Authors
Dean of Seaver College at Pepperdine University, in Malibu, where he is also professor of religion, John F. Wilson (“Banias”) has served as project director of the consortium at Banias since its inception. He has recently announced that he will step down as dean to direct a new Institute for the Study of Archaeology and Religion at Pepperdine. His book Religion: A Preface (Prentice-Hall, 1989) is widely used as a university textbook.
Wilson’s relationship with coauthor Vallilios Tzaferis (“Banias”) director of excavations at Banias, dates back to their years working at Capernaum, where Tzaferis conducted excavations from 1978 to 1982. Together they are preparing the second volume of the final report on Capernaum. Tzaferis, director of excavations and surveys at the Israel Antiquities Authority, has led several other digs, including those at Tiberias, Ashkelon and Beth-Shean. His previous BAR articles include “Crucifixion—The Archaeological Evidence,” BAR 11:01.
Abraham Malamat (“Let My People Go”) is professor of Jewish history at Hebrew University, in Jerusalem. His article is an adaptation of his chapter in Exodus: The Egyptian Evidence, (Eisenbrauns, 1997; available through BAS). His books include Mari and the Early Israelite Experience (Oxford, 1984). A frequent contributor to BAR, he wrote “‘Love Your Neighbor as Yourself’: What It Really Means,” BAR 16:04, and “The First Peace Treaty Between Israel and Egypt,” BAR 05:05.