Boy finds late-antique god figurine-fragment in Negev

MATERIAL CULTURE IN THE ROUND: Eight-year-old boy finds 1,700-year-old statuette fragment while hiking in Negev. Israel Antiquities Authority archaeologist says the artifact might depict Roman god Jupiter (Rossella Tercatin, Times of Israel).

[IAA Theft Prevention Unit supervisor Akiva] Goldenhersh acknowledged it was difficult to precisely identify who the statuette portrays.

“Stylistically, it might be of the god Jupiter, or Zeus-Dushara, a Nabatean god who was identified and merged with Zeus in the context of the encounter between the Nabatean culture that was widespread in the Negev region, and the Hellenistic-Roman world,” he said. “This tiny find thus reflects the combination of local traditions with influences from the classical world.”

Cross-file under Nabatean (Nabataean) Watch.

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Expansive cultural and material range in the new Posen Library volume

ANCIENT JEW REVIEW: Jewish Cultures and Material Artifacts (Karen Stern).

Jewish Cultures and Material Artifacts: Comments on The Posen Library of Jewish Culture and Civilization, Vol.2, Emerging Judaism, 332 BCE–600 CE, ed. Carol Bakhos

... In this grand volume, everything is an artifact and everything (appropriately) requires guided interpretation. Indeed, Carol Bakhos and her entire editorial team have gathered into this work one of the richest and most diverse collections of artifacts, both in forms of redacted texts and archaeologically attested objects, amassed to this point in English translation and prose, inclusive of hundreds of pages of analysis and annotation. Through editors’ careful introductions, contextualization, and connections, this volume invites readers to explore and interpret textual and archaeological artifacts anew, demonstrating how it is always possible to tell new stories (or histories) about old things. The results are exciting, generating opportunities for academics and lay readers to reexamine known evidence and develop novel insights into Jewish cultures from 332 BCE to 600 CE. ...

For the first essay in this review series, see here.

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Revised bill for new West Bank antiquity authority passes first Knesset reading

ARCHAEOLOGY AND POLITICS: Knesset advances controversial West Bank antiquity bill in first reading. Legislation’s critics maintain it amounts to de facto annexation, while supporters say it is necessary to preserve territory’s unique heritage (Rossella Tercatin, Times of Israel).

A controversial bill creating a new civilian authority in charge of antiquities in the West Bank was approved by the Knesset plenum in the first reading overnight between Monday and Tuesday. ...

If passed into law, which will require two additional readings by the plenum, the bill will create a “Judea and Samaria Heritage Authority,” using the biblical name for the West Bank.

The authority is set to assume the responsibilities currently held by the Defense Ministry.

The person responsible for the file now is a staff officer of the Archaeology Unit of the Civil Administration, a branch of the Defense Ministry’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), which is in charge of civilian affairs in the territory.

An earlier version sought to transfer this authority to the Israel Antiquities Authority, but it was widely opposed, including by the IAA. Detailed background is here, here, and (most recent summary) here. This current bill is the revised result.

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Review of Van Maaren, The Gospel of Mark’s Judaism ....

BOOK REVIEW: The Gospel of Mark’s Judaism and the Death of Christ as a Ransom for Many (R. B. JAMIESON, Themelios).

Many monographs proclaim their ambition to shift a paradigm; few do. In my opinion, this volume stands a better chance than most. This monograph is the second to develop from the author’s doctoral dissertation at McMaster University; the first was published as The Boundaries of Jewishness in the Southern Levant: 200 BCE–132 CE (Berlin: de Gruyter, 2022). The present work applies a nuanced, textured set of conceptualities for discerning and situating the “Jewishness” of an ancient religious text such as the Gospel of Mark, which it employs to undermine the reigning scholarly paradigm, which the author calls “Gentile Mark.”

[...]

For more on the book, see here and here.

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Josephus' effeminizing propaganda?

THE CLASSICAL QUARTERLY:

SELF-MADE ‘MEN’: THE PROGRESSIVE EMASCULATION OF THE BROTHERS ASINAEUS AND ANILAEUS IN JOSEPHUS, ANTIQUITIES 18

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 20 April 2026

The Classical Quarterly , First View , pp. 1 - 15
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0009838826101190
Open Access

Joseph Scales and Isaac T. Soon

Abstract

This article analyses how Flavius Josephus presents the conquests of Asinaeus and Anilaeus, two robber-bandits who established a fiefdom in first-century Babylonia. In dialogue with common Roman tropes about gender and his previous writings on the notable physical features of men in times of war, this article focusses on how Josephus progressively effeminizes Asinaeus and Anilaeus. Although their military feats abound, their increasingly risky behaviour and their growing neglect of Jewish ways of life jeopardize their own character and the safety of their Jewish kin. With this strategy of emasculation, Josephus undermines those who self-interestedly seek power and influence.

Follow the link for the full text of this open-access article.

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Narsai: The Homilies. Volume 2 (Peeters)

NEW BOOK FROM PEETERS PUBLISHERS:

Narsai: The Homilies. Volume 2

Series:
Eastern Christian Texts in Translation, 7

Author:
Becker A.H.

Price: 65 euro
Year: 2026
ISBN: 9789042954250
Pages: XIV-203 p.

Summary:

Narsai, who is variously called “the tongue of the East” and “the harp of the Spirit”, is among the most important and influential Syriac authors. His life spanned the fifth century, which was a tumultuous time for Christians following the controversies surrounding the First Council of Ephesus, the Second Council of Ephesus, and the Council of Chalcedon. Playing a crucial role at this critical juncture, Narsai would ultimately be remembered as one of the foundational figures of the Church of the East. This volume, the second in the series Narsai: The Homilies, offers translations of several of Narsai’s homilies that focus on Lent and moral reform. The homilies translated in this volume are “On Lent I” (20), “On Lent III” (23), “On Lent IV” (24), “On Lent V” (26), “On Reproof” (25), “On Reproof of the Clergy” (78), and “On Reproof” (79).

I noted the publication of volume one here. Cross-file under Syriac Watch.

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History, Prophecy, Identity and Language in the Hebrew Bible (Brill)

NEW BOOK FROM BRILL:

History, Prophecy, Identity and Language in the Hebrew Bible

Proceedings of the 18th Joint Meeting of the Society for Old ‎Testament Study (SOTS) and the Oudtestamentisch Werkgezelschap in Nederland en België (OTW), Nottingham, 2022

Series:
Oudtestamentische Studiën, Old Testament Studies, Volume: 84

Volume Editors: Hans Ausloos and Charlotte Hempel

This volume contains the Proceedings of the 18th Joint Meeting of the Society ‎for Old ‎Testament Study (SOTS) and the Oudtestamentisch Werkgezelschap ‎in Nederland en België (OTW) in the summer ‎of 2022 in Nottingham. The ten ‎contributions are prefaced by an editorial Introduction (Hempel, Ausloos) followed by studies on ‎Hebrew Semantics (Raymond de Hoop, Paul Sanders, Ellen van Wolde), the Pentateuch (Gert Kwakkel, Jan-Wim Wesselius‎, Philip Yoo), exilic and post-exilic historiography (Carly Crouch, Michaël van der Meer) and two chapters that draw on Sumerian poetry and gender-based violence ‎in contemporary South Africa, respectively, to illuminate biblical narratives in Judges and 1-2 Samuel (Ekaterina E. Kozlova, Nozipho Princess S. Dlodlo).

Copyright Year: 2025

E-Book (PDF)
Availability: Published
ISBN: 978-90-04-74065-5
Publication: 19 Jan 2026
EUR €119.00

Hardback
Availability: Published
ISBN: 978-90-04-74064-8
Publication: 19 Feb 2026
EUR €119.00

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New proposals about the Copper Scroll

THAT DARNED TREASURE AGAIN: The Mysterious Copper Scroll and the End of Days. One stood among the Dead Sea Scrolls: made of metal, and seemingly never meant to be read. Who made it, when and why, and how was Bar-Kokhba involved? Shimon Gibson presents a new theory (Ruth Schuster).

"The Copper Scroll has always been an enigma, already from when it was first discovered and published. None of the explanations that have been proposed until now have been especially convincing," commented ancient Judaism expert Yonatan Adler of Ariel University. "Enigmatic finds of this kind absolutely invite thinking outside of the box, and I congratulate Prof. Gibson for his intriguing hypothesis. Even if we still lack a 'smoking gun,' novel and well-argued hypotheses of this kind are what move the inquiry forward."

Agreed. Gibson has valid criticisms of the current most popular understanding of the Copper Scroll, that it listes the Temple treasures:

He also points out that if it was a list of Temple valuables removed and secreted by Jews ahead of a howling Roman advance, surely they would have taken the menorah too; yet we see the Romans took that. "Some of the looted funds were even used to help build the landmark Colosseum in that same city which is admired by tourists to this very day," Gibson adds.

True. But there's no guarantee that all of the treasure would have been successfully smuggled out of Jerusalem and into hiding. The menorah would have been more difficult than most of the treasures to move quietly.

Gibson's hypothesis that the treasures are actually contributions to the Bar Kokhba revolt is interesting, but the amounts seem too large to me. Likewise with Joan Taylor's proposal that they are a list of post-Temple Temple tithes from the Bar Kokhba era. Even if we go with Lefkovits'z karsh (rather than talent) intepretation of the amount listings, which we may or may not do.

But I haven't seen either article. If I saw the full arguments I might change my mind.

For a BAR article by Taylor on the subject, see here. If she is proposing there that the CS treasure includes some Temple paraphrenalia and later tithes, which the summary seems to indicate, that makes more sense to me.

For many other PaleoJudaica posts on the Copper Scroll, start here and follow the links.

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Collins on the limits of Jewish identity

ANCIENT JEW REVIEW: The Limits of Jewish Identity (John J. Collins).

The Limits of Jewish Identity: Comments on The Posen Library of Jewish Culture and Civilization, Vol.2, Emerging Judaism, 332 BCE–600 CE, ed. Carol Bakhos

As one might imagine, given the author, this is an excellent review of textual data and methodological issues for the question of what constituted Jewish literature, and therefore Judaism, in antiquity.

I fully agree with his conclusions regarding the Similitudes of Enoch. I have argued much the same about it in my book The Provenance of the Pseudepigrapha: Jewish, Christian, or other? (Brill, 2005), pp. 132-37. Incidentally, Professor Collins was the editor.

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Cyprus and the Diaspora Revolt of 115-117 CE

BIBLE HISTORY DAILY: When Cypriot Jews Revolted Against Rome. Archaeology shines light on little-known revolt (Marek Dospěl).

To explore the historical evidence for the Diaspora Revolt—including the New Testament and Roman historians—read Thomas Davis’s article “The Diaspora Revolt: Cyprus’s Forgotten Jewish Uprising,” published in the Spring 2026 issue of Biblical Archaeology Review.

The article is behind the subscription wall, but this BHD essay gives an informative summary of it.

The Diaspora Revolt took place in Cyprus, Cyrene (the Kitos War), Egypt, and Mesopotamia. PaleoJudaica has touched on this revolt here and there, but this is first detailed account I have found of its Cypriot component.

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Holm, Aramaic Literature from Egypt and the Levant (SBL)

NEW BOOK FROM SBL PRESS:

Aramaic Literature from Egypt and the Levant

Tawny L. Holm

ISBN 9781628377521
Volume WAW 30
Status Available
Publication Date May 2026

Paperback $90.00
Hardback $110.00
eBook $90.00

In this volume, Tawny L. Holm provides bilingual editions of the majority of Aramaic literary compositions written between the fifth century BCE and first century CE. Each text is presented in transliteration and accompanied by an introduction, notes, and an English translation. The section on Egypt includes, among others, the fascinating anthology found on Papyrus Amherst 63, an Aramaic text written in the Demotic Egyptian script, as well as the Story and Proverbs of Ahiqar. The Levant section includes a selection of texts from the Dead Sea Scrolls, such as Tales from the Persian Court. These compositions cover a broad array of themes, from insights into the human condition to unique portraits of kings, heroes, and deities. The book also addresses matters of history, language, genres, poetics, and scribalism, and it offers a comprehensive collection of primary sources for use in ancient Near Eastern studies courses as well as biblical studies.

HT Bibliographia Iranica.

I have been waiting a long time for this one. (Even well before these posts.) And the volume contains much more than I expected.

For PaleoJudaica posts on the remarkable collection of Aramaic and Canaanite texts in Demotic script in Papyrus Amherst 63, see the links in the previous paragraph, plus here, here, here, here, and here. And follow the links in those posts for more.

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Review of Identities in antiquity

BRYN MAYR CLASSICAL REVIEW: Identities in antiquity.

Joseph Skinner, Vicky Manolopoulou, Christina Tsouparopoulou, Identities in antiquity. Rewriting antiquity. London: Routledge, 2025. Pp. 590. ISBN 9781138545168.

Review by
Jeremy McInerney, University of Pennsylvania. jmcinern@sas.upenn.edu

... Overall, this volume is a valuable contribution to the discourse around identity. Its strength lies in its coverage of a wide variety of times and places, resulting a tome of nearly 600 pages, covering large segments of the ancient Mediterranean world over a span of hundreds of years.

Articles of particular interest:

11. Ancient Judaism: nation, ethnicity, or religion?: Erich S. Gruen
20. Identity construction in Alexandria: Greeks, Jews and Romans: Kimberley Czajkowski

And with articles on Mespotamia, Egypt, Greece, Rome, Phoenicia, etc.

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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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