I would like a topic (in the Bible Accuracy forum)which gives the pro-Bible side an opportunity to present historical evidence for Israel in the archaeological , textual , and hisorical records avaliable which supports the notion that the Israelite Monarchy period is historical.
This covers the history outlined from the book of 1 Samuel till II Kings/Chronicles.The typical dates are 1042BCE till 587 BCE.
Archaeological evidence can come from discoveries in Palestine including excavation results. (the Bible-skeptics can present surveys, excavations, and recent chronological schemes which disprove the claim that there could have been a significant kingdom in a said period)
Historical evidence can come from extant traditions by non-Israelite peoples.
Textual evidence can come from historical references to "Israel" , or the "house of Y (where Y equals said dynasty name which equals Biblical ruling houses).
Evidence from the "tradition" sector will be weak by nature, but is mainly used a a yead-stick for which to measure the historical and archaeological results. (the Bible can be considered a "tradition" I suppose)
NOTE: I ask the pro-Bible side to please keep in mind the difference between Israel and Judah, between the United Monarchy and the Divided Monarchy, between extant sources and non-extant sources, between late traditions and historical sources archaeologically current to the actual events the Bible describes.
I also ask that "evidence" from archaeology & history be used in a measured way (ie. dont reach too broad of conclusions when the presented piece of *evidence* doesnt demand such disproportional "support for the exact details the Bible describes" for *its* respected period)
(example: There Merenptah reference doesnt indicate "Israel" as holding ANY land at-all , so its cant be used as evidence that later Israel controlled the entire land of Palestine- though it DOES indeed have major historical value, but it's value must be used in a measured way)
END NOTE