Lachish, located in the Judean foothills, was the second largest city in the Biblical kingdom of Judah, after Jerusalem. It has already been excavated by three different expeditions, but could there still be answers in the ground waiting? In this lecture, Yosef Garfinkel discusses the finds at Lachish and why there should be a fourth […]
Sites and Places
Why do we need a fourth expedition to Lachish?
From Temple Site to Monastery: The Omrit Settlement Excavations
Recent excavations at Omrit in northern Galilee have revealed more details about the Roman period sanctuary complex. The temple foundations are very-well preserved and many of the original architectural features are still on the site. Join lecturer Dan Schowalter as he discusses the history of the site and some of fascinating finds. This was part […]
Twenty-Five Years of Excavations at Bethsaida: How Bethsaida Has Helped Shape Biblical Research
By
Rami Arav
This 1 marked the 25th year of excavations at Bethsaida, an ancient town on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee that is the third most frequently mentioned in the New Testament. Over the years, the discoveries made at Bethsaida have helped to inform our modern understanding of Jesus’s world, as well as shape […]
Studying Stones and Scripture: Archaeology, Judaism and Christian Origins
By
Aaron Gale
The study of world religions continues to fascinate both student and scholar alike. There are many different methodologies (historical, phenomenological, sociological, etc.) that may be utilized in the exploration of world cultures and traditions. These methodologies have become especially important in the realm of biblical studies, which can help to shed light on the complex […]
Who’s Buried in Philip’s Tomb?
By
Mark Wilson
Questions and controversy continue to swirl around the discovery of Philip’s tomb in Hierapolis, Turkey. Was this Philip the evangelist or Philip the apostle? Why didn’t the magnificent martyrium built for Philip in the fifth century and excavated in recent years contain his tomb? And what evidence led project director Francesco D’Andria and his Italian […]
Mari and the Bible
Archaeological excavations in the Middle Euphrates Valley over the last 80 years have expanded remarkably our understanding of the history of Mesopotamia, Syria, and Palestine. That history was the setting for the Biblical cultures of the time from Abraham to Philo Judaeus, Jesus, and Flavius Josephus. The discovery of Mari with its extensive cunieform library […]
Is Mt. Ebal Deuteronomy’s ’Place of the Name’?
A vexing irony inhabits the Book of Deuteronomy. On the one hand, the book makes exclusive worship at a single site chosen by Yahweh the defining criterion of community faithfulness. On the other hand, the book fails to tell the reader where that sanctuary actually is. Over the generations, the quest to resolve this conundrum […]
Excavating Mt. Zion: Past, Present and Future
As codirector of “Dig Mt. Zion,” the first archaeological excavation project to be allowed just outside the southern Old City wall in 30 years, Professor James D. Tabor offers a glimpse of this prime property of ancient Jerusalem. Learn the history of traditional Mt. Zion, the higher hill west of the ancient City of David. […]
Where Jesus Walked
In this film from the Biblical Archaeology Society, Hershel Shanks visits Nazareth, Galilee, Capernaum, Bethsaida, Qumran, Sepphoris and Jerusalem to view sites where Jesus walked. Along the way, Shanks meets with the world’s most prominent archaeologists and Biblical scholars to discuss the archaeological discoveries that link these sites to Jesus. Their lively, in-depth conversations offer […]
Recent Explorations in the Sinai: Implications for the Hebrew Exodus from Egypt
The Israelite exodus from Egypt is clearly the most important event in the Hebrew Bible, and yet there is presently no direct archaeological evidence to support the tradition, causing some scholars to question whether it was a historical event. Archaeology, however, can provide important background material that enables the events of the book of Exodus […]
The Talpiot “Jesus” Tomb: What’s the Latest?
Since the public controversy over the Talpiot “Jesus” family tomb broke in 2007, much has happened behind the scenes. This presentation brings things up to date, examines what we know for certain about who may have been buried in the Talpiot tomb, and how new evidence is helping to separate mere speculation from solid historical […]
Could Mt. Ebal Be Deuteronomy’s “Place of the Name”?
A vexing irony inhabits the Book of Deuteronomy. On the one hand, the book makes exclusive worship at a single site chosen by Israel’s God Yahweh the defining criterion of community faithfulness. On the other hand, the book fails to identify the sanctuary’s location. The quest to resolve this conundrum has directed scholarly attention to […]