better understanding of the biblical text. Charts not only present timelines but also differentiate between the contrasting historical reconstructions of Judah and Israel presented by other archaeologists and historians. The Archaeology of the Kingdom of Judah is an essential resource for students and scholars of history, archaeology, and the Hebrew Bible.

Yosef Garfinkel is Yigael Yadin Professor of Archaeology of the Land of Israel at the Institute of Archaeology, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. His archaeological experience includes excavations and surveys of Khirbet Qeiyafa, (2007–2013), Socoh (2010), Tel Lachish (2013–2017, 2022–2025), Khirbet al-Rai (2015–2021), and the Ophel in Jerusalem (2025). Garfinkel is the author or editor of thirty-six books and more than two hundred articles.