Image Details

The president of Israel, Ephraim Katzir (center), and Hebrew Union College president Alfred Gottschalk (far right) view the high place at Dan during a visit in the mid-1970s. Between them is Vassilios Tzaferis, Biran’s longtime colleague.

The Bible records that after the death of Solomon, Jeroboam established a breakaway kingdom in the north of Israel. He built shrines at Bethel and at Dan to keep worshipers from Jerusalem; at each shrine, he erected a golden calf. Although Biran has yet to find the calf, he believes that the idol stood at this high place.