GLENN J. CORBETT
Whenever I visit a dig, attend a conference, or give a lecture, I’m always struck by the number of people who enthusiastically introduce themselves to me as avid readers of BAR. To a person, they speak about the magazine with a joy and a passion that are contagious and inspiring.
As BAR prepares to mark its 50th anniversary next year, we invite you to share this passion for biblical archaeology with your fellow readers. We want your stories and memories of the sites, discoveries, and controversies you have most enjoyed (or not!) in these pages through the years. From freeing the Dead Sea Scrolls to the search for lost biblical cities, it has been an incredible journey, and as we celebrate in 2025, we’ll highlight your remembrances for other readers to enjoy.
The adventure continues in our Fall 2024 issue. In “Jews of Arabia,” journey to the verdant oases of North Arabia to uncover evidence of the early Jews who migrated to this distant land following the revolts of the first and second centuries CE. Then head to “Gath of the Philistines” where more than a quarter-century of excavation at Tell es-Safi has revealed new insights into ancient Israel’s archenemy and the city’s rise to power in the early Iron Age. In “Letters to Pharaoh,” examine the famous Amarna Letters to discover the creative ways that Canaanite scribes used language and diplomacy to relay messages from the rulers they served to the pharaohs of New Kingdom Egypt. And in “Too Good to Be True?” join leading epigrapher Christopher Rollston as he investigates the sensational claims made about several recently discovered inscriptions and why many scholars remain skeptical of their significance.
In addition to news, updates, tributes, and our always-enjoyable quizzes, Strata looks back at the complex history of Israeli archaeology and how the search for the biblical past has long been tied to the country’s cultural and religious identity. We also review the new book The Bible Among Ruins, which discusses how the biblical writers understood the ruined cities and monuments that were still visible in the landscape they inhabited. And we take you on a guided tour of the impressive site of Beth Shean, which was a major Canaanite (and then Israelite) city in the Jordan Valley before it was rebuilt in the Hellenistic period as Scythopolis, one of the great cities of the Decapolis in the Roman East.
In Epistles, re-examine the so-called Documentary Hypothesis about the Pentateuch’s origins in the face of fresh criticism. Dig deeper into the meaning of the name of Israel’s God YHWH, how it was likely pronounced, and why it took on special significance in Jewish tradition. Then revisit the essential works of Flavius Josephus, the rebel-turned-historian who chronicled Judean history, life, and religion for his Roman audience in the wake of the First Jewish Revolt.
So whether you’ve been a reader since the beginning or are just starting out on your adventure, we look forward to you joining us in celebration of BAR during the coming year. See Queries and Comments for how you can share your story.
Whenever I visit a dig, attend a conference, or give a lecture, I’m always struck by the number of people who enthusiastically introduce themselves to me as avid readers of BAR. To a person, they speak about the magazine with a joy and a passion that are contagious and inspiring. As BAR prepares to mark its 50th anniversary next year, we invite you to share this passion for biblical archaeology with your fellow readers. We want your stories and memories of the sites, discoveries, and controversies you have most enjoyed (or not!) in these pages through the years. From freeing […]
