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New Release: NIV Zondervan Study Bible

The NIV Zondervan Study Bible is being released today. The successor to the best-selling study Bible will likely quickly become a best-seller itself, especially since it was written under the direction of D. A. Carson, one of the most well-known and well-liked evangelical scholars today.

I’m excited about it for all of the reasons you’ll read on other sites and reviews, but it was also a privilege to have been invited to contribute. I wrote the notes on 2 Kings, a book I have studied in great depth for the last 25 years. The editors also selected 50 of our favorite images from the BiblePlaces.com collection.

My parents gave me the first NIV Study Bible when I was a teenager and I carried and read it through high school and college. I use it today when teaching in the classroom (preferring a smaller Bible when teaching on the field). This all-new edition is now even more personal.

Here are a few of the books and contributors I expect to be extremely valuable:

Genesis 12–50: T. D. Alexander
Judges: K. Lawson Younger
Psalms: David M. Howard Jr.
Proverbs: Bruce K. Waltke
Isaiah: John N. Oswalt
John: D. A. Carson
Romans: Douglas J. Moo
Galatians: Stephen Westerholm
Philippians: Simon J. Gathercole
Hebrews: Buist M. Fanning

And there are many inviting articles, including these:

The Story of the Bible: How the Good News About Jesus is Central, by Timothy Keller
A Biblical-Theological Overview of the Bible, by D. A. Carson
The Glory of God, by James M. Hamilton Jr.
Sin, by Kevin DeYoung
Sonship, by D. A. Carson
Holiness, by Andrew David Naselli
The Gospel, by Greg D. Gilbert

I haven’t held the Bible in my hands yet, but to judge from the editors, the editorial process, the contributors, and the goal, I expect this to be an outstanding work that will benefit many for decades to come.

What distinguishes this study Bible from the many others? Carson notes five characteristics in the preface. Here’s a portion of the first and last.

So what characterizes this NIV Zondervan Study Bible? First, in common with the best study Bibles, all our contributors revere Scripture as the Word of God and joyfully bow to its authority. Our desire is not so much to be masters of the Word, as to be mastered by it. That shapes how we approach the text and how we write about it. Our aim is to bring glory to God by helping people think his thoughts after him, and to bring understanding and edification to his people as they do so.
[…]
Finally, this study Bible emphasizes biblical theology. By this we mean that instead of focusing primary attention on how the Bible as a whole addresses many questions (which is what many people mean by “systematic theology”), we have tried to highlight the way various themes develop within the Bible across time.

This emphasis upon biblical theology was the part I enjoyed the most as I wrote the notes on 2 Kings.

Providing the dates of each king is important, but I relished showing how the Bible fits together through God’s faithfulness to his promises as all things move toward the glorious consummation.

The Bible is available in print, personal, Kindle, and Logos formats. The print version comes with a free digital version as well. You can see a video preview as well as a 180-page sample at the official website.

Tagged Resources

The Neglect of Samaria

Visitors to Samaria are few since the Israel’s Nature and Parks Authority closed down daily operations. It is truly sad that most Israelis and foreign tourists can’t (or won’t) visit the ancient capital of the northern kingdom, home to Jehu and Jeroboam, Ahab and Jezebel. The history is of great significance and the views are terrific.

From The Times of Israel, by Ilan Ben Zion:

The manager of the Palestinian Authority’s Interpretation Center at the Sebastia archaeological site handed over a brochure; his colleague, roused from slumber, hastily pulled his pants on. Pointing to a small screening room where visitors would see a movie about the site, he contradicted himself with absolute confidence: “There’s a film — but there’s no film.”
The PA built the facility two years ago to inform visitors about the ancient city of Sebastia after Israel’s Nature and Parks Authority closed down its day-to-day operations at the site. But besides a pamphlet and some hard candies, the Interpretation Center has little to offer. The brand-new plush chairs in the 40-seat theater meant to show were still in their plastic covers. (The PA didn’t respond to inquiries about the cost of the center; the United Nations Millennium Development Fund, a co-funder, donated $132,000.)
“You can learn the history of the whole region (by) staying here because all the powers that crossed the region since the time of the Egyptians were passing through,” Carla Benelli, an art historian working in Sebastia, told AP a few years ago. Sebastia’s tel features remains from 10 different periods, from the Iron Age to modern times. “From this point of view, it’s really very important,”
The entire saga of preserving and showcasing ancient Sebastia unfolds like a comedy of errors which could only occur in the Wild West Bank. Israel controls the park containing the ancient finds, which is in Area C, but does nothing with it. The Palestinians say they want to control it, but lack the resources to develop it. And while both sides lay claim to the site as their exclusive cultural heritage, it lies neglected, underdeveloped, unexcavated.

The full story is here. We have more photos and descriptions here.

Samaria from the west
Photo from Samaria and the Center

Tagged Samaria, Tourism

Weekend Roundup

The Islamic State beheaded the retired chief archaeologist of Palmyra. The Oriental Institute condemns this “brutal and senseless act.” Ian Tuttle suggests that he be added to the ranks of martyrs.

Does Syria’s Director-General of Antiquities and Museums have the saddest job in the world?

Recently his job has been to hide antiquities from ISIS.

The forthcoming Museum of the Bible in Washington DC has made a multi-year deal with the Israeli
Antiquities Authorities to display numerous artifacts.

Opening October 12: The New York Metropolitan Museum of Art will have an exhibition entitled,

“Ancient Egypt Transformed: The Middle Kingdom,” featuring a range of artifacts from monumental stones to fine jewelry.

Greece’s financial woes have halted work on the great tomb which last year generated huge publicity.

The J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles is hosting an exhibit on bronze sculptures in the Hellenistic era. The link includes some fantastic pictures.

Here’s more on the claim that the tomb of Egyptian queen Nefertiti may have been found. And a 15-minute video that explains the technology behind the claim.

The former director of the Walters Art Museum tries to make the case for buying antiquities in order to save them (WSJ; subscription required).

Ancient inscriptions in the Cave of the Elijah the Prophet are in danger.

The Lost Sheep is a new video short from Source Flix that will serve as a great intro or illustration in teaching.

Can you guess the location of these photos from the ASOR Archives? (We scored a 10.)

Rose Eveleth: Is Archaeology Better Off without Religion?

If you’ve been looking for an original, but affordable, copy of Edward Robinson’s Biblical Researches in Palestine, there’s one available now from a bookseller in California ($69 for three volumes). It looks like the Logos version is quite close to production, needing only a few more bids.

HT: Jared Clark, Charles Savelle, Agade, Joseph Lauer, and especially Ted Weis

Tagged Antiquities Trade, Egypt, Greece, Museums, New Exhibits, Resources, Syria, Weekend Roundup

New Book: Waiting on God

Wayne Stiles has a new book out: Waiting on God: What to Do When God Does Nothing. That might not sound like a book with a strong connection to biblical geography and history, but it is. The book released yesterday, but I’ve already read a large portion of a pre-release copy and it is outstanding.

Wayne looks at life through the lens of the story of Joseph, pulling in his extensive background knowledge to reveal aspects you’ve almost certainly never heard. I taught through Genesis twice this past year and didn’t expect to learn many new things, but I did.

Here’s a short endorsement I wrote:

Every page of Stiles’s book is characterized by practical wisdom, careful research, and vivid writing. I love his insights and personal stories and found I just wanted to keep reading. Best of all, I appreciate how we see from Scripture how we can trust God no matter what.

I highly recommend the book. It’s available for $11.66 at Amazon. And if you send Wayne your receipt before Monday, he has some great free bonuses worth a lot more than $11.66. Seriously, you can’t lose. And you might want to go ahead and pick up a few extra copies for upcoming Christmas or birthday gifts. The book’s message is relevant for all.

Tagged Resources

Weekend Roundup

A feature story in the Worcester Magazine describes the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls.

The latest issue of Biblical Archaeology Review is out and it includes a story on Kadesh Barnea.

A new exhibit at the Ismailia Museum in Egypt features discoveries made during recent expansion work on the Suez Canal. One of the artifacts on display is a gift from Ramses II to his father Seti I.

Cary Summers, President of the Museum of the Bible, gives a lecture on foods of the Bible.

Paleojudaica notes two top-ten lists of archaeological sites to see in Israel.

Marlena Whiting writes at the ASOR Blog on milestones in ancient Palestine and Arabia.

BibleX notes three dangers associated with studying Bible backgrounds.

Wayne Stiles provides 10 reasons a tour to Israel belongs on your bucket list. But let me add: the longer you wait, the less the trip will benefit you. Go now, or pay for your kid or grandkid to go.

(BTW, I know the best school in the world for college students to attend in Israel.)

HT: Joseph Lauer, Agade, G. M. Grena

Tagged Dead Sea, Egypt, Lectures, Museums, Tourism, Weekend Roundup

Weekend Roundup

A mikveh from the first century has been discovered in a southern Jerusalem neighborhood. This one was unusual because of the numerous wall paintings. Leen Ritmeyer comments here. You can access high-res photos here.

Excavations at Horvat Kur near the Sea of Galilee have exposed the mosaic floor of a Byzantine-era synagogue. For background and a map, see our previous post.

Nicholas Reeves believes that he has identified two unrecognized doorways in King Tut’s tomb, one of which leads to the undisturbed tomb of Nefertiti. The Economist gives a summary; Reeves’s published article may be read at academia.edu.

An exhibition with hundreds of Egyptian artifacts discovered underwater opens next month in Paris.

Lebanese authorities are working to halt the antiquities trade that passes through their country.

Babylon 3D has many beautiful reconstruction images of the ancient city.

The Museum of the Ara Pacis in Rome is hosting an exhibition on how the Roman Empire and its people ate.

Two suspects have been indicted on charges of setting fire to the Church of the Multiplication of
Loaves and Fish at Tabgha.

International Bible Study Week provided participants in Jerusalem with three days of lectures and one day of touring.

Thomas Levy announces the publication of papers from a 2013 symposium on the exodus. (ASOR Blog requires subscription.)

Karaites follow the Mosaic Law but not the rabbinic law expounded in the Mishnah and Torah. There are about 25,000 of them living in Israel today.

The threat of ISIS is pushing Iraq to digitize the Baghdad National Library.

The Megalithic Portal provides many articles on sites in Israel.

Where is the Land of Uz? Wayne Stiles considers the evidence and suggests some application.

HT: Joseph Lauer, Agade, Ted Weis, Ryan Jaroncyk, Mark Vitalis Hoffman

Tagged Antiquities Trade, Discoveries, Egypt, Excavations, Exodus-Conquest, Galilee, Italy, Jerusalem, Lebanon, Museums, Tourism, Weekend Roundup