New Lachish ostracon confirms Joseph's Canaanite title?

NORTHWEST SEMITIC EPIGRAPHY: New Inscription From Lachish Proves Early Use of Joseph’s Title. As Joseph was ‘šalit’ in Bronze Age Egypt, Baal was ‘šalit’ at Bronze Age Lachish (CHRISTOPHER EAMES, Armstrong Institute of Biblical Research).

Nevertheless, šalit has at least been generally recognized as a later Persian Period loan word, applied either during the editing or composition of these texts perhaps somewhere as late as the second half of the first millennium B.C.E.

A brand new inscription from Lachish, discovered just last year and published in a recent Jerusalem Journal of Archaeology article, challenges that conclusion—revealing the use of this word in the Levant as early as the second half of the second millennium B.C.E.—the end of the Late Bronze Age.

The underlying open-access article in the Jerusalem Journal of Archaeology:

A Late Bronze Age Canaanite Jar Inscription from the 2025 Excavation Season at Lachish

Daniel Vainstub^a, Itamar Weissbein^b, Hoo-Goo Kang^c, Shai Halevi^d, and Yosef Garfinkel^e

a Independent Researcher, dvainstub@gmail.com
b The Institute of Archaeology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel, itamar.weissbein@mail.huji.ac.il
c Seoul Jangsin University, Korea, hoogoo7008@gmail.com
d Israel Antiquities Authority, shaih@israntique.org.il
e The Institute of Archaeology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel, garfinkel@mail.huji.ac.il

Abstract During the 2025 season of excavations at Tel Lachish, a partially preserved inscription was found in an unambiguous 12th-century BCE archaeological context associated with the site’s last Late Bronze Age settlement. The inscription consists of six letters written in red ink on the shoulder of a ceramic jar. Although the potsherd is horizontally broken, at the mid-height of the inscription, the surviving parts of the letters allow one to read the personal name Bʻlšlṭ. This name is built on the root šlṭ, which hitherto has been widely considered a much later (Persian period) loan from Aramaic. Furthermore, the inscription was written in the standardized Linear Canaanite script displaying cursive features, apparently by a person accustomed to writing with a stylus and ink.

A new Iron Age II Hebrew ostracon from Lachish was also published last year in the same journal.

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The Nessana excavation

THE ANCIENT NEAR EAST TODAY: Ancient Nessana: A Pilgrimage Site at the Edge of the Desert (Yana Tchekhanovets).

Located in the southwestern Negev, along the principal route linking Jerusalem and other significant holy sites with Mount Sinai, ancient Nessana is not associated with any biblical events or major relics. However, during the Byzantine period (ca. 5th-7th centuries CE), it emerged as a prominent Christian center and a vital caravan hub, facilitating travel to Sinai and the Egyptian monasteries.

Established during the Late Hellenistic period (2nd – 1st centuries BCE), Nessana subsequently accommodated a Byzantine garrison and attained its peak during the Byzantine and Early Islamic periods. The site is considered among the most significant Late Antique locations in the Eastern Mediterranean, largely due to the discovery of two papyri archives preserved by the arid climate. These documents, uncovered in the 1930s and dated to approximately 500–700 CE, offer critical insights into the daily life and economy of the settlement and its inhabitants, particularly their roles in agriculture and pilgrimage services; they also revealed the ancient name of the village: Νεσάνα.

[...]

Good. I'm glad the archaeologists are back at Nessana. I hope they make lots of discoveries, hopefully including more papyri. The previously discovered archives seem to have held mostly administrative texts. While I'm hoping, I hope that this time they find the library, ideally including some Greek and Aramaic Enochic books.

Background on Nessana (Nitzana) is here and links.

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Bremer-McCollum, The Pearlsong (Harvard University Press)

BIBLIOGRAPHIA IRANICA: The Pearlsong.

Notice of a New Book: Bremer-McCollum, Adam. 2025. The Pearlsong (Texts & Translations of Transcendence and Transformation). Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

Better known as The Hymn of the Pearl, this song is embedded in the Syriac text of the apocryphal Acts of Thomas. It arguably had a pre-history. There is a Greek version in the Greek translation of the Acts of Thomas. You can read an old English translation of it here.

There is a closely related collection of Coptic Manichean songs called The Psalms of Thomas. Links to an old English translation are at the bottom of that link.

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On the IAA's anti-theft unit

PROACTIVE ARCHAEOLOGY: The Fight to Preserve Israel’s History. The Israel Antiquities Authority’s anti-theft unit is waging its own war (HEATHER LEXA, Armstrong Institute of Biblical Archaeology).

For nine years, the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) and Israel’s Ministry of Heritage have been working together to preserve the history of the Jewish people and their ties to the land of Israel.

By excavating sites throughout Israel, the iaa’s Theft Prevention Unit, directed by Dr. Amir Ganor, has been able to prevent looters from stumbling upon and stealing ancient artifacts; the specialized unit also works to prevent illegal excavations. Ganor told Archaeology magazine that his crew is “a special police for antiquities.”

[...]

PaleoJudaica covered all of the stories mentioned in the article as they came out. For the ancient coins seized from a West Bank checkpoint, see here. For the half-shekel coin excavated in February, see here. For the 2014 Cave of Skulls looting, see here and for the scroll fragments subsequently excavated there, see here and links. For the Cave of Horror scroll fragments discovered in 2021, see here and links. The Neolithic basket comes up in some of those links too.

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Filming completed for "The Resurrection of the Christ"

CINEMA: Mel Gibson’s ‘The Resurrection of the Christ’ Sequel, Out in 2027, Wraps Filming. (Stephanie Martin, ChurchLeaders).

“The Resurrection of the Christ,” the long-awaited follow-up to Mel Gibson’s 2004 blockbuster “The Passion of the Christ,” has completed seven months of shooting in Italy. In videos shared on social media, the cast and crew celebrate the completion of principal photography on the project.

[...]

This should be interesting. I'm especially looking forward to seeing how Gibson interacts with the Enochic literature:

The premise is so massive, Gibson added, because “you have to start with the fall of the angels in the firmament…right at the beginning.” The director said “The Resurrection of the Christ” will feature battles between angels and demons, as well as Jesus descending into hell.

See the above link and here for background. I don't know whether Aramaic or other ancient languages feature in the dialogue of these two movies, as it did in the first one.

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Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai in the Talmud

FOR LAG B'OMER: Lag b’Omer: celebrating Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai. Long before the advent of modern-day celebrations of Yom Ha’atzmaut and Yom Yerushalayim one date pierced the gloom of the Omer period –Lag b’Omer. (YOSSI AARON, The Australian Jewish News).

But leaving aside mystical actions and teachings attributed to Rashbi in the Zohar, what do we know of him from sources such as the Talmud? We all know that he spent a total of 13 years hiding in a cave. But why?

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Lag B'Omer 2026

LAG B'OMER, the 33rd day of the Counting of the Omer, begins tonight at sundown. Best wishes to all observing it.

My 2025 Lag B'Omer post is here. A subsequent related post is here.

For the biblical and rabbinic background of the holiday, see here and here.

UPDATE (5 May): More here.

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New ISF study on Hebrew bullae announced

HEBREW EPIGRAPHY AND ANCIENT MATERIAL CULTURE: IAA reveals new study focused on ancient Jerusalem bullae in honor of Israel Excellence Week. According to the IAA, the study aims to examine Jerusalem's administrative systems from the First Temple period through the end of the Second Temple period (Miriam Sela-Eitam, Jerusalem Post).

Dr. Joe Uziel and Dr. Yiftah Shalev have been researching the bullae found in Jerusalem in order to study the finds from a “broad, long-term perspective,” the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) revealed in honor of Israel Excellence Week 2026.

The study, titled “Sealed and Sent: A Long-Term Follow-Up Study of Bullae from Jerusalem and Its Implications for Understanding the City's Administration,” will be conducted by Uziel and Shalev alongside scholars from academic institutions. ...

Rather than studying on the names and text inscribed on the bullae, Uziel and Shalev’s research focuses on the inner side of the bullae in attempt to figure out what they had been attached to. ...

That's a good idea. The results should be illuminating.

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Hebron's Second Temple-era mikveh almost ready for visitors

CONSERVATION: Project to make Tel Hebron’s Second Temple mikveh accessible to visitors nearly complete, INPA says. Burda added that visitors to the site will be able to learn about the bath’s significance, its place within daily life, and “momentarily experience the religious and social reality of that era” (Miriam Sela-Eitam, Jerusalem Post).

The project to make the Second Temple mikveh (Jewish ritual bath) at the Tel Hebron archaeological site near Kiryat Arba more accessible to visitors is almost complete, the Israel Nature and Parks Authority (INPA) said on Thursday.

One of the largest of its kind in the country with a volume of nearly 200 cubic meters, the mikveh was was discovered in 2014 by the Civil Administration's Archaeology Staff Officer, under the direction of Dr. Emanuel Eisenberg and Professor David Ben Shlomo.

[...]

For more on the Second Temple-era ritual baths at Hebron, see here and here.

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Was the Roman destruction of Jerusalem inevitable?

HISTORY: 2,000 years ago, ancient Roman forces annihilated Jerusalem. Was its destruction inevitable? The first of the Jewish-Roman wars was interrupted by one of the defining events of the 1st century, and gave birth to one of ancient Rome’s most powerful dynastie (James Osborne, HistoryExtra). HT Rogue Classicism.

A high flyover review of the first Jewish revolt against Rome (the Great Revolt) with some thoughtful observations.

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Dillon, John the Baptist and Composite Intertextuality in the Fourth Gospel (Brill)

NEW BOOK FROM BRILL:

John the Baptist and Composite Intertextuality in the Fourth Gospel

The Evangelist's Archetypal Witness

Series:
Biblical Interpretation Series, Volume: 237

Author: Amber M. Dillon

Recent scholarship has focused on John’s relationship to Judaism, his intertextual method, and his portrayal of John the Baptist, yet few connect these topics. We know the Evangelist is a masterful storyteller, particularly with his characters, which raises the question: Could we view the relationship between the Fourth Gospel and Judaism through the lens of the Baptist? This study explores the intersection of scriptural allusions and characterization related to John the Baptist, uncovering another perspective to the complex interplay between Judaism and the Fourth Gospel. Readers will discover how John the Baptist emerges as a key figure, illuminating the narrative and reinforcing the Gospel’s themes. This engaging exploration challenges conventional interpretations and invites the reader to see the Fourth Gospel in a new light.

Copyright Year: 2026

E-Book (PDF)
Availability: Published
ISBN: 978-90-04-75970-1
Publication: 17 Mar 2026
EUR €109.00

Hardback
Availability: Published
ISBN: 978-90-04-75500-0
Publication: 08 Apr 2026
EUR €109.00

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Mirotznik, The Portrayal of Pagan Worship in the Hebrew Bible and Ancient Judaism (CUP)

NEW BOOK FROM CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS:

The Portrayal of Pagan Worship in the Hebrew Bible and Ancient Judaism

Author: Jesse Mirotznik, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Published: April 2026
Availability: Available
Format: Hardback
ISBN: 9781009691970

£95.00 GBP
Hardback

£95.00 USD
Adobe eBook Reader

Description

How did Jews in the ancient world depict the practices of their pagan contemporaries? In this study, Jesse Mirotznik investigates the portrayal of pagan worship in the Hebrew Bible and ancient Jewish literature. Scholars have assumed that the portrayals in these corpora are consistent over time. Mirotznik, however, shows that there is a fundamental discontinuity between earlier and later depictions of pagan worship. In the Hebrew Bible, these forms of worship are, for the most part, simply assumed to be sincere. By contrast, in ancient Jewish texts from approximately the end of the third century BCE and onward, such worship is increasingly presented as insincere, performed only instrumentally in the service of an ulterior motive. While the worshipers of other gods seem genuine in their devotion, these texts contend, they too must recognize the folly of such worship.

• The book introduces a distinction between the normative elements of ancient Jewish views of the Other and the descriptive elements
• Introduces the concept of Bad Faith as a lens through which to understand rhetoric about the Other
• Examines the influence of Classical Studies on scholarship in ancient Judaism

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What was Pontius Pilate's actual title?

FOR ROMAN HISTORY NERDS: The Debate That Reveals How the Roman Empire Operated on Its Frontiers: Was Pontius Pilate a Procurator or a Prefect? (Guillermo Carvajal, LBV).

An academic study analyzes ancient sources and the famous "Pilate Stone" to resolve a centuries-old debate: Was he governor, procurator, or prefect?

Spoiler: the article argues that he was all of the above. Seems plausible.

The underlying article:

Kosior, W. J. (2026). Procurator or Prefect – remarks on the administration of Roman provinces in the context of Pontius Pilate’s title. Journal of Modern Science, 65(1), 564–585. doi.org/10.13166/jms/218203

The link is given at the bottom of the LBV article. The JMS article is open access, and there is an English abstract, but the article itself is in Polish.

For more on that Pontius Pilate inscription, see here. And there are many other posts on Pilate in the archives.

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The Idumean fiscal system in the Aramaic ostraca

BIBLIOGRAPHIA IRANICA: Land Tenure and Fiscal Practices in the Aramaic Corpus of Idumea.

Notice of a New Article: Shahryari, Mitchka L.M.J. 2026. Land Tenure and Fiscal Practices in the Aramaic Corpus of Idumea: Bow-Fields and Horse Estates. BASOR 395: 179-194.

Alas, behind a subscription wall. But you can read the abstract for free.

Cross-file under Aramaic Watch.

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Forthcoming: Ross, Baylor Handbook of Greek Ruth

WILLIAM A. ROSS: FOOK ANNOUNCEMENT: BAYLOR HANDBOOK ON GREEK RUTH.

This morning I’m excited to announce a new book coming to press very soon: Ruth: A Handbook on the Greek Text. This new volume is part of the ongoing Baylor Handbook on the Septuagint series (BHLXX).

[...]

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Joel Kaminsky: autobiographical retrospective

ANCIENT JEW REVIEW: A Retrospective from Joel Kaminsky.

Let me begin by thanking the editors of Ancient Jew Review for the opportunity to reflect on my scholarship and career. One way to illuminate my development as a teacher and scholar is to explain how my background and life experiences shaped me as a student, a professor, and a person.

[...]

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Lost Theban epics

THE ANXIOUS BENCH: The Lost Epics Of Thebes (Philip Jenkins).

Taken together, the Twelve-item cycle covered the history of the Greek world from the days of the primal gods and their struggles right up to the end of the “Homeric” era. The Titanomachia describes the war between the Titans and the Olympian deities. We then proceed to three works focused on the city and dynasty of Thebes, events that would have occurred in the generation or so before the Trojan struggle. And then on to Troy.

This essay continues Professor Jenkins's survey of lost Classical epics, begun here. See my comments there on the surviving sources for what we know about them.

Cross-file under Lost Books.

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Review of Sekita & Southwood (eds.), Death imagined

BRYN MAYR CLASSICAL REVIEW: Death imagined: ancient perceptions of death and dying.

Karolina Sekita, Katherine Southwood, Death imagined: ancient perceptions of death and dying. Liverpool studies in ancient history. Liverpool: Liverpool University Press, 2025. Pp. 336. ISBN 9781802077582.

Review by
Karen Bassi, University of California at Santa Cruz. bassi@ucsc.edu

Non-existence is unknowable. This philosophical truism underlies the myriad ways in which humans imagine and respond to death. In the succinct formulation of Michel Conche, “Death is the horizon of thought.”[1] Sekita and Southwood approach this horizon in a volume devoted to perceptions of death and dying within a broadly defined timeframe (antiquity) and geographical focus (the Mediterranean); a single chapter on Mesoamerica is included. Controlled for space and time, the principal variable is culture, specified as Mesopotamian, Greek, Roman, Egyptian, Etruscan, Incan, Judaic. The sources are literary and (predominantly) archaeological. ...

Chapters of notable interest for PaleoJudaica:

8. Memory, Monumentality, and the Tomb of the Royal Steward, Matthew J. Suriano

11. Imagining the Afterlife in the Psalms: The Episode of Mitchell Dahood and His Commentary, Christopher B. Hays

Also, lots of chapters of background interest.

The volume is available as open-access.

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