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Eisenbrauns has a 50% discount on the Tubingen Bible Atlas this weekend only. That cuts the cost from $150 to $75.  This is widely considered to be one of the best Bible atlases for advanced students.

From the publisher’s description:

The 29 carefully researched and highly detailed maps in this atlas cover every biblical era and are based on the highly regarded Tubinger Atlas of the Near and Middle East (TAVO). Each of the large-format maps unfolds to 28-1/4 x 19-1/2 inches and reveals an immense wealth of information in carefully Tubingen-Bible-Atlasrendered detail with clear, easy-to-read labels. Although based upon the TAVO, some maps have been further revised to be more relevant to biblical scholars. In addition, a new map focusing on the archeology and history of Sinai has been added and is being published here for the first time. A second volume contains the map index. Bound as a separate volume, the index is easy to use while the maps are open.

Carl Rasmussen reviewed the work in the Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, June 2003, pp. 314-15. He comments on various strengths and weaknesses of the atlas:

We must emphasize that this is not a volume for the English lay reader of the Bible, because the (usually) simple process of finding a place on a map is a daunting process. For example, the familiar Capernaum is nowhere to be found in the index volume, for one must know to look under Kapharnaom…
[…]
But we must also emphasize that this book is certainly for scholars and academic libraries…
[…]
The book is especially strong in providing maps of background material from the ancient Near Eastern and eastern Mediterranean worlds…
[…]
It seems to me that almost all historians writing biblical commentaries and/or articles will find this volume useful and convenient for their research….it truly is amazing to discover all of the goodies that are included in this book.

The complete review is online in pdf format.

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The Rose Guide to the Tabernacle is a work that I would typically ignore, especially because it is a book without a (listed) author. The cover and the title page credit the work to “Rose Publishing,” and that sends a message to me that this is not a work of credible scholarship. A review of the contents, however, suggests otherwise.

However the book was created, it is a very valuable resource for learning about and teaching the tabernacle. The 115 pages of text is well-researched, well-written, and accurate. To understand the tabernacle and God’s purpose for it, one must begin with Creation and the Garden of Eden. This book takes the reader from there to the encampment at Mount Sinai and on to the wilderness travels and the celebration of the feasts. Each section is well-organized and clearly presented.rose-guide-tabernacle

Few subjects benefit from illustrations more than does the tabernacle.

This book is full of photographs, reconstructions, maps, and charts.

Clear plastic overlays allow the reader to “peel back” exterior layers in order to see what is inside (the tent and the ark). Teachers will appreciate the generous permission to make copies of pages for students.

I know of no better resource for an initial study of the tabernacle or for teaching it. I could profitably use it for teaching my family, a Sunday School class, as well as in high school and college courses.

Having this book, in fact, inspires me to find ways to teach the subject.

Since charts tend to be valuable educational tools, I’ve made a partial listing of those included in the book:

  • Old Testament Covenants
  • Time Line of the Exodus
  • Why Is the Tabernacle Important Today?
  • Bible References about the Tabernacle
  • Sacrifices in the Tabernacle
  • The Holy Place
  • Tabernacle Symbolism
  • Intercessors in the Bible
  • Priests, Levites, and the High Priest
  • Jesus and the High Priest
  • Contents of the Ark
  • The Visible Presence of God
  • Manifestations of God’s Presence
  • The Journey of the Ark
  • Jesus and the Ark of the Covenant
  • Organization of Tribes Camp and March

The book concludes with a section about the major feasts of the Old Testament, including “fascinating facts” about each one.

Amazon currently carries the book for $20 and it includes the “Look Inside” feature so you can check it out yourself. I see now that the book was the “Winner of the 2009 Christian Retailers Choice Award for Bible Reference and Bible Study.” I agree that this book is a winner.

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Antiquities thieves were caught in the act of pillaging a site in the Shephelah. The specific site is not identified, but the article references “a severe wave of theft digs in the area of the Elah Valley near Beit Shemesh.” One is reminded of the recent Israeli archaeologist squabble in which Oded Lipschitz apparently accused Yosef Garfinkel of illegally excavating Socoh. Perhaps the authorities have now discovered the real culprits.

In the latest CitySights video, Danny Herman explores the suggested locations for the tomb of King David.

Leen Ritmeyer’s book on the Jerusalem temple is the best on the subject. David Lang reviews The Quest: Revealing the Temple Mount in Jerusalem on the Accordance Blog.

The Wild West (Jerusalem): If you’re a tourist who wants to get a look at Mea Shearim in Jerusalem, you might want to think twice before venturing in. Apparently Israeli police consider the ultra-orthodox neighborhood a “no-go zone” because they are attacked when they enter. If you get in trouble, don’t expect the police to come to your rescue.

John Byron explains “Why Biblical Scholars Should Participate in at Least One Dig.” I think he only scratches the surface on the value of joining an excavation, but I believe there is at least one thing every biblical scholar (and full-time teacher of the Bible) should do: Go on a Study Tour of Israel. I wouldn’t say that one cannot teach the Bible without such a study, but neither would I say that a one-legged man cannot snow ski.

HT: BibleX

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Preliminary test results are back on the date of the allegedly early Christian metal codices. From the Jordan Times:

Preliminary lab results indicate that a collection of metal books unearthed in northern Jordan may indeed represent the earliest Christian texts ever discovered, according to experts.
According to the Department of Antiquities (DoA), initial carbon tests to determine the authenticity of lead-sealed metal books billed as the greatest find in biblical archaeology since the Dead Sea scrolls have been “encouraging”.
“We really believe that we have evidence from this analysis to prove that these materials are authentic,” DoA Director Ziad Saad told The Jordan Times.
The tests, carried out at the Royal Scientific Society labs, indicate that the texts may date back to the early first century AD, at a time when Christians took refuge from persecution on the east bank of the Jordan River.

The story continues here.

This is surely not the last word.  For background on the subject, see the posts labeled “Pseudo-Archaeology.”  Paleojudaica has a good summary of the case against authenticity.

UPDATE (6/15): Jim Davila takes apart this article piece by piece. The conclusion: “The fake metal codices are still fake.”

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From Jerusalem Post:

Excavators digging for a new railway station deep under the surface of central Jerusalem have discovered what geologists say is the largest underground river ever found in Israel. And while its deep canyons and waterfalls may be an impressive find for scientists, it doesn’t contain a significant amount of the precious fluids to affect the water balance in this traditionally parched city. “We found a nice but small underground river,” Professor Amos Frumkin, head of the Cave Research Unit of the Hebrew University’s Department of Geography, told The Media Line.
“In terms of Israel, it’s the longest underground stream that we have ever seen. It is a kind of a canyon that has been cut by the stream of the water over a long period of time, maybe millions of years,” Frumkin said. Frumkin and his team were called upon by Israel Railways after its engineers chanced upon the cave while excavating an 80-meter (260-foot) shaft close to the city’s main convention center and central bus station that is being drilled for a huge, underground station that will serve the high-speed Jerusalem-Tel Aviv railway.

The story continues here. Leen Ritmeyer noted the Haaretz article of this discovery last week.

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Some summer excavations in Israel have already begun, and many more will commence within the next month.  Five excavations began yesterday or today: Tel Burna, Kefar HaHoresh, Khirbet Qeiyafa, Wadi Hamam, and Tel Gezer

Three more excavations hit the field next week: Tel Hazor, Tel Kabri, and Khirbet Summeily.  Those beginning in late June or early July include: Tel Dor, Tel Megiddo East, Tell es-Safi (Gath), Tel Akko, and Hippos-Sussita.  Two teams wait until the heat of the summer before getting underway, but both are located next to the beach: Yavneh-Yam and Apollonia-Arsuf.

If you want to volunteer for a dig but cannot participate in the summer or for a lengthy duration, you might consider two year-round operations: Temple Mount Sifting Project and the Dig-for-a-Day program at Maresha (Bet Guvrin).

Last year we published a list of blogs reporting from the excavations and we may prepare another one for this year.  (Any tips on such blogs are appreciated.)

The following list is organized chronologically and based upon dates given at the Find a Dig site, published by the Biblical Archaeology Society.


2011 Excavations Already Concluded

Tamar (Mezad Hazeva): February 20 – March 8, 2011; May 9 – May 22, 2011

Tel Gezer Water System Project: May 21 – June 11, 2011

Khirbet el-Maqatir: May 21 – June 4, 2011


2011 Excavations Presently Underway

Tall Jalul (in Jordan): May 3 – June 17, 2011

Tiberias: May 22 – June 17, 2011

Bethsaida: May 22 – June 25, 2011

Ashkelon: June 5 – July 15, 2011

Tel Burna: June 12 – June 30, 2011

Kefar HaHoresh: June 12 – July 7, 2011

Khirbet Qeiyafa: June 12 – July 22, 2011

Wadi Hamam: June 13 – July 15, 2011

Tel Gezer: June 13 – July 15, 2011


2011 Excavations Not Yet Begun

Tel Hazor: June 19 – July 29, 2011

Tel Kabri: June 19 – July 28, 2011

Khirbet Summeily: June 20 – July 20, 2011

Tel Dor: June 28 – August 5, 2011

Tel Dor 2: June 28 – August 6, 2011

Tel Megiddo East: July 2 – 28, 2011

Tell es-Safi (Gath): July 3 – 29, 2011

Tel Akko: July 3 – July 29, 2011

Hippos-Sussita: July 3 – 30, 2011

Yavneh-Yam: July 18 – August 12, 2011

Apollonia-Arsuf: August 1 – September 11, 2011

Long-running excavations not in the field this year include Megiddo, Tel Rehov, and Dan.

Gezer excavations, tb062806971

Excavations at Gezer
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