This is the best 2018 roundup for biblical archaeology out of all those I have seen. It's a good link with which to end the year.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
E-mail: paleojudaica-at-talktalk-dot-net ("-at-" = "@", "-dot-" = ".")
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Monday, December 31, 2018
The best 2018 biblical archaeology roundup
THE BIBLE PLACES BLOG: Top 10 Discoveries in Biblical Archaeology in 2018 (Todd Bolen). With an explanation for each item, a list of honorable mentions, and a list of specialists who passed away this year.
This is the best 2018 roundup for biblical archaeology out of all those I have seen. It's a good link with which to end the year.
This is the best 2018 roundup for biblical archaeology out of all those I have seen. It's a good link with which to end the year.
BHD 2018 top ten
BIBLE HISTORY DAILY: Top 10 Bible History Daily Posts in 2018. Ring in the new year by looking back (Robin Ngo). I linked to many, but not all, of these posts. So go have a look.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
Top 2018 discoveries in Egypt
GOOD, BUT SOMETHING IS MISSING: Astonishing discoveries in 2018 Egypt announced a flurry of astonishing new discoveries, archaeological events and exhibitions abroad this year, writes Nevine El-Aref (Al-Ahram Weekly).
Not directly relevant to ancient Judaism, but you're probably interested in what's been happening in Egypt too.
Unfortunately, you will learn almost nothing pertaining to Coptic studies. The word "Coptic" appears only once in the article, in an uninformative context. The article gives no information about Coptic-related discoveries and exhibitions. It would have been good to have a section on Coptic Studies like the one on Islamic Monuments. It's too bad that this article ignores this important aspect of ancient Egyptian studies.
Cross-file under Coptic Watch.
Not directly relevant to ancient Judaism, but you're probably interested in what's been happening in Egypt too.
Unfortunately, you will learn almost nothing pertaining to Coptic studies. The word "Coptic" appears only once in the article, in an uninformative context. The article gives no information about Coptic-related discoveries and exhibitions. It would have been good to have a section on Coptic Studies like the one on Islamic Monuments. It's too bad that this article ignores this important aspect of ancient Egyptian studies.
Cross-file under Coptic Watch.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
A 2019 Bible-reading plan
THE HOLY LAND PHOTOS' BLOG: Why Not A New Year’s Question, Instead of a Resolution?
If you aim to read the whole Bible in 2019, Carl Rasmussen points you to a new and creative reading program.
Or, if you read Greek, you may (also?) want to try the Graded Septuagint Reading Plan noted here.
If you aim to read the whole Bible in 2019, Carl Rasmussen points you to a new and creative reading program.
Or, if you read Greek, you may (also?) want to try the Graded Septuagint Reading Plan noted here.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
Sunday, December 30, 2018
More top 2018 stories from Haaretz
ANOTHER END-OF-YEAR LIST: Editor's Picks: Archaeological Wonders of 2018. Does bread predate agriculture? Why did Gauls embalm the heads of their enemies? Did Uri Geller really use ESP to find an ancient factory? Read all about it in Haaretz's top archaeology stories of 2018 (Ruth Schuster, Haaretz premium).
Most of these stories, although very interesting in themselves, are outside the focus of PaleoJudaica. But I did note the ones about the recovered bit of the Antikythera Mechanism, the ancient Greco-Aramaic comics, the conflict over the Jewish catacomb in Rome, and even Uri Geller.
Most of these stories, although very interesting in themselves, are outside the focus of PaleoJudaica. But I did note the ones about the recovered bit of the Antikythera Mechanism, the ancient Greco-Aramaic comics, the conflict over the Jewish catacomb in Rome, and even Uri Geller.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
A day in the life at a dig
BIBLE HISTORY DAILY: Digs 2019: A Day in the Life. Read the full article from the January/February 2019 issue of BAR (Robert Cargill [BAR chief editor).
Four a.m. That’s the first thing anyone who has been on an archaeological dig in the Holy Land will tell you when you ask them what it’s like to be on an excavation.This brings back many memories of my field experiences at Tel Dor and Ashkelon in the 1980s. Good times!
“You get up at 4:00 a.m.!” they’ll say with equal parts pride and loathing in their voices. “The first two hours of your day are spent in the dark.”
[...]
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
More about “Finds Gone Astray”
SO MANY APPREHENSIONS: EXHIBIT REVEALS NEVER-SEEN ARTIFACTS RESCUED FROM ARCHAEOLOGICAL THIEVES. Many of the objects were illegally excavated using tools and methods that have caused irreversible damage to archaeological sites of enormous local historical significance (Maayan Hoffman, Jerusalem Post).
It took hours of intensive detective work, including patient surveillance, carefully planned ambushes, and nightly observations to intercept the thieves and retrieve these artifacts. The rescued objects have been carefully preserved and stored, and numerous looters operating in Judea and Samaria have been prosecuted. Over the last 50 years, 40,000 objects have been collected.I noted this story a couple of days ago, but this article has additional details.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
Two statues found near Beit Shean
CHANCE FIND: TWO UNIQUE ROMAN STATUES DISCOVERED NEAR BURIAL SITE IN ANCIENT BEIT SHEAN. The statues' discovery is important for understanding late Roman period style, as no two statues from this time period resemble each other (Rachel Bernstein, Jerusalem Post).
I wonder how big they are. There is no scale in the photo and the article doesn't say.
I wonder how big they are. There is no scale in the photo and the article doesn't say.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
Saturday, December 29, 2018
More biblical archaeology 2018 top-ten lists
LISTS OF TOP ARCHAEOLOGY DISCOVERIES ARE STILL COMING IN:
Biblical Archaeology’s Top 10 Discoveries of 2018 (Gordon Govier, Christianity Today);
Top Discoveries in Biblical Archaeology 2018 (Christopher Eames, Watch Jerusalem).
I think PaleoJudaica has noted, and often commented on, all the the discoveries in both lists. See the archives.
Meanwhile, Brent Nategaal is unhappy that the Isaiah bulla (clay seal impression) is not getting more attention in the end-of-year lists: Another Big Year for Biblical Archaeology, but Not for the Prophet Isaiah?
The Watch Jerusalem article above (also sponsored by The Trumpet) makes up the lack. But so does the Christianity Today article.
I agree with Mr. Nategaal that the Isaiah bulla belongs in the top ten discoveries for 2018. But, that said, I don't think he fairly represents the pros and cons of the seal belonging to the prophet Isaiah himself, rather than to another Isaiah (it was a common name) son of Nobay. If the latter, we also have the seal of his brother, Oreb. See here and links, especially the link to Remnant of Giants.
Be that as it may, the bulla is a very important discovery. For many other past posts on it, start here and follow the links.
Biblical Archaeology’s Top 10 Discoveries of 2018 (Gordon Govier, Christianity Today);
Top Discoveries in Biblical Archaeology 2018 (Christopher Eames, Watch Jerusalem).
I think PaleoJudaica has noted, and often commented on, all the the discoveries in both lists. See the archives.
Meanwhile, Brent Nategaal is unhappy that the Isaiah bulla (clay seal impression) is not getting more attention in the end-of-year lists: Another Big Year for Biblical Archaeology, but Not for the Prophet Isaiah?
The Watch Jerusalem article above (also sponsored by The Trumpet) makes up the lack. But so does the Christianity Today article.
I agree with Mr. Nategaal that the Isaiah bulla belongs in the top ten discoveries for 2018. But, that said, I don't think he fairly represents the pros and cons of the seal belonging to the prophet Isaiah himself, rather than to another Isaiah (it was a common name) son of Nobay. If the latter, we also have the seal of his brother, Oreb. See here and links, especially the link to Remnant of Giants.
Be that as it may, the bulla is a very important discovery. For many other past posts on it, start here and follow the links.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
The Temple warning inscriptions
HOLY LAND PHOTOS' BLOG: Warning to Gentiles from the Days of Jesus — Inscriptions (Carl Rasmussen). Appropriately, with some nice photos.
Past PaleoJudaica posts on the Greek Temple warning inscriptions are collected here.
Past PaleoJudaica posts on the Greek Temple warning inscriptions are collected here.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
Jesus, the Jesus movement, and family
THE BIBLE AND INTEPRETATION:
How good? Ponder the fact that Jesus' most hyperbolic sayings have survived all this time and are still well known, even though most everyone knows better than to try to carry them out.
Family in the Early Jesus MovementThe historical Jesus clearly had family issues. But that's never been unusual. He also liked to use hyperbole. It's a good way of getting attention.
Why did the historical Jesus reject traditional family ties? There are a couple of possibilities. First, it is feasible that he did so because his family attempted to thwart his activities…. It is also possible that, regardless of his own family’s attitude, Jesus felt that traditional family ties were insignificant compared to proclaiming the arrival of the kingdom of God (which Jesus no doubt identified with the will of God). One was to make a choice: family or the kingdom.
See Also: Jesus Followers in the Roman Empire (Eerdmans, 2017).
By Paul B. Duff
Professor of Religion
The Columbian College of Arts and Sciences
The George Washington University
December 2018
How good? Ponder the fact that Jesus' most hyperbolic sayings have survived all this time and are still well known, even though most everyone knows better than to try to carry them out.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
Top ETC Blog posts of 2018
THE ETC BLOG: Top Ten Posts of 2018 (Peter Gurry). The no-longer-first-century fragment of Mark was a favorite topic.
As usual, I will post my favorite PaleoJudaica posts of the year in March, on the blog's anniversary.
As usual, I will post my favorite PaleoJudaica posts of the year in March, on the blog's anniversary.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
Friday, December 28, 2018
More on Wimpfheimer, The Talmud: A Biography
TALMUD WATCH: New Talmud ‘biography’ seeks to bring the foundational text to life. Prof. Barry Scott Wimpfheimer has studied the Oral Law since he was 17; now he shares its story with an accessible, big picture view of its centrality to Judaism (Rich Tenorio, Times of Israel).
I noted the publication of The Talmud: A Biography, by Barry Scott Wimpfheimer, here earlier this year. This article discusses the book at some length and interviews the author.
I noted the publication of The Talmud: A Biography, by Barry Scott Wimpfheimer, here earlier this year. This article discusses the book at some length and interviews the author.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
Huqoq looters dig holes, are foiled.
APPREHENDED: ANTIQUITIES POLICE STOP THEFT OF ANCIENT COINS. The suspects dug holes to find the coins, damaging the site. However, the synagogue was unharmed (Yvette J. Deane, Jerusalem Post).
For many past posts on the Huqoq excavation, its ancient synagogue, and its remarkable mosaics, start here and follow the links
Israel Antiquities Authority, JNF and Border Police stopped a band of thieves from stealing ancient coins from the Hukuk Synagogue archeological site in northern Israel on Thursday.Good.
[...]
For many past posts on the Huqoq excavation, its ancient synagogue, and its remarkable mosaics, start here and follow the links
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
"Finds Gone Astray"
EXHIBITION: Artifacts stolen and smuggled in the West Bank now on display in Jerusalem. Bible Lands Museum hosts a small collection of the 40,000 antiquities confiscated by the Civil Administration which, while stripped of origin stories, still have tales to tell (Amanda Borschel-Dan, Times of Israel). Included are three Aramaic incantion bowls, presumably from Babylonia. Also, some remarkable figurines, perhaps from Syria.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
Moses the fugitive hero
PROF. ED GREENSTEIN: Moses and the Fugitive Hero Pattern (TheTorah.com).
The story of Moses follows a pattern that is typical of ancient Near Eastern fugitive hero narratives. However, when Moses goes to Mount Horeb, the plot deviates from the usual “divine encounter” feature. What does this tell us about the composition of the story of Moses and the Burning Bush?This essay does not use the Rank-Raglan typology of the hero, but its fugitive-hero pattern has some similarities. For the Rank-Raglan typology and Jesus, see here, and on Abraham, see here. Also, Ron Hendel published a book quite a few years ago which looks at Jacob and Moses as epic heroes: The Epic of the Patriarch: The Jacob Cycle and the Narrative Traditions of Canaan and Israel (HSM 42; Brill, 1988).
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
Thursday, December 27, 2018
Six big archaeology stories of 2018
THAT'S A LOT: 6 archaeology stories from 2018 that made me rethink my world. Who knew? Archaeology is therapy; maybe a meteor destroyed Sodom and Gemorrah [sic]; there are still new Dead Sea Scrolls treasures to decipher; and the mighty louse is a wonder (Amanda Borschel-Dan, Times of Israel).
I followed all of these stories and blogged on most of them. I didn't find any of them world-shaking. (The Sodom and Gomorrah one was region shaking.) But all of them were interesting.
I'm looking forward to another year of interesting stories in 2019, and to Ms. Borschel-Dan's coverage of them.
I followed all of these stories and blogged on most of them. I didn't find any of them world-shaking. (The Sodom and Gomorrah one was region shaking.) But all of them were interesting.
I'm looking forward to another year of interesting stories in 2019, and to Ms. Borschel-Dan's coverage of them.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
Camp of Cambyses' army found?
ARCHAEOLOGY: Persian Military Base Used to Invade Egypt Reportedly Found in Israel (Sputnik News).
Ruins of an ancient camp that was possibly used by Persian ruler Cambyses II as a staging ground for the invasion of Egypt some 2,500 years ago were unearthed by archaeologists in northern Israel, Haaretz reports.The Haaretz article is in the premium section and I can't access the full text. But this article has a summary of it. Another summary (noted by Joseph Lauer) by Archaeology Magazine is here.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
SBL 2018: Traditions of Eastern Late Antiquity and Digital Humanities Session
BELATEDLY, ANOTHER SBL REPORT: Recap of Traditions of Eastern Late Antiquity and Digital Humanities Session at #SBLAAR18 (James McGrath, Religion Prof Blog). I am the belated one, not James.
A report on good projects involving cuneiform, Mandean (Mandaean), Syriac, and Ethiopic.
Other SBL 2018 reports were noted here and here.
A report on good projects involving cuneiform, Mandean (Mandaean), Syriac, and Ethiopic.
Other SBL 2018 reports were noted here and here.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
Women Biblical Scholars
WEBSITE: Women Biblical Scholars.
HT the Agade list. And also see the related post from last spring about the site at 4 Enoch: Women scholars etc. - Jewish-Christian-Islamic Origins.
ABOUTThe site also has a Blog.
Throughout history women have loved, studied, and taught the Jewish and Christian scriptures. Unfortunately, many of us have never heard of these biblical scholars and thinkers. Often they are left out of history books and classroom discussion. The goal of this blog is to draw attention to the works of women and discover what they contribute to our understanding of the biblical texts. With greater awareness, this scholarship can shape course curriculum, homilies, public discourse, and academia itself.
The blog includes profiles, interviews, book reviews, and other means to spotlight women biblical scholars. Of particular interest are scholars whose work contributes to the thriving of faith communities and advances helpful discussion of religion in our contemporary world. Check out the developing Index of Scholars for names and works of women across history. This makes it easy to find the primary texts you want. Also don’t miss seeing today’s women biblical scholars in action–our growing Video and Audio page gives you access to lectures, presentations, and interviews. Finally, if you are looking for a dictionary on women interpreters or want to read a memoir or biography of a female scholar be sure to stop by the Books page.
If you know of something that should be added to this site, would like to contribute a guest post, or help develop the index of scholars please e-mail: women.biblical.scholars@gmail.com.
HT the Agade list. And also see the related post from last spring about the site at 4 Enoch: Women scholars etc. - Jewish-Christian-Islamic Origins.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
Wednesday, December 26, 2018
Review of Giusti, Carthage in Virgil's 'Aeneid'
BRYN MAYR CLASSICAL REVIEW: Elena Giusti, Carthage in Virgil's 'Aeneid': Staging the Enemy under Augustus. Cambridge classical studies. Cambridge; New York: Cambridge University Press, 2018. Pp. xiv, 334. ISBN 9781108416801. £75.00. Reviewed by Claire Stocks, University of Newcastle (claire.stocks@newcastle.ac.uk).
Chapter 4 focuses predominantly on Books One to Four of the Aeneid, which we are to view as a unit within the epic (if we assume a tripartite structure for the work). Throughout this chapter, Giusti offers examples of Virgil’s allusions to all three Punic wars, arguing that when read as a whole, Virgil’s Carthage episode serves an historical allegory for that conflict and thus looks beyond the obvious association between the pairing of Carthage and Dido with Egypt and Cleopatra. ...Cross-file under Punic Watch.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
Schiffman on combatting anti-Semitism
PROF. LAWRENCE H. SCHIFFMAN: COMBATING ANTI-SEMITISM. A reprint of his recent article, "Combating Anti-Semitism: Report from a conference in Vienna," in Ami Magazine.
Anti-Semitism is one ancient tradition that is better off dead. Regrettably, that day is not yet. But hopefully this conference represents some progress.
Anti-Semitism is one ancient tradition that is better off dead. Regrettably, that day is not yet. But hopefully this conference represents some progress.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
Christmas doesn't come from a pagan holiday?
BIBLE HISTORY DAILY: How December 25 Became Christmas (Andrew McGowan). Everyone knows the first explanation, but it has its problems. Few know about the second.
Originally published in Bible Review in 2002 and first noted by PaleoJudaica in 2010.
Originally published in Bible Review in 2002 and first noted by PaleoJudaica in 2010.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
The altar on Mt. Ebal
ZVI KOENIGSBERG: Joshua’s Altar on Mount Ebal: Israel’s Holy Site Before Shiloh (TheTorah.com).
For more on the altar on Mount Ebal, see here.
In the eighties, archaeologist Adam Zertal excavated the site of El-Burnat on Mt. Ebal, and uncovered an enormous ancient altar from the early twelfth-century B.C.E. This archaeological find sheds light on the account of Joshua’s altar at Mt. Ebal as well as the famous story of Jacob crossing his arms to bless Ephraim over Manasseh with the birthright."Zvi Koenigsberg worked alongside the late Prof. Adam Zertal throughout the Ebal excavations (1982-88)." He gives an engaging account of the moment when they realized they could be dealing with an altar.
For more on the altar on Mount Ebal, see here.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
Tuesday, December 25, 2018
Ancient ring found on pilgrim's road
ARTIFACT: 2,000-year-old Ring Found in Pilgrim's Road to Temple Mount. Ring seems to have been found in ritual bath, either slipped off somebody's finger or was forgotten, archaeologists excavating the City of David suggest (Ruth Schuster, Haaretz premium).
The story is also covered by Amanda Borschel-Dan in the Times of Israel: Misplaced 2,000-year-old ring discovered in Jerusalem’s City of David.
For more on those two ancient gold earrings, see here and links. For that Byzantine-era hoard of gold coins, see here and here. And for the recently discovered "Pilate" ring from the same period as Precious, see here and here.
It's annoying to lose your precious baubles in a public pool and probably was just as irksome 2,000 years ago too, when a ring seems to have slipped off the finger of an unwary bather in a mikveh. Or maybe it was taken off for the purposes of the ritual purifying bath, and was forgotten there."Precious?" Oh no.
[...]
The story is also covered by Amanda Borschel-Dan in the Times of Israel: Misplaced 2,000-year-old ring discovered in Jerusalem’s City of David.
For more on those two ancient gold earrings, see here and links. For that Byzantine-era hoard of gold coins, see here and here. And for the recently discovered "Pilate" ring from the same period as Precious, see here and here.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
Report on the Material of Christian Apocrypha Conference
NEW TESTAMENT APOCRYPHA WATCH: At the Apocryphicity Blog, Tony Burke is reporting on the recent Material of Christian Apocrypha Conference:
Reflections on the Material of Christian Apocrypha Conference: Part I
Reflections on the Material of Christian Apocrypha Conference: Part II
There was lots of attention to the Infancy Gospel traditions, so this seems like a good day to note Tony's posts. But there was also much attention to other apocryphal traditions, both literary and iconographic.
Reflections on the Material of Christian Apocrypha Conference: Part I
Reflections on the Material of Christian Apocrypha Conference: Part II
There was lots of attention to the Infancy Gospel traditions, so this seems like a good day to note Tony's posts. But there was also much attention to other apocryphal traditions, both literary and iconographic.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
Finkelstein, Hasmonean Realities behind Ezra, Nehemiah, and Chronicles
NEW BOOK FROM THE SOCIETY OF BIBLICAL LITERATURE:
Hasmonean Realities behind Ezra, Nehemiah, and Chronicles: Archaeological and Historical Perspectives
Israel Finkelstein
ISBN 9780884143086
Status Available
Price: $47.95
Binding Hardback
Publication Date September 2018
Pages 222
A thorough case for a later date for of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Chronicles
In this collection of essays, Israel Finkelstein deals with key topics in Ezra, Nehemiah, and 1 and 2 Chronicles, such as the list of returnees, the construction of the city wall of Jerusalem, the adversaries of Nehemiah, the tribal genealogies, and the territorial expansion of Judah in 2 Chronicles. Finkelstein argues that the geographical and historical realities cached behind at least parts of these books fit the Hasmonean period in the late second century BCE. Seven previously published essays are supplemented by maps, updates to the archaeological material, and references to recent publications on the topics.
Features:
• Analysis of geographical chapters of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Chronicles
• Study of the Hasmonean period in the late second century BCE
• Unique arguments regarding chronology and historical background
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
Christmas 2018
MERRY CHRISTMAS to all those celebrating!
For posts of Christmas past, see my 2017 Christmas post and links. Christmas-related posts in the last year are here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.
I am busy this morning, but I will post some more later today.
For posts of Christmas past, see my 2017 Christmas post and links. Christmas-related posts in the last year are here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.
I am busy this morning, but I will post some more later today.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
Monday, December 24, 2018
How many wise men?
'TIS THE SEASON: Were there more than Three Kings? (BBC).
But we are not pedantic, are we? And later tradition promotes the magi to kings, gives them names, and specifies their number: three sometimes, but also twelve. And the recently rediscovered Syriac apocryphal text, The Revelation of the Magi, gives their number as twelve and more. The Revelation of the Magi is a very long work, but you can read a detailed summary of it by its re-discoverer, Dr. Brent Landau, here. And there's more on it here and links.
Also, let's not miss that this article is actually about a modern Syriac scribe, a rarity these days. But one I hope we will be seeing more of in a more peaceful Middle East.
Peace on Earth.
Thirty years ago there were 50,000 Christians in south-eastern Turkey speaking a dialect of Aramaic - the language of Christ. Now there are 2,500. Talking to one of them, the BBC's Jeremy Bristow learned that instead of Three Kings, there might actually have been 12.If we wanted to be pedantic, we could say that there weren't any kings. The Gospel of Matthew just refers to "magi." It doesn't say how many there were. We just infer there were three because they brought three gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Their gender isn't even specified. "Magi" could be read as all male or as a mixed-gender group. (Past PaleoJudaica posts on Matthew's Magi are here and many links, plus here, here, and here.)
But we are not pedantic, are we? And later tradition promotes the magi to kings, gives them names, and specifies their number: three sometimes, but also twelve. And the recently rediscovered Syriac apocryphal text, The Revelation of the Magi, gives their number as twelve and more. The Revelation of the Magi is a very long work, but you can read a detailed summary of it by its re-discoverer, Dr. Brent Landau, here. And there's more on it here and links.
Also, let's not miss that this article is actually about a modern Syriac scribe, a rarity these days. But one I hope we will be seeing more of in a more peaceful Middle East.
Peace on Earth.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
Apocryphal Christmas, reprised
BIBLE HISTORY DAILY: Christmas Stories in Christian Apocrypha. The birth of Jesus in the apocryphal gospels (Tony Burke). I have noted this piece a couple of times before. But it's been a few years and 'Tis the Season, so here it is again.
If you want to read more about some of these texts, see here and links. And if you want to read the texts themselves, then buy Tony's and Brent Landau's book, New Testament Apocrypha: More Noncanonical Scriptures, volume one.
If you want to read more about some of these texts, see here and links. And if you want to read the texts themselves, then buy Tony's and Brent Landau's book, New Testament Apocrypha: More Noncanonical Scriptures, volume one.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
The original sign of Immanuel
'TIS THE SEASON: The Original Sign of Immanuel – Isaiah 7:1-14 (Phil Long, Reading Acts). Because you should know these things.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
The real Santa?
'TIS THE SEASON: Who Was St. Nicholas? Was St. Nicholas jolly or holy? (Mark Wilson). This essay was published last year, but it appears I missed it then, so here is this year's reprint.
We don't know much about the historical St. Nicholas: he was a fourth-century bishop from Anatolia whose name appears in a couple of lists. Plus we apparently still have his body. Mark Wilson's essay recounts some more ancient and less outlandish legends about him than that Santa Claus stuff.
Also, at the Holy Land Photos' Blog, Carl Rasmussen has reposted his The REAL Saint Nicholas! December 6, on which I have commented here. Follow the links there (plus see here) for additional past posts on Saint Nick.
We don't know much about the historical St. Nicholas: he was a fourth-century bishop from Anatolia whose name appears in a couple of lists. Plus we apparently still have his body. Mark Wilson's essay recounts some more ancient and less outlandish legends about him than that Santa Claus stuff.
Also, at the Holy Land Photos' Blog, Carl Rasmussen has reposted his The REAL Saint Nicholas! December 6, on which I have commented here. Follow the links there (plus see here) for additional past posts on Saint Nick.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
Sunday, December 23, 2018
Herman and Rubenstein (eds.), The Aggada of the Bavli and Its Cultural World
NEW BOOK FROM THE SOCIETY OF BIBLICAL LITERATURE:
The Aggada of the Bavli and Its Cultural World
Geoffrey Herman (Editor), Jeffrey Rubenstein (Editor)
ISBN 9781946527080
Status Available
Price: $56.95
Binding Paperback
Publication Date August 2018
Essays that explore the rich engagement of the Talmud with its cultural world
The Babylonian Talmud (Bavli), the great compilation of Jewish law edited in the late Sasanian era (sixth–seventh century CE), also incorporates a great deal of aggada, that is, nonlegal material, including interpretations of the Bible, stories, folk sayings, and prayers. The Talmud’s aggadic traditions often echo conversations with the surrounding cultures of the Persians, Eastern Christians, Manichaeans, Mandaeans, and the ancient Babylonians, and others. The essays in this volume analyze Bavli aggada to reveal this rich engagement of the Talmud with its cultural world.
Features:
• A detailed analysis of the different conceptions of martyrdom in the Talmud as opposed to the Eastern Christian martyr accounts
• Illustration of the complex ways rabbinic Judaism absorbed Christian and Zoroastrian theological ideas
• Demonstration of the presence of Persian-Zoroastrian royal and mythological motifs in talmudic sources
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
Online Course on ancient health and wellbeing
THE AWOL BLOG: Online Course: Health and Wellbeing in the Ancient World. The ancient world is understood, in this case, as Greece and Rome. But I'm sure this material has potential to help us understand the same concerns in contemporary ancient Judaism.
This course is with the Open University and it runs in January 2019 and again in June of 2019.
This course is with the Open University and it runs in January 2019 and again in June of 2019.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
Recovering the layout of lost Geniza fragments
GENIZA FRAGMENT OF THE MONTH (NOVEMBER 2018): Reconstructing folios from text editions: Lévi (1900) + T-S NS 98.18 and Bodl. MS Heb d.74.27 (Sacha Stern and Jay Birbeck).
Past posts noting Cairo Geniza Fragments of the Month in the Cambridge University Library's Taylor-Schechter Genizah Research Unit are here and links.
Joining fragments is commonplace in Genizah research; less common is joining fragments with edited text.Three other sections of this codex survived in the Cairo Geniza:
The two folios in question, part of a larger manuscript that Sacha Stern is currently editing,[1] were torn horizontally, probably before they even left the Cairo Genizah. One of the lower fragments ended up in Cambridge, and the other in the Bodleian Library in Oxford. The upper fragments have not survived, but they were seen by Israel Lévi at the great exhibition of Paris in 1900, at the stall of a merchant from Cairo. Lévi copied out the text and promptly published it, but without saying what happened to the fragments.[2] They may have remained in the hands of the merchant, or they may have been sold. Sacha Stern has searched for them in vain, in Paris and elsewhere; the assumption must be that they are lost. All that we have of them now is Lévi’s edition.
These three folios, thus joined, contain the copy of a Hebrew letter that was written in 922 by someone most likely in Syria or Palestine. This can be told by his dating from the destruction of the Temple, a chronological era which was never used in Babylonia or further east. The letter concerns the controversy about the calendar and dates of the festivals that was raging, in 921/2, between Palestinian and Babylonian Rabbanite leaders (a controversy that has been known until now as ‘between Saadya and ben Meir’; but the role of Saadya was actually marginal). Although a Westerner, the author of this letter sides with the Babylonians, and reproaches his correspondent for appearing to support the Palestinians.The subject matter of this correspondence is late for PaleoJudaica's usual interests. But this is worth a read just to follow the fascinating process of reconstructing the original layout of lost manuscript fragments using computer technology. So cross-file under Technology Watch.
Past posts noting Cairo Geniza Fragments of the Month in the Cambridge University Library's Taylor-Schechter Genizah Research Unit are here and links.
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Gary N. Knoppers, 1956-2018
SAD NEWS: Word has just come in from the Agade List and Facebook that Professor Gary N. Knoppers passed away yesterday.
Gary and I were both NELC PhD students at Harvard University in the mid-1980s. I remember him as a nice, quiet, and unassuming guy. I once interrupted him in his library carrel to get him to help me move a large desk up to my third-floor apartment. It was really a three-man job, but we just barely managed it.
He was working on the Books of Chronicles back before it was cool. He went on to publish the Anchor Bible Commentaries on 1-2 Chronicles.
Requiescat in pace.
Gary and I were both NELC PhD students at Harvard University in the mid-1980s. I remember him as a nice, quiet, and unassuming guy. I once interrupted him in his library carrel to get him to help me move a large desk up to my third-floor apartment. It was really a three-man job, but we just barely managed it.
He was working on the Books of Chronicles back before it was cool. He went on to publish the Anchor Bible Commentaries on 1-2 Chronicles.
Requiescat in pace.
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Saturday, December 22, 2018
Review of McKechnie and Cromwell (eds.), Ptolemy I and the Transformation of Egypt, 404-282 BCE
BRYN MAYR CLASSICAL REVIEW: Paul McKechnie, Jennifer Cromwell (ed.), Ptolemy I and the Transformation of Egypt, 404-282 BCE. Mnemosyne supplements. History and archaeology of classical antiquity, 415. Leiden; Boston: Brill, 2018. Pp. x, 247. ISBN 9789004366961. €110,00. Reviewed by Tara Sewell-Lasater, University of Houston (tlsewell@uh.edu).
This book is a collection of essays presented at a 2011 conference at Macquarie University, where the overall theme was the transformation of Egypt during the fourth century. As Paul McKechnie notes in his introduction, the common view that the reign of the Ptolemies was a new and unique event in the history of Egypt has prevented much-needed analysis, especially of the continuity with the immediately preceding Persian period: “Alexander and his successor Ptolemy maintained vital features of the Thirtieth Dynasty settlement while simultaneously building an innovative settler society on foundations derived from their Macedonian heritage” (5). The essays collected here look at the transformation from several different angles.Ptolemy I is a character in the Bible. For more on him, see here, here, and here and links.
[...]
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Your Septuagint New Year's present
WILLIAM A. ROSS: ONE YEAR GRADED SEPTUAGINT READING PLAN.
You will not be surprised to learn that the Plan is keyed to William A. Ross and Greg Lanier, Septuaginta: A Reader’s Edition (Hendrickson 2018), on which more here and links. And you can still sign up for that drawing for a free copy at the link.
You will not be surprised to learn that the Plan is keyed to William A. Ross and Greg Lanier, Septuaginta: A Reader’s Edition (Hendrickson 2018), on which more here and links. And you can still sign up for that drawing for a free copy at the link.
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New PhD thesis on "non-aligned" biblical DSS
THE ETC BLOG: New Dissertation on the ‘Non-Aligned’ Dead Sea Scrolls (John Meade). The dissertation is by Anthony Ferguson: "A Comparison of the Non-Aligned Texts of Qumran to the Masoretic Text," SBTS.
Fun fact: I published 4QGenk (in DJD 12, pp. 75-78). There's not much left of it, so I would be cautious about assigning it an "alignment." But it reads mostly with the Masoretic Text, a couple of times with the Septuagint against the MT, and it has one unique reading.
Fun fact: I published 4QGenk (in DJD 12, pp. 75-78). There's not much left of it, so I would be cautious about assigning it an "alignment." But it reads mostly with the Masoretic Text, a couple of times with the Septuagint against the MT, and it has one unique reading.
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Review of Hendel and Joosten, How Old Is the Hebrew Bible?
BOOK REVIEW: The Bible Under a Microscope (Jonathan Kirsch, Jewish Journal). The book is Ronald Hendel and Jan Joosten, How Old Is the Hebrew Bible? A Linguistic, Textual, and Historical Study (Yale University Press, 2018). Excerpt from the review:
“How Old Is the Hebrew Bible” bears a weighty subtitle: “A Linguistic, Textual and Historical Study.” Indeed, it is a serious monograph that confronts some of the hottest controversies in biblical scholarship. But it is also a kind of whodunit in which words serve as clues and a lens through which we can learn new and wonderful things about the ancient writings the world regards as sacred scripture.Cross-file under New Book.
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Friday, December 21, 2018
The NYT on Alter's translation of the HB
NOW COMPLETE: After More Than Two Decades of Work, a New Hebrew Bible to Rival the King James. The pre-eminent scholar Robert Alter has finally finished his own translation (Avi Steinberg, New York Times). This is the most detailed article I have seen on the Alter translation. It includes good examples and has an extensive interview with Professor Alter. As for this:
For more on Professor Alter's now-complete translation of the Hebrew Bible, see here and here.
In its day, “The Art of Biblical Narrative” was subversive. A current Berkeley colleague of Alter’s, Ronald Hendel, told me about his experience as a Harvard grad student in philology in the early 1980s. One of his instructors pulled him aside after class and whispered, “Go to the bookstore and get yourself a copy of ‘The Art of Biblical Narrative,’ but you can’t let anyone around here see that you’re reading it!” Hendel added, “And he wasn’t kidding.” One of Alter’s former undergraduate students during that period, Ilana Pardes, who is now a professor of comparative literature at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, has written of “witnessing the birth of the book, or rather the birth of a new way of thinking about the Bible.”I was in the same PhD program with Ron at the same time. I know who that instructor was, but I shan't say here. And, yes, Alter's work was subversive.
For more on Professor Alter's now-complete translation of the Hebrew Bible, see here and here.
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Oldest Aramaic incantation found?
ARAMAIC WATCH: Ancient Aramaic Incantation Describes 'Devourer' that Brings 'Fire' to Victims (Owen Jarus, Live Science).
Most surviving Aramaic incantations are much later. The best-known ones are the Babylonian Aramaic incantation bowls, on which more here, here, here, here, and here and many links. The Cairo Geniza has also produced many Hebrew and Aramaic incantations.
Over the years I have noted some others here, here, and here (the last is written in Greek letters). There's at least one (4Q560) among the Dead Sea Scrolls. The oldest Aramaic incantation I know of after this new one from Zincirli is the so-called Uruk Incantation (4th century B.C.E.), which has Aramaic written in Babylonian cuneiform script.
A 2,800-year-old incantation, written in Aramaic, describes the capture of a creature called the "devourer" said to be able to produce "fire."Zincirli is a very interesting site that has produced some important Iron-Age Aramaic inscriptions. Another, the Katumuwa (Kuttumuwa) funerary inscription, was discovered there in 2008. Others are noted here.
Discovered in August 2017 within a small building, possibly a shrine, at the site of Zincirli (called "Sam'al" in ancient times), in Turkey, the incantation is inscribed on a stone cosmetic container. ...
Most surviving Aramaic incantations are much later. The best-known ones are the Babylonian Aramaic incantation bowls, on which more here, here, here, here, and here and many links. The Cairo Geniza has also produced many Hebrew and Aramaic incantations.
Over the years I have noted some others here, here, and here (the last is written in Greek letters). There's at least one (4Q560) among the Dead Sea Scrolls. The oldest Aramaic incantation I know of after this new one from Zincirli is the so-called Uruk Incantation (4th century B.C.E.), which has Aramaic written in Babylonian cuneiform script.
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Is Jerusalem's Tomb of the Kings a holy site?
THEOLOGICAL POLITICS: The Battle Brewing Between the French and ultra-Orthodox Over a Jerusalem Archaeological Site Ultra-Orthodox demands to pray at the Tomb of the Kings – the grandest burial compound in Jerusalem – have kindled fears among the French of an Israeli land grab under their flag in East Jerusalem (Nir Hasson, Haaretz premium).
These protests are yet another round in a long-standing historic struggle over control of one of the most beautiful archaeological sites in Jerusalem, which has been closed to the public for years. On the one side stands the government of France and on the other, Haredi and right-wing Israeli factions. Israel’s Antiquities Authority is in favor of opening the site to the public, but does share the French concerns that the site might befall the same fate of many other archaeological sites in the city, which were transformed from mere archaeology and tourism sites into holy sites and then appropriated from the public’s domain.I won't try to excerpt any more. The situation is complicated and has a long history. But you should read this article, because you will learn a lot about what makes a "holy site" in Israel and what this means.
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Haaretz top 10 biblical archaeology stories 2018
END-OF-YEAR LIST TIME: Top Biblical Archaeology Stories of 2018. Who exactly did ancient Jews really worship, and what did Jesus really look like? Find out in the top Haaretz biblical and Christian archaeology stories of 2018 (Ruth Schuster, Haaretz).
No, that discovery doesn't tell us what Jesus looked like! The etching was made centuries after his time. Why are headline writers such nitwits? (Not a criticism of Ms. Schuster, who does very good work and who I am sure had nothing to do with the headline.)
Anyway, this article leads you to the top 10 Haaretz articles on the subject. PaleoJudaica noted most of them and often commented on them. To find the posts, run the article headlines through our search engine.
No, that discovery doesn't tell us what Jesus looked like! The etching was made centuries after his time. Why are headline writers such nitwits? (Not a criticism of Ms. Schuster, who does very good work and who I am sure had nothing to do with the headline.)
Anyway, this article leads you to the top 10 Haaretz articles on the subject. PaleoJudaica noted most of them and often commented on them. To find the posts, run the article headlines through our search engine.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
Thursday, December 20, 2018
Beit Shemesh: expanded road or archaeological park?
I BLOG, YOU DECIDE: What’s More Important, the Biblical King Hezekiah or Expanding Route 38? A too-narrow road in central Israel bisects a First-Temple-era city that recovered from the devastation wreaked by Sennacherib, archaeologists discover, and the fight is on (Moshe Gilad and Ruth Schuste, Haaretz premium).
Tel Beit Shemesh has also produced notable finds from earlier and later periods. See here, here, here, here, and here.
Intensive archaeological investigation of the site bisected by Route 38 began in March, involving dozens of archaeologists and hundreds of volunteers. The digs are categorized as a salvage excavation by the Israel Antiquities Authority, which routinely checks sites slated for development.You know it's complicated when even the archaeologist disagree. The authors of this article seem to have worked hard to cover the full range of opinion.
However, the very definition of “salvage excavation” implies that after accelerated exploration, the builders will move in. “Salvage” excavations, an archaeologist told me, are actually “eradication” excavations.
The Transportation Ministry has allocated 60 million shekels ($16 million) for the archaeological work in Beit Shemesh. The Israel Antiquities Authority is responsible for the digs, working with archaeologists from Tel Aviv University and the sponsorship of Hebrew Union College in Jerusalem.
All this is normal for sites around Israel. And all would have been well and good if at least some archaeologists hadn’t been absolutely stunned by what they found.
Tel Beit Shemesh has also produced notable finds from earlier and later periods. See here, here, here, here, and here.
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The Star of Bethlehem is not the only messianic star
'TIS THE SEASON: Does the Christian Star of Bethlehem Have Its Roots in Judaism? (Adam Eliyahu Berkowitz, Breaking Israel News).
A nice review of the messianic "Star of Jacob" tradition within Judaism.
As I've said before, I think it's plausible that Matthew's star of Bethlehem is a messianic midrashic commentary on Numbers 24:17. That does not, of course, exclude astrological connections as well. I doubt that there was a real star or other astronomical phenomenon involved. But who knows? Some good science fiction has been written about that possibility.
Other past posts on the Star of Bethlehem are here and links.
A nice review of the messianic "Star of Jacob" tradition within Judaism.
As I've said before, I think it's plausible that Matthew's star of Bethlehem is a messianic midrashic commentary on Numbers 24:17. That does not, of course, exclude astrological connections as well. I doubt that there was a real star or other astronomical phenomenon involved. But who knows? Some good science fiction has been written about that possibility.
Other past posts on the Star of Bethlehem are here and links.
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Presentation of Cohen volume
MICHAEL SATLOW: Presenting a Volume to Shaye Cohen.
Congratulations again to Professor Cohen. Background here.
At the Association for Jewish Studies Annual Meeting, we presented an edited volume to my mentor, Professor Shaye Cohen (Harvard University): Strength to Strength: Essays in Honor of Shaye J. D. Cohen (Brown Judaic Studies). It was a warm and wonderful event. Isaiah Gafni and I each spoke briefly and then Shaye offered his own funny and touching reflections. Below are the remarks that I gave. ...Professor Satlow also blogged on his own contribution to the volume: Paul’s Scriptures.
Congratulations again to Professor Cohen. Background here.
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Happy 50th to the IOSCS!
SOME BELATED PARTYING IS IN ORDER: THE IOSCS IS FIFTY YEARS OLD TODAY (William A. Ross). The IOSCS is the International Organization for
Septuagint and Cognate Studies.
I saw this post yesterday, but I didn't get a chance to blog on it. I did note the anniversary as upcoming here. It sounds as though SBL attenders celebrated in advance in November.
Septuagint and Cognate Studies.
I saw this post yesterday, but I didn't get a chance to blog on it. I did note the anniversary as upcoming here. It sounds as though SBL attenders celebrated in advance in November.
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Wednesday, December 19, 2018
Translation algorithms are coming for Sumerian!
TECHNOLOGY WATCH: The Key to Cracking Long-Dead Languages? Tablets from some of the world’s oldest civilisations hold rich details about life thousands of years ago, but few people today can read them. New technology is helping to unlock them. (Sophie Hardach, BBC).
In the past I have been skeptical about such efforts, which tend to be overblown by the media. (See here, here, and here.) But this one sounds more credible.
Dr. Pagé-Perron's team is training algorithms to translate several thousand cuneiform economic texts and then they intend to let the algorithms loose on the rest. Since economic texts tend to be formulaic and to deal with a limited range of subjects, this could just about work. And once the algorithms have basic competence in economic Sumerian, there's no reason why they can't keep incrementally improving, with humans guiding them initially through progressively more challenging texts.
The algorithms are still quite limited. For example, they need humans to transliterate the cuneiform signs, a very difficult process in itself, and one not entirely disconnected from translation. But there is a big effort ongoing to digitize images of all cuneiform tablets. Once that is done, transliteration of them is a problem that could be attacked with algorithms too.
Not too far in the future, philology may go the way of factory automation.
Cross-file under The Singularity is Near.
[Assyriologist Émilie] Pagé-Perron is coordinating a project to machine translate 69,000 Mesopotamian administrative records from the 21st Century BC. One of the aims is to open up the past to new research.(Bold emphasis in the original.) There's more to this article, so read it all. But I'm going to focus on this one story.
In the past I have been skeptical about such efforts, which tend to be overblown by the media. (See here, here, and here.) But this one sounds more credible.
Dr. Pagé-Perron's team is training algorithms to translate several thousand cuneiform economic texts and then they intend to let the algorithms loose on the rest. Since economic texts tend to be formulaic and to deal with a limited range of subjects, this could just about work. And once the algorithms have basic competence in economic Sumerian, there's no reason why they can't keep incrementally improving, with humans guiding them initially through progressively more challenging texts.
The algorithms are still quite limited. For example, they need humans to transliterate the cuneiform signs, a very difficult process in itself, and one not entirely disconnected from translation. But there is a big effort ongoing to digitize images of all cuneiform tablets. Once that is done, transliteration of them is a problem that could be attacked with algorithms too.
Not too far in the future, philology may go the way of factory automation.
Cross-file under The Singularity is Near.
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Kurtz, Kaiser, Christ, and Canaan
NEW BOOK FROM MOHR SIEBECK: Paul Michael Kurtz. Kaiser, Christ, and Canaan.
The Religion of Israel in Protestant Germany, 1871–1918. 2018. XIV, 370 pages. Forschungen zum Alten Testament 122. 129,00 € including VAT. cloth ISBN 978-3-16-155496-4.
The Religion of Israel in Protestant Germany, 1871–1918. 2018. XIV, 370 pages. Forschungen zum Alten Testament 122. 129,00 € including VAT. cloth ISBN 978-3-16-155496-4.
Published in English.
In this work, Paul Michael Kurtz examines the historiography of ancient Israel in the German Empire through the prism of religion, as a structuring framework not only for writings on the past but also for the writers of that past themselves. The author investigates what biblical scholars, theologians, orientalists, philologists, and ancient historians considered »religion« and »history« to be, how they understood these conceptual categories, and why they studied them in the manner they did. Focusing on Julius Wellhausen and Hermann Gunkel, his inquiry scrutinizes to what extent, in an age of allegedly neutral historical science, the very enterprise of reconstructing the ancient past was shaped by liberal Protestant structures shared by dominant historians from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
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Review of Cataldo, A Social-Political History of Monotheism
BRYN MAYR CLASSICAL REVIEW: Jeremiah W. Cataldo, A Social-Political History of Monotheism: From Judah to the Byzantines. London; New York: Routledge, 2018. Pp. 242. ISBN 9781138222809. $140.00. Reviewed by Geert Lernout, University of Antwerp (geert.lernout@uantwerpen.be).
Is monotheism based on fear?
Is monotheism based on fear?
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Orsini's new paleography book
THE ETC BLOG: Pasquale Orsini’s New Book on Palaeography (Peter Malik). Notice of a new book: Orsini, Pasquale. Studies on Greek and Coptic Majuscule Scripts and Books. Series: Studies in Manuscript Cultures 15. De Gruyter, November 2018. An open-access book online!
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Tuesday, December 18, 2018
The Talmud on proper animal slaughter and heretics
THIS WEEK'S DAF YOMI COLUMN BY ADAM KIRSCH IN TABLET: Natural Causes. In this week’s ‘Daf Yomi,’ intentionality and human agency remain at the heart of Jewish law. Plus: the difference between a pagan and a heretic.
Earlier Daf Yomi columns are noted here and links.
Earlier Daf Yomi columns are noted here and links.
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Alter on translating the Bible
INTERVIEW: Robert Alter: “Modern Bible translators have done a wretched job” (Sameer Rahim, Prospect Magazine). Excerpt:
Background on Professor Alter's now complete translation of the Hebrew Bible is here.
SR: Your translation is very much a literary one. The characters have motivations, for example. Do you feel that’s true to the intentions of the original authors?That's true. The consistently high literary quality of the Hebrew Bible is remarkable.
RA: The ancient Hebrew writers were certainly motivated by what we would call religious purposes—they had this new monotheistic vision of the world and they wanted to convey what God wanted of humankind and the people of Israel. But for reasons that I don’t think we can understand these writers happened to be brilliant literary artists and they chose to convey their religious vision in extremely artful narrative and sometimes very brilliant poetry.
It’s a great mystery why they were this good. Ancient Israel was this little sliver of land sandwiched in between these large, powerful and sophisticated cultures—the Syrians, and then the Babylonians to the east and the Egyptians to the south. But the Biblical writers developed literary skills that totally eclipsed their neighbours. ...
Background on Professor Alter's now complete translation of the Hebrew Bible is here.
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Jewish Book Month
WITH PODCASTS AND REVIEWS: Yeshiva University and Jewish Book Council Collaborate (YU News).
This year, Jewish Book Month was November 2-December 2, 2018. For this year’s event, the Jewish Book Council (JBC) teamed up with Yeshiva University to highlight new books in the broad field of Jewish scholarship.Many of the books deal with ancient Judaism. I think you will find more on all of those in the archives of PaleoJudaica.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
Review of Berman, Inconsistency in the Torah
ANCIENT JEW REVIEW: Book Note | Inconsistency in the Torah (Ethan Schwartz).
I noted the book and a related essay here and had some comments of my own, on matters not discussed in this review. And I noted a three-part interview with Dr. Berman here.
Joshua A. Berman. Inconsistency in the Torah: Ancient Literary Convention and the Limits of Source Criticism. Oxford University Press. New York, 2017.Excerpt:
In this context, Berman’s Inconsistency in the Torah is far less countercultural and iconoclastic than he seems to imagine. To be sure, it is a significant achievement. However, I doubt that it will be remembered as the study that finally overthrew the hegemony of source criticism. Instead, I suspect that it will be regarded as one of the last studies to ascribe to source criticism any hegemony to be overthrown in the first place. It will mark the close of a monumental chapter in biblical studies, not the opening of a new one.My own view on source criticism is that the concept is sound and it has produced some useful results for, notably, our understanding of the Pentateuch. At the same time, the application of source criticism often carries it beyond what we can realistically hope to know. Sometimes you can't unscramble the egg. For more from PaleoJudaica on source criticism, here and links, here, here, and here.
I noted the book and a related essay here and had some comments of my own, on matters not discussed in this review. And I noted a three-part interview with Dr. Berman here.
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Monday, December 17, 2018
The Babylonian Exile before the Exile?
A NEW BOOK: The Forgotten Biblical Exile That Laid the Foundation for Jewish Life in the Diaspora. Unlike the Babylonian Exile, the Jehoiachin Exile of 11 years earlier was largely ignored by Jewish history ■ The exiles established a social, economic, religious and literary infrastructure for Jewish life outside Israel (Yair Hoffman, Haaretz premium).
This is an interesting reframing of one phase of the Babylonian Exile as an exile in its own right. The article is based on a book by the author, The Good Figs: The Jehoiachin Exile and its Heritage, which has been published in Hebrew by Tel Aviv University Press.
One correction to the article. Nebuchadnezzar did not kill King Zedekiah. He killed his sons and blinded him, then sent him back to Babylon as a prisoner for the rest of his life (2 Kings 25:1-7 and Jeremiah 52:1-11).
For the unprovenaced, but apparently authentic, Judean Babylonian cuneiform archive, see here and links and here. At least I haven't yet seen anyone argue that its contents are forged, and it seems as though it would have been very difficult to forge so many Akkadian tablets convincingly.
This is an interesting reframing of one phase of the Babylonian Exile as an exile in its own right. The article is based on a book by the author, The Good Figs: The Jehoiachin Exile and its Heritage, which has been published in Hebrew by Tel Aviv University Press.
One correction to the article. Nebuchadnezzar did not kill King Zedekiah. He killed his sons and blinded him, then sent him back to Babylon as a prisoner for the rest of his life (2 Kings 25:1-7 and Jeremiah 52:1-11).
For the unprovenaced, but apparently authentic, Judean Babylonian cuneiform archive, see here and links and here. At least I haven't yet seen anyone argue that its contents are forged, and it seems as though it would have been very difficult to forge so many Akkadian tablets convincingly.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
Kiryat Yearim and the Ark of the Covenant
WHILE WE'RE ON PLACES WHERE THE ARK OF THE COVENANT ISN'T: Israeli Excavation Reveals New Findings About the Ark of the Covenant. Excavations at Kiryat Yearim may show the handiwork of King Jeroboam and suggest that the Ark was a symbol of unity between rival kingdoms (Nir Hasson, Haaretz premium). The actual point of this article is that Professor Israel Finkelstein has concluded, on the basis of the excavation of Kiryat Yearim, that any United Kingdom of Israel and Judah was controlled by Israel (the Northern Kingdom) rather than the Judean Kingdom of the line of David:
Despite leading the article, the Ark of the Covenant is just a speculative sideline to the story. Unsurprisingly, there aren't any actual "new findings" about it.
Many past PaleoJudaica posts on the Ark of the the Covenant are collected here and links (immediately preceding post).
UPDATE: Also, past posts on the excavation at Kiriat Yearim (Kiryat Ye'arim, Kiriath Jearim), inevitably also mentioning the Ark, are here and here.
About two weeks ago, Prof. Israel Finkelstein, an archaeologist from Tel Aviv University and a member of the National Academy of Sciences, presented his findings from the excavations at Kiryat Yearim to a meeting of the national academies of science of Israel and France. Finkelstein is known as the leader of the camp that opposes the biblical approach in archaeology. He vehemently opposes the view that the unified kingdom of David and Solomon existed and controlled extensive parts of the land of Israel.I don't have any view on this matter, apart from noting that Professor Finkelstein is exceptionally well placed to have an informed opinion. What he thinks should be taken very seriously.
Despite leading the article, the Ark of the Covenant is just a speculative sideline to the story. Unsurprisingly, there aren't any actual "new findings" about it.
The purpose of the Ark of the Covenant story, according to this idea, was intended to give religious legitimacy to Kiryat Yearim. It was told and written in the northern kingdom of Israel, was passed on to Jerusalem through the refugees who arrived there after the destruction of the northern kingdom, and from there it found its way into the Bible. Many other “northern” traditions can be found in the Bible, such as the stories of Jacob, the Exodus and the stories of King Saul.I was going to ignore this one, but since the Ark has been in the news again lately, here it is.
Many past PaleoJudaica posts on the Ark of the the Covenant are collected here and links (immediately preceding post).
UPDATE: Also, past posts on the excavation at Kiriat Yearim (Kiryat Ye'arim, Kiriath Jearim), inevitably also mentioning the Ark, are here and here.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
The Ark of the Covenant isn't in Ethiopia?
THAT ZANY ARK AGAIN: Sorry Indiana Jones, the Ark of the Covenant Is Not Inside This Ethiopian Church (Owen Jarus, Live Science).
I'm not sure that what Edward Ullendorf recalled seeing in 1941 necessarily disproves that the Ark of the Covenant is in that church. But at the same time there isn't anything that proves it and I remain cordially skeptical. Incidentally, the late Professor Ullendorf was one of my predecessors at the University of St Andrews.
I have mentioned Professor Tudor Parfitt in connection with another, comparably questionable Ark tradition, this one placing it in Zimbabwe. See here and here and follow all the links.
And while we're on the subject of legends about the Ark of the Covenant, I may as well give myself some publicity: The Treatise of the Vessels in the news.
And for still more posts on the Ark, see here and here and follow those links.
I'm not sure that what Edward Ullendorf recalled seeing in 1941 necessarily disproves that the Ark of the Covenant is in that church. But at the same time there isn't anything that proves it and I remain cordially skeptical. Incidentally, the late Professor Ullendorf was one of my predecessors at the University of St Andrews.
I have mentioned Professor Tudor Parfitt in connection with another, comparably questionable Ark tradition, this one placing it in Zimbabwe. See here and here and follow all the links.
And while we're on the subject of legends about the Ark of the Covenant, I may as well give myself some publicity: The Treatise of the Vessels in the news.
And for still more posts on the Ark, see here and here and follow those links.
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Bormann (ed.), Abraham's Family
NEW BOOK FROM MOHR SIEBECK: Abraham's Family. A Network of Meaning in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Ed. by Lukas Bormann. 2018. IX, 497 pages. Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen zum Neuen Testament 415 154,00 € including VAT. cloth ISBN 978-3-16-156302-7.
Published in English.
Abraham, whom the apostle Paul calls the »father of us all« (Rom 4:16), was a central figure in Judaism from the outset and came to be important in Christianity and Islam. The Abraham tradition is an issue of narrative and counter-narrative, memory and counter-memory. Moreover, Abraham's family is brought in as a network of meaning to express opposition, antithesis or common ground within and between different religious movements. The contributions to this volume discuss the presentation and reception of Abraham's family in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The topics cover Hebrew Bible/Old Testament, Second Temple writings, New Testament, Rabbinic literature, Greek, Latin and Syriac church fathers, as well as Jewish medieval interpretation and a twelfth-century Arabic travel report of a pilgrimage to Mecca.
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Sunday, December 16, 2018
Maimonides at the NLI
EXHIBITION: Judaism's original (pre-)Renaissance man comes to Israel. Israel Museum is showcasing manuscripts and artifacts on the life of medieval Jewish scholar, philosopher and physician Maimonides, including his original signature (Inbar Tvizer and Kobi Nachshoni, Jerusalem Post).
Maimonides: A Legacy in Script opened at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem on December 11, and will run until April 27, 2019. https://www.imj.org.il/en/exhibitions/maimonides
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Olyan and Wright (eds.), Supplementation and the Study of the Hebrew Bible
NEW BOOK FROM THE SOCIETY OF BIBLICAL LITERATURE:
Supplementation and the Study of the Hebrew Bible
Saul M. Olyan (Editor), Jacob L. Wright (Editor)
ISBN 9781946527059
Status Available
Price: $30.95
Binding Paperback
Publication Date April 2018
Explore the role supplementation plays in the development of the Hebrew Bible
This new volume includes ten original essays that demonstrate clearly how common, varied, and significant the phenomenon of supplementation is in the Hebrew Bible. Essays examine instances of supplementation that function to aid pronunciation, fill in abbreviations, or clarify ambiguous syntax. They also consider more complex additions to and reworkings of particular lyrical, legal, prophetic, or narrative texts. Scholars also examine supplementation by the addition of an introduction, a conclusion, or an introductory and concluding framework to a particular lyrical, legal, prophetic, or narrative text.
Features:
• A contribution to the further development of a panbiblical compositional perspective
• Examples from Psalms, the pentateuchal narratives, the Deuteronomistic History, the Prophets, and legal texts
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Novick, Piyyuṭ and Midrash
NEW BOOK FROM VANDEHOECK AND RUPRECHT: Tzvi Novick, Piyyuṭ and Midrash. Form, Genre, and History. Journal of Ancient Judaism. Supplements - Volume 030ab 74,99 € * (D).
Piyyuṭ and MidrashHT The Talmud Blog on Facebook.
Novick studies the relationship between rabbinic midrash and classical (and to a lesser extent pre-classical) piyyut. The first focuses on features of piyyut that distinguish it, at least prima facie, from rabbinic midrash: its performative character, its formal constraints, and its character as prayer. The second part considers midrash and piyyut together via an analysis of a narrative form that looms large in both corpora. The “serial narrative” is a narrative that binds biblical history together by stringing together instance of the “same” event across multiple time periods. Thereby, Novick surveys basic features of serial narratives in midrash and piyyut. Subsequent chapters take up instance of specific serial narrative forms from Second Temple literature to piyyut: the kingdom series, the salvation history, and the serial confession. Together, the two parts yield a nuanced account of the continuities and discontinuities between the two great corpora produced by rabbinic and para-rabbinic circles in Roman Palestine.
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Pregill (ed.), New perspectives on late antique Iran and Iraq
BIBLIOGRAPHIA IRANICA: New Perspectives on Late Antique Iran and Iraq. Notice of a new conference volume in an open-access journal: Pregill, Michael (ed.). 2018. New perspectives on late antique Iran and Iraq. Mizan. Journal for the Study of Muslim Societies and Civilizations 3(1). It includes this article:
Shai Secunda: “East LA: Margin and Center in Late Antiquity Studies and the New Irano-Talmudica”
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Saturday, December 15, 2018
More on the Green Collection papyri from Nongbri
AT THE VARIANT READINGS BLOG, Brent Nongbri continues to cull new information from the DVD of lectures for the "Passages" exhibition of the Green Collection.
A “Second Century” Papyrus of Matthew in the Green Collection. A second-century fragment of the Gospel of Matthew? That would be nice. I'll believe it when I see good evidence for it.
The Green Collection Sappho Papyrus: Some New Details. I wouldn't make too much of the contradictions in the various accounts about who did what with this papyrus and when. Human memory about such things is notoriously unreliable. So unreliable that people often misremember whether they did something or someone they know did it.
I noted the story of the Sappho papyrus here. For later posts on it, see here and follow the links back.
A “Second Century” Papyrus of Matthew in the Green Collection. A second-century fragment of the Gospel of Matthew? That would be nice. I'll believe it when I see good evidence for it.
The Green Collection Sappho Papyrus: Some New Details. I wouldn't make too much of the contradictions in the various accounts about who did what with this papyrus and when. Human memory about such things is notoriously unreliable. So unreliable that people often misremember whether they did something or someone they know did it.
I noted the story of the Sappho papyrus here. For later posts on it, see here and follow the links back.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
Review of Dulk, Between Jews and Heretics
BRYN MAYR CLASSICAL REVIEW: Matthijs Den Dulk, Between Jews and Heretics: Refiguring Justin Martyr's Dialogue with Trypho. London; New York: Routledge, 2018. Pp. 174. ISBN 9780815373452. $140.00. Reviewed by Judith M. Lieu, University of Cambridge (jml68@cam.ac.uk).
In this, apparently substantially reworked, version of a doctoral dissertation submitted to the University of Chicago in 2015,1 Matthijs den Dulk argues that Justin Martyr’s Dialogue with Trypho the Jew should be read as in large part shaped by its author’s desire to demonstrate the superiority of his form of Christianity over other competing forms that characterised the diversity of the second century. Den Dulk identifies these alternatives as ‘Christian demiurgists’ or ‘demiurgical Christians’, that is those who distinguished between the creator (identified with the Jewish God) and the highest God, who sent Jesus Christ; chief but not alone among these was Marcion ...I noted the publication of the book here.
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The archaeology of scourging?
THE ANCIENT NEAR EAST TODAY: What Do We Know about the Scourging of Jesus? (Andrea Nicolotti). I'm surprised to see this one published now, instead of in the Easter season.
The short answer to the headline's question is that we know very little about scourging in the first century. But that hasn't stopped people from trying to answer the question. This essay surveys their efforts. Not surprisingly, the Shroud of Turin comes up.
The short answer to the headline's question is that we know very little about scourging in the first century. But that hasn't stopped people from trying to answer the question. This essay surveys their efforts. Not surprisingly, the Shroud of Turin comes up.
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When was Jesus born?
'TIS THE SEASON: When Was Jesus Born—B.C. or A.D.? How the divide between B.C. and A.D. was calculated (Megan Sauter, Bible History Daily). This essay was first published in 2017, but I missed it then.
The current chief editor of BAR, Robert Cargill, published a related essay some years ago. See here. And remember, as per my comments there, that we really have very little idea when Jesus was born.
The current chief editor of BAR, Robert Cargill, published a related essay some years ago. See here. And remember, as per my comments there, that we really have very little idea when Jesus was born.
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Friday, December 14, 2018
Recontextualizing Qumran archaeology?
THE ANCIENT NEAR EAST TODAY: Qumran in a Mediterranean Context (Dennis Mizzi).
For a small site, Qumran has generated big debates. For one thing, despite the general scholarly consensus that ties the settlement with the group(s) behind the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Essenes, there remain a number of dissenting voices. But here I want to underscore the benefits of studying Qumran in the wider context of the Graeco-Roman Mediterranean, leaving behind the idyllic, romantic notion of a site thriving in splendid isolation.This essay reframes the archaeological context of the site of Qumran in what looks like a productive way. It is based on a recent scholarly article in Dead Sea Discoveries. (Scroll down to the bottom of the page.)
[...]
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On translating the Joseph story into English
PROF. EVERETT FOX: Torah in Translation: Rendering the Story of Joseph in English.
Translating the Torah from Hebrew into a different language is a huge challenge: What is the right balance between composing a text that reads smoothly while capturing the flavor of its original language? When I translated the Torah and the Early Prophets, I navigated this tension in favor of keeping the Hebrew flavor.For more on Professor Fox and his translation work, see here.
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Review of Whitmarsh, Dirty Love
BRYN MAYR CLASSICAL REVIEW: Tim Whitmarsh, Dirty Love: The Genealogy of the Ancient Greek Novel. Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press, 2018. Pp. xviii, 201. ISBN 9780199742653. $45.00. Reviewed by David Konstan, New York University (dk87@nyu.edu).
Whitmarsh’s analyses of the hybridizing precursors to the novel, or more strictly to the exogamous subset of the novels, are wide-ranging, subtle and imaginative.Also, on Joseph and Aseneth:
There is an interesting twist, however: Joseph is gorgeous and “all the women and daughters of the Egyptians used to suffer terribly on seeing Joseph, on account of his beauty” (7.3, quoted on p. 111). I would have wanted more on this unusual reversal of the object of the erotic gaze: in this text Joseph has been thoroughly “Helenized.”For more on Joseph and Aseneth, see here and links. And for more on the Alexander Romance, see here, here, and here.
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More on the 1 Samuel papyrus from the Green Collection
VARIANT READINGS: More on the Curious Green Collection 1 Samuel Papyrus (Brent Nongbri). Dr. Nongbri relates some more information on this manuscript. I have noted his earlier posts on it here.
In the first of those he said (provisionally) that the handwriting of the manuscript looks to date to the second to fourth century C.E. Things now become complicated. There is now a photo of the mummy mask that supposedly produced the manuscript, and a photo of some exposed text on it. Brent dates them "at first glance" to the Ptolemaic period (first to third century B.C.E.). But it may be that the Samuel material comes from more than one manuscript, so both dates could be correct.
I am summarizing here, so go and read his new post for all the details. If you are like me, you won't feel much the wiser. But it is good that more information about the manuscript seems to be trickling out and that Brent is keeping us appraised of it.
UPDATE: After I posted this, I saw a new post at Variant Readings: The Green Collection 1 Samuel: A Place of Purchase. Read the post to find out where and, in a general way, from whom.
In the first of those he said (provisionally) that the handwriting of the manuscript looks to date to the second to fourth century C.E. Things now become complicated. There is now a photo of the mummy mask that supposedly produced the manuscript, and a photo of some exposed text on it. Brent dates them "at first glance" to the Ptolemaic period (first to third century B.C.E.). But it may be that the Samuel material comes from more than one manuscript, so both dates could be correct.
I am summarizing here, so go and read his new post for all the details. If you are like me, you won't feel much the wiser. But it is good that more information about the manuscript seems to be trickling out and that Brent is keeping us appraised of it.
UPDATE: After I posted this, I saw a new post at Variant Readings: The Green Collection 1 Samuel: A Place of Purchase. Read the post to find out where and, in a general way, from whom.
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Thursday, December 13, 2018
Deadline extended for St Andrews NT Chair applications
THE CLOSING DATE for applications for the New Testament Professorship at the University of St Andrews has been extended by a month, to 14 January 2019.
Background here.
Background here.
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That "star in the east"
'TIS THE SEASON: Can astronomy explain the biblical Star of Bethlehem? Experts weigh in on whether the Gospel account of Jesus’s birth, including the wise men who were guided by a ‘star in the east,’ has any scientific merit (The Conversation via the AP via David Weintraub, Times of Israel). This story usually comes up in the Christmas season, usually with the same range of explanations. The one given here is as plausible as any.
If you want to see a planetary "star in the east right" now, look to the east at sunrise. That bright star in the sky is the planet Venus on a very close approach to the earth. For a while it was so close I was pretty sure I could see a disk (which looked more like a crescent with binoculars). I don't know what it's current astrological significance is, but I'm sure there's something.
For my own view about Matthew's star, see here. For the earliest surviving reference, after the Gospel of Matthew, to the Star of Bethlehem (in a letter by Ignatius of Antioch), see here. Another early mention is in the Revelation of the Magi, on which more here and links. And for many other past posts on the Star of Bethlehem, start here and follow the links.
If you want to see a planetary "star in the east right" now, look to the east at sunrise. That bright star in the sky is the planet Venus on a very close approach to the earth. For a while it was so close I was pretty sure I could see a disk (which looked more like a crescent with binoculars). I don't know what it's current astrological significance is, but I'm sure there's something.
For my own view about Matthew's star, see here. For the earliest surviving reference, after the Gospel of Matthew, to the Star of Bethlehem (in a letter by Ignatius of Antioch), see here. Another early mention is in the Revelation of the Magi, on which more here and links. And for many other past posts on the Star of Bethlehem, start here and follow the links.
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A hint of Iraqi Jewish archive news?
UPDATE? JIMENA and others ask Pompeo to safeguard Jewish artifacts in Middle East (JTA). This article deals with matters that go beyond the Iraqi Jewish archive, but the latter is mentioned in the final paragraph:
At the beginning of October, I noted that the September deadline for the return of the archive to Iraq had passed and I asked for any news about it. There was none.
Sometimes the story is the absence of the story. Sherlock Holmes's dog that did not bark in the night. This looks like one of those cases. Until today, "Iraqi Jewish archive(s)" has produced nothing new in Google News searches. The State Department and White House websites are silent. Now, finally, we have an unsourced hint that "the fate of the archive is still undecided."
I don't know whether JTA has information or they are drawing an inference. But I have been drawing the same inference. The silence in the news sounds as though the archive is still in the United States and the negotiations with Iraq still continue. I say that because if the archive had been returned to Iraq, that would have been news and it would have been covered.
I emphasize that all this is inference. I don't have any actual information, unless the JTA comment counts as information. I think the inferring is sound, but your mileage may differ.
If anyone has actual information on the current location and status of the archive, I would be grateful if you would share it with me.
For past PaleoJudaica posts on the Iraqi Jewish archives, going back to their discovery in 2003, start here and follow the links. I have given some of my own thoughts on the situation at the links here.
Last year, JIMENA protested an agreement that the U.S. reached with Libya, saying it did not exclude Jewish artifacts. The State Department later told JTA that certain Jewish artifacts were exempt from the deal. Earlier this year, the organization fought to keep an archive of tens of thousands of Iraqi Jewish documents and artifacts discovered in 2003 by U.S. soldiers from being returned to Iraq (the fate of the archive is still undecided).(The bold font and italics are mine.)
At the beginning of October, I noted that the September deadline for the return of the archive to Iraq had passed and I asked for any news about it. There was none.
Sometimes the story is the absence of the story. Sherlock Holmes's dog that did not bark in the night. This looks like one of those cases. Until today, "Iraqi Jewish archive(s)" has produced nothing new in Google News searches. The State Department and White House websites are silent. Now, finally, we have an unsourced hint that "the fate of the archive is still undecided."
I don't know whether JTA has information or they are drawing an inference. But I have been drawing the same inference. The silence in the news sounds as though the archive is still in the United States and the negotiations with Iraq still continue. I say that because if the archive had been returned to Iraq, that would have been news and it would have been covered.
I emphasize that all this is inference. I don't have any actual information, unless the JTA comment counts as information. I think the inferring is sound, but your mileage may differ.
If anyone has actual information on the current location and status of the archive, I would be grateful if you would share it with me.
For past PaleoJudaica posts on the Iraqi Jewish archives, going back to their discovery in 2003, start here and follow the links. I have given some of my own thoughts on the situation at the links here.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
No vanilla at Megiddo?
ARCHAEO-BIOCHEMISTRY: Did These Ancient Juglets—Found in a Bronze Age Burial in Israel—Contain Vanilla? The finding suggests vanilla was being used 2,500 years earlier and half a world from where we thought, but vanilla experts are skeptical on the findings (Jason Daley, The Smithsonian). There are "vanilla experts?" Of course there are.
Some of these experts have raised objections to the idea that the vanillin compound found in the jars in Megiddo Cave 50 shows the use of vanilla as flavoring. This in response to recent media reports on the ASOR paper presented by Vanessa Linares in November. But Ms. Linares defends her position. The actual research is not even published yet, so it's best to keep an open mind.
Background here.
Some of these experts have raised objections to the idea that the vanillin compound found in the jars in Megiddo Cave 50 shows the use of vanilla as flavoring. This in response to recent media reports on the ASOR paper presented by Vanessa Linares in November. But Ms. Linares defends her position. The actual research is not even published yet, so it's best to keep an open mind.
Background here.
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A film on the Apollo of Gaza
STATUARY CINEMA: The Mysterious Fate of an Ancient Apollo Statue Pulled From Gaza's Sea. Discovered by a fisherman, the statue garnered world renown before being confiscated by Hamas. The film 'The Apollo of Gaza' raises fascinating questions on the origins and fate of the sculpture (Nir Hasson, Haaretz premium). There isn't a great deal of news about the fate of the statue in this film. Hamas still has it and it has not been seen since they seized it in 2013. But apparently the film does claim to show that forging it would not have been difficult, if enough bronze could be had.
Background on the Apollo of Gaza is here and links.
Background on the Apollo of Gaza is here and links.
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Wednesday, December 12, 2018
Bathing pool with bull idol excavated at Zippori
ARCHAEOLOGY: At Zippori pool where Judah Hanasi may have bathed, a rare tiny pagan bull found Archaeologists believe they can connect a peculiar Talmudic story about the head of the Sanhedrin bathing on a fast day to a recently excavated site in the national park (Amanda Borschel-Dan, Times of Israel).
The bull figurine is remarkable. Apparently there are parallel object in the British Museum, but this is the first one I have seen from the Roman period. A bronze and silver bull figurine dating to the first half of the second millenium B.C.E. was found at Ashkelon. And among the gold and lead (?) codices seized from smugglers in Turkey last year, there was a bull figurine made of gold and stamped with a menorah.
For PaleoJudaica posts on earlier discoveries at the site of Tzipori/Tzippori/Zippori/Sepphoris, start here and follow the many links. Cross-file under Talmud Watch.
The bull figurine is remarkable. Apparently there are parallel object in the British Museum, but this is the first one I have seen from the Roman period. A bronze and silver bull figurine dating to the first half of the second millenium B.C.E. was found at Ashkelon. And among the gold and lead (?) codices seized from smugglers in Turkey last year, there was a bull figurine made of gold and stamped with a menorah.
For PaleoJudaica posts on earlier discoveries at the site of Tzipori/Tzippori/Zippori/Sepphoris, start here and follow the many links. Cross-file under Talmud Watch.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
A very international Biblical Archaeology MOOC
UPDATE ON ONLINE COURSE: Students from Pakistan, UAE, Oman join Israeli online biblical archaeology class. 8-week course, open to applicants worldwide, provides an introduction to biblical archaeology and a deep look at the remains of ancient civilizations in the Holy Land (Amanda Borschel-Dan, Times of Israel).
Students from Malaysia, Pakistan, Oman, and United Arab Emirates — countries that do not recognize the modern State of Israel — have joined hundreds of other curious minds from locations as far-flung as the Caribbean’s Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to study the Holy Land’s ancient biblical archaeology.The class is Professor Aren Maier's MOOC, which was noted here. It sounds as though it is very successful.
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What do Joseph, Daniel, and Ahiqar have in common?
PROF. SUSAN NIDITCH: Joseph Interprets Pharaoh’s Dreams — An Israelite Type-922 Folktale (TheTorah.com).
The story of Joseph in Pharaoh’s court (Genesis 41), like the story of Daniel in Nebuchadnezzar’s court (Daniel 2), is a Thompson Type 922 folktale in which an underdog gains his fortune by answering hard questions that elude his superiors. Paradoxically, viewing the story of Joseph through the lens of folklore studies allows us to appreciate the uniqueness of Israelite cultural religious orientation.Aarne and Thomson wrote the book on folklore.
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Edmund Wilson on the DSS
CLASSIC REPRINT: The Scrolls from the Dead Sea (Edmund Wilson, The New Yorker, May 14, 1955 Issue). A long article that tells you just how things stood in 1955.
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Tuesday, December 11, 2018
Byzantine-era lamp wick from Shivta
HANUKKAH-RELATED, NOTED BELATEDLY: Tiny 1,500-year-old flax lamp wick illuminates ancient Jewish law. Discovered in hitherto unpublished 1930s excavations in the Negev desert town of Shivta, the wick sheds light on how people banished darkness in the Byzantine era — and before (Amanda Borschel-Dan, Times of Israel).
The Shivta excavation has been in the news a good bit lately. See here and links.
The Shivta excavation has been in the news a good bit lately. See here and links.
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