The Shivta excavation has been in the news a good bit lately. See here and links.
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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 Discovered in hitherto unpublished 1930s excavations in the Negev desert town of Shivta, the wick sheds light on how people banished darkness in the Byzantine era — and before (Amanda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.
The Ptolemaic coins, Part 3
NUMISMATICS: CoinWeek Ancient Coin Series: The Ptolemies, Part III.
So many guys named Ptolemy! But the name everyone is interested in from this dynasty, in this period, is Cleopatra VII, the Cleopatra. More on her here. Supposedly, she knew Hebrew and Aramaic.
As far as I know, no one from the Ptolemaic dynasty mentioned in this article appears in the Bible.
This series comes to an end with this installment. Part 1 was noted here and Part 2 here.
So many guys named Ptolemy! But the name everyone is interested in from this dynasty, in this period, is Cleopatra VII, the Cleopatra. More on her here. Supposedly, she knew Hebrew and Aramaic.
As far as I know, no one from the Ptolemaic dynasty mentioned in this article appears in the Bible.
This series comes to an end with this installment. Part 1 was noted here and Part 2 here.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
Which Greek version did John read?
THE ETC BLOG: John’s Bible Version in John 19:37? (John Meade). Not the Old Greek at any rate.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
Browsing the Digital Syriac Corpus
THE AWOL BLOG: Browsing the Digital Syriac Corpus. The recent move of the Digital Syriac Corpus online was noted here. Cross-file under Syriac Watch.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
Monday, December 10, 2018
The Gospel of Mark: a rough draft?
CANDIDA MOSS: Are the Gospels Finished Works? An explosive new book from a scholar at Princeton makes the argument that the Gospel of Mark was more like a rough draft or collection of notes than a book (The Daily Beast). That new book is Gospels before the Book (Oxford University Press, 2018) by Matthew Larsen. For more about it from the author, see here.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
Hurtado reviews Fredriksen, When Christians were Jews
LARRY HURTADO: “When Christians were Jews”: Paula Fredriksen on “The First Generation.”
Paula Fredriksen’s latest book is a readable, well-paced narrative of the first decades of what became Christianity, with lots of particular good points made: When Christians Were Jews: The First Generation (Yale University Press, 2018). Intended for a wide readership, the main emphases of the book build upon (and the notes make frequent reference to) her earlier and more detailed studies ...But he has disagreements.
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The Israel Antiquities Authority
BACKGROUNDER: Welcome to the Israel Antiquities Authority (The Jewish News).
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
Why did Genesis like Egypt?
PROF. SUSAN NIDITCH: Why the Joseph Story Portrays Egypt Positively (TheTorah.com).
In the Joseph story, the Egyptian officials, including Pharaoh, are kind and wise. Joseph himself shaves his beard, puts on Egyptian clothes, takes an Egyptian name, and marries the daughter of an Egyptian priest. Nothing in the text implies that the author thinks any of this is problematic.
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Sunday, December 09, 2018
van der Toorn, God in Context
NEW BOOK FROM MOHR SIEBECK: Karel van der Toorn God in Context. Selected Essays on Society and Religion in the Early Middle East. 2018. XIV, 380 pages. Forschungen zum Alten Testament 123. 134,00 € including VAT. cloth ISBN 978-3-16-156470-3.
Published in English.
In this work, Karel van der Toorn explores the social setting, the intellectual milieu, and the historical context of the beliefs and practices reflected in the Hebrew Bible. While fully recognizing the unique character of early Israelite religion, the author challenges the notion of its incomparability. Beliefs are anchored in culture. Rituals have societal significance. God has a history. By shifting the focus to the context, the essays gathered here yield a deeper understanding of Israelite religion and the origins of the Bible.
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Clement's chronology of antiquity
THE SENTENTIAE ANTIQUAE BLOG: An Ancient Chronology from Moses to the First Olympiad (Armand D'Angour). Clement of Alexandria tried to fit Moses into the Classical timeline. I give him points for trying.
Also, this seems to be the first time I have linked to this blog, whose purpose is "to bring you some of the most famous (and also most confounding) quotations from the ancient world."
HT AJR.
Also, this seems to be the first time I have linked to this blog, whose purpose is "to bring you some of the most famous (and also most confounding) quotations from the ancient world."
HT AJR.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
Burke on SBL 2018
AT THE APOCRYPHICITY BLOG, Tony Burke chronicles his SBL 2018 experience:
2018 SBL Diary: Day One
2018 SBL Diary: Day Two
2018 SBL Diary: Day 3
Day four also gets a brief paragraph at the end.
2018 SBL Diary: Day One
2018 SBL Diary: Day Two
2018 SBL Diary: Day 3
Day four also gets a brief paragraph at the end.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
Key according to "Kennicott number" ...
IDAN DERSHOWITZ: Key according to "Kennicott number" with links to Ktiv catalog (and often digitized manuscripts) (Academia.edu). If keeping track of manuscripts of the Hebrew Bible is your thing, then this is the place for you.
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Saturday, December 08, 2018
Pretend to be a Time Traveler Day 2018
IT'S THAT DAY AGAIN: Pretend to be a Time Traveler Day. Have fun, but behave yourselves!
One of the original announcements, with some instructions, is here. The Facebook page seems to be gone, but the Twitter hashtag is #PretendToBeATimeTravelerDay.
Past posts on the day and related are here and links.
One of the original announcements, with some instructions, is here. The Facebook page seems to be gone, but the Twitter hashtag is #PretendToBeATimeTravelerDay.
Past posts on the day and related are here and links.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
The 50 Jewish Objects Project and Blog
ASSIMILATED TO THE BLOGOSPHERE: Welcome to the 50 Jewish Objects blog. Dr. Stefania Silvestri, Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Centre for Jewish Studies at the University of Manchester, has an exciting project running for the next few years. Some of her fifty objects will certainly be of interest for ancient Judaism.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
Swartz, The Mechanics of Providence
NEW BOOK FROM MOHR SIEBECK: Michael D. Swartz, The Mechanics of Providence. The Workings of Ancient Jewish Magic and Mysticism 2018. XVI, 333 pages. Texts and Studies in Ancient Judaism 172. 139,00 € including VAT cloth. ISBN 978-3-16-155002-7.
Published in English.
The phenomena we call magic and mysticism had a profound effect on the shaping of Judaism in late antiquity. In this volume, Michael D. Swartz offers a wide-ranging study of the purposes, world-views, ritual dynamics, literary forms, and social settings of ancient Jewish magic and mysticism and their function in religion and history. Based on the author's studies over the past few decades, he proposes innovative methods for the study of these two phenomena. The author focuses especially on the rituals of early Jewish magic and mysticism, their social contexts, and the textual dimension of this complex literature. He also offers introductions to these phenomena. Michael D. Swartz argues that the authors of these texts employed intricate technologies, literary and artistic forms, and physical practices to negotiate between the values and world-views of their cultures and the texture of everyday life.
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Review of Shahin (ed.), Fragmente der Historiker: Nikolaos von Damaskus
BRYN MAYR CLASSICAL REVIEW: Tino Shahin (ed.), Fragmente der Historiker: Nikolaos von Damaskus. Bibliothek der Griechischen Literatur 84. Stuttgart: Hiersemann, 2018. Pp. 127. ISBN 9783777218045. €158.00. Reviewed by Benedikt Eckhardt, University of Edinburgh (b.eckhardt@ed.ac.uk).
Nicolaus of Damascus was an associate of Herod the Great. Most of his works are lost, apart from fairly extensive quotation fragments. Josephus made use of his work.
Cross-file under Lost Books.
A review should not be pedantic, but as the book offers little apart from a translation, there is not much else to discuss (and the above is only an extract from a longer list of errata). It is good to have Nicolaus in German, but more care should have been given to this project at all stages of production.Ouch.
Nicolaus of Damascus was an associate of Herod the Great. Most of his works are lost, apart from fairly extensive quotation fragments. Josephus made use of his work.
Cross-file under Lost Books.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
Friday, December 07, 2018
Selecid Coins Online (v.2)
NUMISMATICS: Ancient Coin News – ANS Releases Seleucid Coins Online Version 2 (CoinWeek).
I am not sure of the relationship, if any, between this project and SCADS: Seleucid Coins Addenda System. The American Numismatic Society is involved with both.
For PaleoJudaica's interest in the Seleucid Period, see here and links (cf. here). And for an ongoing CoinWeek series on the Ptolemaic coins, see here and here.
I suppose we can find a Hanukkah connection here too, just to round things out today. (Antiochus IV was a Seleucid.) But in any case, this looks like a useful resource.
I am not sure of the relationship, if any, between this project and SCADS: Seleucid Coins Addenda System. The American Numismatic Society is involved with both.
For PaleoJudaica's interest in the Seleucid Period, see here and links (cf. here). And for an ongoing CoinWeek series on the Ptolemaic coins, see here and here.
I suppose we can find a Hanukkah connection here too, just to round things out today. (Antiochus IV was a Seleucid.) But in any case, this looks like a useful resource.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
Review of Hau et al. (eds.), Diodoros of Sicily
BRYN MAYR CLASSICAL REVIEW: Lisa Irene Hau, Alexander Meeus, Brian Sheridan (ed.), Diodoros of Sicily: Historiographical Theory and Practice in the «Bibliotheke». Studia Hellenistica, 58. Leuven: Peeters, 2018. Pp. x, 612. ISBN 9789042934986. €115,00. Reviewed by W. P. Richardson, University of Otago (bill.richardson@otago.ac.nz).
So, I didn't plan it, but this post is Hanukkah-related too.
Diodoros of Sicily: Historiographical Theory and Practice in the «Bibliotheke» contains a variety of contributions on this influential ancient historian, based on a 2011 conference at the University of Glasgow. Broad topics include, but are not limited to, Diodoros’ context within the first century B.C.E., the composition of the Bibliotheke, Diodoros’ depiction of mythology, and the concept of New Quellenforschung. The term New Quellenforschung is the name suggested by the editors (p. 8) for a more recent development in the scholarship, the revival, albeit in a moderated form, of the traditional view of Diodoros, which argued that his work was largely restricted to being a copyist of earlier writers and included limited original content.Past PaleoJudaica posts on Diodorus Siculus and his work are here and here with many links. Diodorus's history provides important background material for the study of Second Temple Judaism, notably his contribution to the perspective I call "Greek Fantasy Babylon" and his independent account of the Maccabean Revolt.
[...]
So, I didn't plan it, but this post is Hanukkah-related too.
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The editing of Daniel 2
HANUKKAH-RELATED: Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream: The Revision of Daniel’s Role During Antiochus’ Persecution (Prof. Michael Segal, TheTorah.com).
One of the fun things about the Book of Daniel is that comparison of the Old Greek version with the Hebrew Masoretic Text allows us to watch the process of redaction happening. The Old Greek translates an earlier draft than the MT. Not in chapter two, but certainly in chapters four through six.
The first section of Daniel (chs. 2-6) is a collection of quasi-independent court tales. Once they were combined into the book of Daniel in its current form, the story of Daniel interpreting Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, which parallels Pharaoh’s dream in the Joseph story, was revised. It was further supplemented with Daniel’s prayer which creates a contrast between the power of God and that of Antiochus IV.This is a case in which the application of redaction criticism produces convincing results.
One of the fun things about the Book of Daniel is that comparison of the Old Greek version with the Hebrew Masoretic Text allows us to watch the process of redaction happening. The Old Greek translates an earlier draft than the MT. Not in chapter two, but certainly in chapters four through six.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
The synagogue at Modi'in
FOR HANUKKAH: The Earliest Synagogue in Israel? Used by the Maccabees? (Carl Rasmussen, HolyLandPhotos' Blog). With photos, of course.
Past PaleoJudaica posts on the archaeology of Modi'in (?) (Umm el–’Umdan/Umm el–Umdan) are here and links.
Past PaleoJudaica posts on the archaeology of Modi'in (?) (Umm el–’Umdan/Umm el–Umdan) are here and links.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
Thursday, December 06, 2018
The Queen of Sheba and Ethiopia?
TRAVEL: In search of the real Queen of Sheba. Legends and rumors trail the elusive Queen of Sheba through the rock-hewn wonders and rugged hills of Ethiopia. (Stanley Stewart, National Geographic). This article is more of a travelogue than a report on history or archaeology. It takes a while even to get to Aksum (Axum) and its legendary connections with the Queen of Sheba (who alternatively may be associated with Yemen) and the Ark of the Covenant. But it is interesting nonetheless and, as far as I can tell, accurate in discussing the historical issues.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
Sefaria adds Jastrow's Talmud Dictionary
LEXICOGRAPHY: A Digitized Dictionary Illuminates The Talmud, Though Some Prefer To Stay Offline (Ari Feldman, The Forward).
Jastrow's iconic Dictionary of the Targumim, Talmud Bavli, Talmud Yerushalmi and Midrashic Literature is outdated in many ways, but remains useful if consulted judiciously. I see from the archives that I have cited it on PaleoJudaica off and on over the years. You can already find it online (e.g., here, here, and here) and it remains in print, but it sounds as though the Sefaria version has been prepared with special care.
Background on the Sefaria website is here and links.
Jastrow's iconic Dictionary of the Targumim, Talmud Bavli, Talmud Yerushalmi and Midrashic Literature is outdated in many ways, but remains useful if consulted judiciously. I see from the archives that I have cited it on PaleoJudaica off and on over the years. You can already find it online (e.g., here, here, and here) and it remains in print, but it sounds as though the Sefaria version has been prepared with special care.
Background on the Sefaria website is here and links.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
New edition of Genesis Apocryphon etc.
NEW BOOK FROM MOHR SIEBECK: The Dead Sea Scrolls. Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek Texts with English Translations. Volume 8A: Genesis Apocryphon and Related Documents. 2018. XXVII, 354 pages. Edited by James H. Charlesworth, Henry W. Morisada Rietz and Loren L. Johns u.a. 189,00 € including VAT cloth. ISBN 978-3-16-156644-8.
Published in English.
The Princeton Theological Seminary Dead Sea Scrolls Project is providing the first critical edition of all the Dead Sea Scrolls which are not copies of books in the Hebrew Bible (the so-called »Old Testament«) in 10 projected volumes along with 2 concordances. The format of the series is unique; each manuscript is presented with Hebrew, Aramaic or Greek text on the left page with facing English translation on the right. The series intends to be a standard reference work; thus, only probable reconstructions are made and the English translations are as literal as possible avoiding idiomatic renderings. Where a document is witnessed by more than one manuscript, each manuscript is presented separately. Critical notes help the reader to understand the text, variants, philological subtleties, and the translation. An introduction with selected bibliography precedes each document. The documents are prepared by an international team of over fifty scholars with the editors and their assistants providing consistency.
Volume 8A brings together Dead Sea Scrolls that develop stories in Genesis along with other texts. The Genesis Apocryphon (1Q20, 3Q14 frg. 8) is a creative, interpretive, and theologically driven rewriting of a portion of Genesis. Several other documents provide traditions about Noah and his sons, including the Book of Noah, Admonitions Based on the Flood, and a composite text of the Birth of Noah manuscripts (4Q534–536). The collection also provides the manuscript witnesses to A Joseph Apocryphon found on Masada.
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Review of Niehoff (ed.) Journeys in the Roman East
ANCIENT JEW REVIEW: Book Note | Journeys in the Roman East (Timothy Luckritz Marquis).
I noted the publication of the book last year here.
Brief Review of Maren R. Niehoff, ed., Journeys in the Roman East: Imagined and Real (Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2017).It sounds like there are lots of good things in this book. Let me highlight just one. The psychology of imagination is still a largely untapped resource for the study of ancient literature. I'm pleased to see it put to use here.
I noted the publication of the book last year here.
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Wednesday, December 05, 2018
Traditionalists vs. assimilationists or just politics?
FOR HANUKKAH: Chanukah and the Politics Behind the Maccabean Revolt (TheTorah.com).
The story of the Maccabees is known as a battle between traditionalists and assimilationists, the latter supported by the Seleucid kings. But what do the books of 1 and 2 Maccabees, with their elaborate descriptions of alliances and power plays, really tell us about the revolt?For some PaleoJudaica posts that deal with the complicated politics of the Maccabean Revolt, see here and links.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
More on the Pilate ring
BIBLE HISTORY DAILY: Was Pontius Pilate’s Ring Discovered at Herodium? Bible and archaeology news (Robert Cargill). Professor Cargill offers a new interpretation of the ring and its inscription, but retains the possible connection with Pontius Pilate.
Background here (and note the correction).
Background here (and note the correction).
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An Oxyrhynchus Papyrus of Exodus and Revelation, Part 2
VARIANT READINGS: Once More: An Oxyrhynchus Papyrus of Exodus and Revelation, Part 2 (Brent Nongbri). Part 1 was noted here. Cross-file under Codicology.
UPDATE (12 December): Peter Malik responds over at the ETC Blog. They appear to have agreed to disagree.
UPDATE (12 December): Peter Malik responds over at the ETC Blog. They appear to have agreed to disagree.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
Hurtado on Christians and codices
BIBLE HISTORY DAILY: Why Did Early Christians Prefer the Codex to the Bookroll? Early Christian manuscript books (Marek DospÄ›l). As usual, this BHD column is a summary of a BAR article: Larry Hurtado, “Early Christian Dilemma: Codex or Scroll?” in the November/December 2018 issue. The full article is behind a subscription wall.
For some past posts on Professor Hurtado's work on scrolls and codices, see here, here, and here.
For some past posts on Professor Hurtado's work on scrolls and codices, see here, here, and here.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
Tuesday, December 04, 2018
Tractate Hullin in the Talmud
THIS WEEK'S DAF YOMI COLUMN BY ADAM KIRSCH IN TABLET: Slaughterhouse Shrive. In this week’s ‘Daf Yomi,’ Talmudic rabbis debate who is free to butcher animals piously according to Jewish ritual. Plus: the one transgression that is unforgivable under the Torah. This week Daf Yomi begins tracate Hullin, which deals with the non-sacral slaughtering of animals for food. Also this week, the Samaritans make an appearance.
Earlier Daf Yomi columns are noted here and links.
Earlier Daf Yomi columns are noted here and links.
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Biblical Studies Carnival 153
THE DUST BLOG: November 2018 Biblical Studies Carnival (Bob MacDonald).
There are still no volunteers for 2019 Biblical Studies Carnivals. Contact Phil Long if you are interested.
There are still no volunteers for 2019 Biblical Studies Carnivals. Contact Phil Long if you are interested.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
An Oxyrhynchus Papyrus of Exodus and Revelation, Part 1
VARIANT READINGS: Once More: An Oxyrhynchus Papyrus of Exodus and Revelation, Part 1. Scroll or codex? Dr. Nongbri is still leaving "codex" open as an option.
Those of us who are not codicologists will still be intrigued to learn of this third-century manuscript that contained the Book of Exodus, with the Book of Revelation on the other side.
Those of us who are not codicologists will still be intrigued to learn of this third-century manuscript that contained the Book of Exodus, with the Book of Revelation on the other side.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
Timna excavation open to public for Hanukkah
HOLIDAY ARCHAEOLOGY: TIMNA PARK OPENS DOORS FOR TO PUBLIC EXCAVATIONS DURING HANUKKAH. The site contains remains of an ancient Egyptian copper mining industry, and is dotted with workshops, furnaces, tunnels, shrines and mining camps, dated to the 12th and 13th centuries BCE (Rachel Bernstein, Jerusalem Post). Visitors can participate in the sifting of the excavated soil.
The Timna Valley excavation covers a period that is early for the usual interests of PaleoJudaica. But I have been keeping an eye on it for reasons explained here and links.
The Timna Valley excavation covers a period that is early for the usual interests of PaleoJudaica. But I have been keeping an eye on it for reasons explained here and links.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
Monday, December 03, 2018
More on those new Qumran caves
OPERATION SCROLL: Archaeologists Are Looking for Dead Sea Scrolls Inside 2 Newfound Qumran Caves (Owen Jarus, Live Science). This came out a couple of days ago, but I missed when I wrote my post yesterday. It covers some of the same ground as the other reports, but it has more details on the contents excavated in Caves 53b and 53c. My 5 points in yesterday's post still stand, except that point 4 on Cave 53c can be filled out:
Inside cave 53c, the researchers found a fragment of a scroll jar, providing evidence that scrolls were once stored in that cave. Excavations are underway in cave 53c to determine if it still holds any scrolls.Background here and links.
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The History of the Temple Mount in 12 Objects: #2
THE TEMPLE MOUNT SIFTING PROJECT BLOG: The History of the Temple Mount in 12 Objects: #2 The Early First Temple Period.
I noted the first post in this series here.
Ladies and gentlemen, step right up and meet this month’s guest – the earliest piece of weaponry ever to be recovered from the Temple Mount: ...The object is a bronze arrowhead. But there is much more to this post. It surveys what archaeology, including the work of the Sifting Project, tells us about the Temple Mount in the "Early First Temple Period" (i.e., roughly Iron Age IIA or the tenth century B.C.E.).
I noted the first post in this series here.
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On 2 and 4 Maccabees
HANUKKAH-RELATED: 2 and 4 Maccabees: Evolving Responses to Hellenism (Dr. Lindsey Taylor-Guthartz, TheTorah.com).
2 Maccabees (ca. 1st cent. B.C.E) presents Judaism as the antithesis to Hellenism. A century or so later, however, 4 Maccabees uses Hellenistic ideas to encourage Jews to hold fast to their ancestral faith.
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CFP: Symposia Iranica 4
CONFERENCE:
CALL FOR PAPERS | SYMPOSIA IRANICA
FOURTH BIENNIAL CONFERENCE ON IRANIAN STUDIES
Hosted by the University of Cambridge at St John’s College, Cambridge, UK, 9-10 April 2019
***Deadline: 13 January 2019***
We welcome proposals that engage with any aspect of Iranian studies within the arts, humanities and social sciences. These include but are not limited to prehistory through to the ancient and post-antique, modern, and contemporary histories; historiography; art and architecture history; anthropology; archaeology; cultural heritage; film and cinema; music and musicology; new media and communication studies; the performing arts; poetry and literature; languages and linguistics; Diaspora and migration studies; diplomatic studies, international relations and political science; social and political theory; law and legal studies; economics, philately and numismatics; sociology; philosophy; religions and theology.
Comparative themes and interdisciplinary approaches are also very welcome.
SUBMISSIONS
Proposals are open to early career scholars at postgraduate and post-doctoral levels from any disciplinary background within the arts, humanities and social sciences:
Postgraduate students (MA, MPhil, MSt, etc. who are currently enrolled or who graduate/d in 2019 or 2018);
PhD students and PhD candidates at any stage of their degree; and
post-docs who graduated within the last three years (2018, 2017, 2016, 2015).
Persons falling into any of these categories are eligible to submit a proposal for an individual paper or pre-arranged panel. Submission is conducted electronically through the website. For any questions, please email us at office@symposia-iranica.com.
The language of the conference is English. All submissions undergo double-blind peer review.
ABOUT US
Symposia Iranica is Iranian studies' leading forum for early career scholars. A dedicated, multidisciplinary, peer-reviewed platform open to emerging scholars working on any aspect of Iranian or Persian Studies within the arts, humanities, and social sciences, our three previous conferences were hosted by the University of St Andrews at St Mary’s College in 2013 and the University of Cambridge at Downing College in 2015 and Pembroke College in 2017.
The full call for papers is on our website: symposia-iranica.com
Updates will be posted to our Facebook page: facebook.com/SymposiaIranica
A virtual preview of our programme is at: symposia-iranica.com/preview
Highlights from all three conferences to-date: symposia-iranica.com/past
PARTNERS
We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Shahnama Centre for Persian Studies and the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, University of Cambridge; St John's College, Cambridge; Trinity College, Cambridge; British Institute of Persian Studies; Iran Heritage Foundation; Soudavar Memorial Foundation; Ancient India and Iran Trust; Institute of Iranian Studies, University of St Andrews; Pembroke College, Cambridge; Brill Publishers; I.B. Tauris Publishers; Edinburgh University Press; and the German Oriental Studies Trust.
With thanks,
Armin Yavari, Founding Chair
Michael Pye, Co-Chair
-----------
Armin Yavari, FRSA
Founding Chair, Symposia Iranica
Exchange at Somerset House, South Wing, Strand, London WC2R 1LA
E. armin@symposia-iranica.com W. www.Symposia-Iranica.org
F. Facebook.com/SymposiaIranica T. Twitter.com/SymposiaIranica
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Sunday, December 02, 2018
Hanukkah 2018
HAPPY HANUKKAH (CHANUKKAH, CHANUKAH) to all those celebrating! The eight-day festival begins tonight at sundown.
National Geographic has a brief, pretty good, background article on Hanukkah: Hanukkah: How an ancient revolt sparked the Festival of Lights. When the days grow shorter and the nights get longer, people around the world celebrate Hanukkah. For eight days and nights, candles are lit, songs are sung, and dreidels are spun to remember a people’s revolt and holy miracle from more than 2,000 years ago (Amy Briggs). It could have mentioned that the Talmud was written many centuries after the events, which bears on the credibility of the story about the lamp that burned for eight days.
Last year's Hanukkah post is here. It links to past Hanukkah posts with additional historical background. For PaleoJudaica posts in the last year that relate to Hanukkah, see here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.
National Geographic has a brief, pretty good, background article on Hanukkah: Hanukkah: How an ancient revolt sparked the Festival of Lights. When the days grow shorter and the nights get longer, people around the world celebrate Hanukkah. For eight days and nights, candles are lit, songs are sung, and dreidels are spun to remember a people’s revolt and holy miracle from more than 2,000 years ago (Amy Briggs). It could have mentioned that the Talmud was written many centuries after the events, which bears on the credibility of the story about the lamp that burned for eight days.
Last year's Hanukkah post is here. It links to past Hanukkah posts with additional historical background. For PaleoJudaica posts in the last year that relate to Hanukkah, see here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
Two more caves unsealed at Qumran
OPERATION SCROLL: Newly discovered caves may hold more Dead Sea Scrolls. Though no new manuscripts found so far, archaeologists are hopeful after unearthing objects at Qumran used in the storage of ancient scripts (Times of Israel). Okay, all this talk of new scrolls caves at Qumran is getting complicated. I think I have sorted it out, so here goes.
Back in 2017 there were reports of "Qumran Cave 12," in which some blank parchment and jar fragments were found. There was hope that some actual Dead Sea Scrolls fragments might turn up there too. Now they seem to be calling this cave "Cave 53." I take that as a tacit admission that, no, there were no Dead Sea Scrolls in it apart from the blank fragments.
Past posts on "Qumran Cave 12" (Cave 53) are here, here, here, and here.
In January of this year, there was a report of the discovery of a new cave at Qumran, for which no cave number was specified (at least in the report that I saw). Once again, the report expressed hope that more Dead Sea Scroll fragments would be found in it.
Then last month National Geographic published an article on the search for ancient Bible-related manuscripts and the discoveries and fakes that resulted. It opened and closed with a discussion of Cave 53 (with no mention that it was once called "Cave 12"). It disclosed that excavation was still ongoing in Cave 53 and they were still finding pottery.
Now we have this new report, at the first link above, which refers to two new Qumran caves, 53b and 53c, which are currently being excavated. So far the excavation has produced "jars, wrappings, and possible scroll fragments," but no verified inscribed scrolls or scroll fragments. It turns out that the Cave 53 of the National Geographic article is apparently Cave 53b. It is also the undesignated cave in the news in January (above).
What does all this add up to? As far as I can figure out: (1) No inscribed scrolls turned up in Cave 12/53; (2) another cave, in some unexplained way closely connected to Cave 53, turned up in January and is called Cave 53b; (3) Cave 53b was partially looted 40 years ago, but nevertheless some interesting ancient artifacts (but no scrolls) have just been excavated there; (4) a third cave, again closely related in some unclear way to Cave 53 has turned up and is called Cave 53c and there is no report on its contents or whether it is important; and (5) the excavators really hope that if they just keep digging they will find the "mother load," presumably of new scrolls.
I think the above is accurate, but if anyone else has better information, please send me corrections.
In sum, Operation Scroll is still unsealing new caves that we occupied in antiquity, but they haven't found any new scrolls yet.
UPDATE: More here, especially pertaining to point 4 above.
Back in 2017 there were reports of "Qumran Cave 12," in which some blank parchment and jar fragments were found. There was hope that some actual Dead Sea Scrolls fragments might turn up there too. Now they seem to be calling this cave "Cave 53." I take that as a tacit admission that, no, there were no Dead Sea Scrolls in it apart from the blank fragments.
Past posts on "Qumran Cave 12" (Cave 53) are here, here, here, and here.
In January of this year, there was a report of the discovery of a new cave at Qumran, for which no cave number was specified (at least in the report that I saw). Once again, the report expressed hope that more Dead Sea Scroll fragments would be found in it.
Then last month National Geographic published an article on the search for ancient Bible-related manuscripts and the discoveries and fakes that resulted. It opened and closed with a discussion of Cave 53 (with no mention that it was once called "Cave 12"). It disclosed that excavation was still ongoing in Cave 53 and they were still finding pottery.
Now we have this new report, at the first link above, which refers to two new Qumran caves, 53b and 53c, which are currently being excavated. So far the excavation has produced "jars, wrappings, and possible scroll fragments," but no verified inscribed scrolls or scroll fragments. It turns out that the Cave 53 of the National Geographic article is apparently Cave 53b. It is also the undesignated cave in the news in January (above).
What does all this add up to? As far as I can figure out: (1) No inscribed scrolls turned up in Cave 12/53; (2) another cave, in some unexplained way closely connected to Cave 53, turned up in January and is called Cave 53b; (3) Cave 53b was partially looted 40 years ago, but nevertheless some interesting ancient artifacts (but no scrolls) have just been excavated there; (4) a third cave, again closely related in some unclear way to Cave 53 has turned up and is called Cave 53c and there is no report on its contents or whether it is important; and (5) the excavators really hope that if they just keep digging they will find the "mother load," presumably of new scrolls.
I think the above is accurate, but if anyone else has better information, please send me corrections.
In sum, Operation Scroll is still unsealing new caves that we occupied in antiquity, but they haven't found any new scrolls yet.
UPDATE: More here, especially pertaining to point 4 above.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
Cuneiform tablet found on coast of Israel
PHILOLOGY: DISCOVERED CUNEIFORM REVEALS BABYLONIAN SLAVE TRADE IN BIBLICAL SAMARIA. The fall of Samaria, which has been known in the Bible to be ruled by the Israelites, has been discussed by numerous scholars and remains a key issue in the Bible (Rachel Bernstein, Jerusalem Post).
It is very unusual to find a cuneiform fragment in Israel. See, for example, here and here. There is, however, a large archive (unprovenanced but apparently genuine) of cuneiform tablets produced by Judeans in Babylonia. See here and links (cf. here).
The cuneiform tablet documenting a slave sale refers to a pym weight, a polished stone weighing about 7.6 grams. Since these stones were in common use in biblical Israel but not in ancient Mesopotamia, Spar, Paley and Stieglitz concluded the text was written in the Levant, and reflected a business transaction regarding moveable property, namely slaves, in the biblical kingdom of Israel.It was discovered "at Tel Mikhmoret on the Mediterranean coast north of Netanya."
It is very unusual to find a cuneiform fragment in Israel. See, for example, here and here. There is, however, a large archive (unprovenanced but apparently genuine) of cuneiform tablets produced by Judeans in Babylonia. See here and links (cf. here).
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Coin inflation in the Roman Empire.
NUMISMATICS: NGC Ancients: The Decline of Roman Imperial Silver Coinage, Part I (CoinWeek). You can follow the decline of the Roman Empire by the debasement of the value of its coinage. Cross-file under Material Culture.
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Saturday, December 01, 2018
Babies born hands-first in the Bible
GOOD QUESTION: Why Does the Torah Describe Babies Born Hands First? (Dr. Eran Viezel, TheTorah.com).
Jacob is famously born with his hand grasping the ankle of his twin brother, Esau. Similarly, Zerah puts his hand out first, before being overshot by his twin brother Peretz. Does this reflect men’s ignorance of childbirth or their familiarity with other realia?Or both. The answers proposed here seem plausible to me.
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Garroway on children in the Hebrew Bible
THE BIBLE AND INTERPRETATION:
The World of Children in the Hebrew Bible
For its part, the archaeological record helps to uncover tangible items related to children and their lives, and in this regard, it is one of the most exciting strategies to use.
See Also: Growing Up in Ancient Israel (SBL Press; 1 edition, 2018).
By Kristine Henriksen Garroway
Visiting Assistant Professor of Hebrew Bible,
Hebrew Union College
November 2018
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Huqoq fellowship report
ASOR NEWS: PATCHY PLASTER AND HIDDEN POTS: MY EXPERIENCE AT HUQOQ, ISRAEL (SUMMER 2018). John Huggins, 2018 Eric and Carol Meyers Excavation Fellowship Recipient.
For many past PaleoJudaica posts on the Huqoq excavation and its remarkable mosaics, see here and links.
For many past PaleoJudaica posts on the Huqoq excavation and its remarkable mosaics, see here and links.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
Andruska, Wise and Foolish Love in the Song of Songs
NEW BOOK FROM BRILL:
Wise and Foolish Love in the Song of SongsHello, BRILL! The wrong TOC is posted for this volume.
Series:
Oudtestamentische Studiën, Old Testament Studies, Volume: 75
Author: Jennifer Andruska
For some time scholars have debated whether the Song of Songs has connections to the wisdom genre and how this changes our understanding of it. In Wise and Foolish Love in the Song of Songs, J.L. Andruska shows that the influence of the wisdom genre on the Song is pervasive, running throughout the book, and offers an entirely new understanding of the book’s wisdom message. She demonstrates that the Song has combined elements of the ancient Near Eastern love song and wisdom genres to produce a wisdom literature about romantic love, inspiring readers to pursue a particular type of love relationship, modelled by the lovers throughout the poem, and aiming to transform them, through character formation, into wise lovers themselves.
Publication Date: 26 November 2018
ISBN: 978-90-04-33101-3
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Friday, November 30, 2018
Did this ring belong to Pontius Pilate?
ONOMASTIC ARTIFACT: 2,000-year-old ‘Pilate’ ring just might have belonged to notorious Jesus judge. Uncovered 50 years ago at the Herodian palace near Bethlehem, a simple copper-alloy ring is now given a good cleaning — and a second look by skeptical scholars (Amanda Borschel-Dan, Times of Israel).
This is a well-balanced article that explores the implications of this find cautiously and thoughtfully. On the one hand, the name Pilate seems to have been uncommon, although not unique. On the other hand, would a Roman governor have worn a cheap copper ring? I would say the connection with Pontius Pilate is plausible, but there's no way to be certain.
Past PaleoJudaica posts on Pontius Pilate are collected here. This object, if it is his, would be the only surviving personal possession of the Pilate of the Gospels. But he is mentioned by Philo, Josephus, and Tacitus, and his name also appears in other archaeological finds. The "Pontius Pilate Inscription" from Caesarea certainly refers to him. There was only one man with that name who was a Roman governor of Judea. Pilate also issued some coinsbearing his own name during his administration.
CORRECTION (5 December): Pilate's coins did not bear his name. Apparently we know they are his from the dates and location. Apologies for the error.
This is a well-balanced article that explores the implications of this find cautiously and thoughtfully. On the one hand, the name Pilate seems to have been uncommon, although not unique. On the other hand, would a Roman governor have worn a cheap copper ring? I would say the connection with Pontius Pilate is plausible, but there's no way to be certain.
Past PaleoJudaica posts on Pontius Pilate are collected here. This object, if it is his, would be the only surviving personal possession of the Pilate of the Gospels. But he is mentioned by Philo, Josephus, and Tacitus, and his name also appears in other archaeological finds. The "Pontius Pilate Inscription" from Caesarea certainly refers to him. There was only one man with that name who was a Roman governor of Judea. Pilate also issued some coins
CORRECTION (5 December): Pilate's coins did not bear his name. Apparently we know they are his from the dates and location. Apologies for the error.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
Review of Mirguet, An Early History of Compassion
BRYN MAYR CLASSICAL REVIEW: Françoise Mirguet, An Early History of Compassion: Emotion and Imagination in Hellenistic Judaism. Cambridge; New York: Cambridge University Press, 2017. Pp. viii, 271. ISBN 9781107146266. $99.99. Reviewed by Andrew R. Krause, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster (ankrause@uni-muenster.de).
This sounds like a very interesting book. But, and I keep saying this, the Greek Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs is a second-century Christian work. True, in some cases it is based on Jewish material, verifiably mainly in the Testament of Levi and the Testament of Naphtali. But it is poor methodology to use the whole thing as testimony to Hellenistic Judaism.
Similarly, the Testament of Job is often assumed to be a Hellenistic Jewish work. But I have explained here why this assumption is methodologically weak.
But most of the material covered in this book is relevant to the topic, and the topic is certainly worthwhile.
This sounds like a very interesting book. But, and I keep saying this, the Greek Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs is a second-century Christian work. True, in some cases it is based on Jewish material, verifiably mainly in the Testament of Levi and the Testament of Naphtali. But it is poor methodology to use the whole thing as testimony to Hellenistic Judaism.
Similarly, the Testament of Job is often assumed to be a Hellenistic Jewish work. But I have explained here why this assumption is methodologically weak.
But most of the material covered in this book is relevant to the topic, and the topic is certainly worthwhile.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
Workshop on cognitive approaches to ancient magic
THE NSEA BLOG: COGNITIVE APPROACHES TO ANCIENT MAGIC. A workshop at the University of London Senate House on 17-18 January 2019 on a very promising subject. Free, but requires advance registration.
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Review of Gallagher and Meade, The Biblical Canon Lists from Early Christianity
BOOK REVIEW: Juan Carlos Ossandón Reviews The Biblical Canon Lists from Early Christianity Reviews of the Enoch Seminar 2018.11.10
Edmon L. Gallagher and John D. Meade. The Biblical Canon Lists from Early Christianity: Texts and Analysis. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2017. £35/€40. ISBN 9780198792499. Pp. 359. Hardcover.I noted the publication of the book here last year.
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Thursday, November 29, 2018
Reading ancient Judean obituaries
THE ANCIENT NEAR EAST TODAY: RIP: Reading Obituaries in Ancient Judah (Alice Mandell and Jeremy Smoak). A nice discussion of the Khirbet el-Qom tomb inscriptions which focuses refreshingly on something other than their mention of Asherah. And this is the first time I have seen an explanation — indeed a convincing one — of the "ghost letters" in the Uriah inscription.
Some past posts involving the Khirbet el-Qom inscriptions are here, here, and here.
UPDATE: I forgot to include the authors. Apologies — they are listed now.
Some past posts involving the Khirbet el-Qom inscriptions are here, here, and here.
UPDATE: I forgot to include the authors. Apologies — they are listed now.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
CFP: The Study of Apocalyptic and Millenarian Movements
CONFERENCE: The Study of Apocalyptic and Millenarian Movements: Critical and Interdisciplinary Approaches.
CALL FOR PAPERSFollow the link for instructions for registration and submitting a paper proposal. The proposal deadline is 31 March 2019.
The Centre for the Critical Study of Apocalyptic and Millenarian Movements (CenSAMM) is pleased to announce its first annual conference, to be held at the University of Bedfordshire (Bedford Campus) 27-28 June 2019.
The theme of the conference is The Study of Apocalyptic and Millenarian Movements: Critical and Interdisciplinary Approaches.
The aim of the conference is to facilitate critical and interdisciplinary discussion of apocalypticism, millenarianism and associated movements across time, place, and culture, and will cover academic fields such as anthropology, archaeology, biblical studies, critical theory, cultural studies, history, literary studies, political studies, psychology, religious studies, sociology, etc. The interdisciplinary scope is broadly understood to include methodologies, comparative approaches, and showcasing of research more specific to individual fields of expertise.
[...]
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More on Jesus' face at Shivta
ARCHAEOLOGY AND DECORATIVE ART: Earliest Depiction of Jesus Christ in Israel Discovered. Here's What It Shows (Tom Metcalfe, Live Science).
This article goes over familiar ground on the story of the discovery of the painting of Jesus' face at Shivta. But it also gives some interesting background on the site. Did you know that Lawrence of Arabia explored it?
Tom Metcalfe' photo essay on Shivta was noted here.
Emma Maayan-Fanar was looking for shade from the desert sun when she saw the face of Jesus.Yeah, that can happen. But this case is unusual.
This article goes over familiar ground on the story of the discovery of the painting of Jesus' face at Shivta. But it also gives some interesting background on the site. Did you know that Lawrence of Arabia explored it?
Tom Metcalfe' photo essay on Shivta was noted here.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
Photo essay on Shivta
ARCHAEOLOGY AND DECORATIVE ART: Photos: The Ancient Ruins of Shivta in Southern Israel (Tom Metcalfe, Live Science). Shivta is the late-antique site in the Negev where an ancient drawing of Jesus' face was recently discovered.
Background here. And some previous posts on Shivta are here, here, here, here, and here.
Background here. And some previous posts on Shivta are here, here, here, here, and here.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
Wednesday, November 28, 2018
"The Incredible Lady Bible Hunters" of St Andrews! (Bumped)
LECTURE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ST ANDREWS: "The Incredible Lady Bible Hunters:
St Andrews’ first female Doctors of Divinity, Dr Margaret Gibson and Dr Agnes Lewis."
It will be presented by Professor Janet Soskice (Cambridge) on Thursday 29 November 2018 (in two days tomorrow!) at 5.15 pm in School III St Salvator’s Quadrangle.
If you can be in St Andrews on Thursday, don't miss it!
Professor Soskice is the author of The Sisters of Sinai, a book about the Gibson and Lewis sisters. I have noted many reviews of it here and links. The title refers to their identification of Codex Syriacus or the Sinai Palimpsest, an important Syriac manuscript of the Four Gospels, at St. Catherine's Monastery in the Sinai.
Their connection with the Cairo Geniza was explored by Adina Hoffman and Peter Cole in their book Sacred Trash: The Lost and Found World of the Cairo Geniza. The Geniza manuscripts that the sisters brought back to England were recently acquired by Cambridge and Oxford Universities. See here, here, and here.
I'll see you at the lecture.
St Andrews’ first female Doctors of Divinity, Dr Margaret Gibson and Dr Agnes Lewis."
It will be presented by Professor Janet Soskice (Cambridge) on Thursday 29 November 2018 (
If you can be in St Andrews on Thursday, don't miss it!
Professor Soskice is the author of The Sisters of Sinai, a book about the Gibson and Lewis sisters. I have noted many reviews of it here and links. The title refers to their identification of Codex Syriacus or the Sinai Palimpsest, an important Syriac manuscript of the Four Gospels, at St. Catherine's Monastery in the Sinai.
Their connection with the Cairo Geniza was explored by Adina Hoffman and Peter Cole in their book Sacred Trash: The Lost and Found World of the Cairo Geniza. The Geniza manuscripts that the sisters brought back to England were recently acquired by Cambridge and Oxford Universities. See here, here, and here.
I'll see you at the lecture.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
NG on the search for sacred texts
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC: Inside the cloak-and-dagger search for sacred texts. In the shadowy world where religion meets archaeology, scientists, collectors, and schemers are racing to find the most precious relics (Robert Draper). I noted mention of the print version of this article under a slightly different title ("Bible Hunters") here, but it is now online.
This is a very good article that deals with most of the recent stories about Bible-related (etc.) manuscripts, whether genuine or fake. These include Operation Scroll, which continues; Konstantin von Tischendorf and Codex Sinaiticus; the Sisters of Sinai and Codex Sinaiticus Syriacus; the Oxyrhynchus papyri; the Dead Sea Scrolls; P52, the Rylands fragment of the Gospel of John; the Museum of the Bible's fake Dead Sea Scrolls fragments and Hobby Lobby's improperly acquired cuneiform tablets; the no-longer-first-century fragment of the Gospel of Mark; and more. Read it all.
This is a very good article that deals with most of the recent stories about Bible-related (etc.) manuscripts, whether genuine or fake. These include Operation Scroll, which continues; Konstantin von Tischendorf and Codex Sinaiticus; the Sisters of Sinai and Codex Sinaiticus Syriacus; the Oxyrhynchus papyri; the Dead Sea Scrolls; P52, the Rylands fragment of the Gospel of John; the Museum of the Bible's fake Dead Sea Scrolls fragments and Hobby Lobby's improperly acquired cuneiform tablets; the no-longer-first-century fragment of the Gospel of Mark; and more. Read it all.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
Mahanaim and Penuel
DR. DAVID BEN-GAD HACOHEN: Jacob’s Journey to Mahanaim and Penuel in J and E (TheTorah.com).
The merging of two different accounts of Jacob’s return home is reflected in the double etymologies for Mahanaim and Penuel. Why do both sources have Jacob pass through these two cities one after the other? The answer lies in geography.Another example of J-E source criticism in Genesis. Cf. my earlier comments here.
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BHD on Codex Sinaiticus and Tischendorf
BIBLE HISTORY DAILY: What’s Missing from Codex Sinaiticus, the Oldest New Testament?
This essay was published in 2015, but I seem to have missed it then.
I did note another essay published around the same time, which has just been reposted: Tischendorf on Trial for Removing Codex Sinaiticus, the Oldest New Testament (Ellen White). My comments on it are here. For more on Tischendorf, see here.
This essay was published in 2015, but I seem to have missed it then.
I did note another essay published around the same time, which has just been reposted: Tischendorf on Trial for Removing Codex Sinaiticus, the Oldest New Testament (Ellen White). My comments on it are here. For more on Tischendorf, see here.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
Tuesday, November 27, 2018
The Talmud on the Temple of Onias in Egypt
THIS WEEK'S DAF YOMI COLUMN BY ADAM KIRSCH IN TABLET: The Other Temples. In this week’s ‘Daf Yomi,’ Talmudic rabbis ask if it is possible to do service to the true God in the wrong location.
For more on the Jewish temple at Leontopolis in Egypt, see here. And, not mentioned in the essay above, there was another Judean temple to YHW on the island of Elephantine in Aswan. For more on it, see here and links.
Earlier Daf Yomi columns are noted here and links.
For more on the Jewish temple at Leontopolis in Egypt, see here. And, not mentioned in the essay above, there was another Judean temple to YHW on the island of Elephantine in Aswan. For more on it, see here and links.
Earlier Daf Yomi columns are noted here and links.
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Reading Mark in Context: Jesus and Second Temple Judaism
LARRY HURTADO: Mark and Its Jewish Context. Notice of a New Book: Reading Mark in Context: Jesus and Second Temple Judaism, ed. Ben C. Blackwell, John K Goodrich, and Jason Maston (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2018).
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Review of Grossberg, Heresy and the Formation of the Rabbinic Community
BOOK REVIEW: Andrew Higginbotham Reviews Heresy and the Formation of the Rabbinic Community. Reviews of the Enoch Seminar 2018.11.09
David M. Grossberg. Heresy and the Formation of the Rabbinic Community. Texts and Studies in Ancient Judaism 168. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2017. ISBN: 978-3-16-155147-5. 277 + x. €129. Cloth.I noted the publication of the book here and a related essay by the author here.
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Drawing for free copy of Septuaginta
WILLIAM ROSS: DRAWING FOR A FREE COPY OF SEPTUAGINTA: A READER’S EDITION. For you, special deal, maybe!
Background here and links.
Background here and links.
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Monday, November 26, 2018
Leibner, Khirbet Wadi Ḥamam
NEW BOOK FROM THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY AND THE ISRAEL EXPLORATION SOCIETY:
HT The Talmud Blog, Facebook.
Uzi Leibner, Khirbet Wadi Ḥamam: A Roman-Period Village and Synagogue in the Lower Galilee (Qedem Reports 13, 2018)This Academia.edu link includes the front matter and the first, introductory, chapter.
HT The Talmud Blog, Facebook.
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Review of Bond, Trade and Taboo
ANCIENT JEW REVIEW: Book Note | Trade and Taboo: Disreputable Professions in the Roman Mediterranean (Alexander D. Perkins).
Sarah E. Bond. Trade and Taboo: Disreputable Professions in the Roman Mediterranean. University of Michigan Press: Ann Arbor, 2016.Yes, this is relevant for, among many other things, the study of ancient Judaism.
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Podcast on Septuaginta: A Reader's Edition
WILLIAM ROSS: PODCAST ABOUT THE READER’S EDITION. A forty-minute podcast with William and co-author Greg Lanier on Septuaginta: A Reader’s Edition and the Septuagint in general.
Background on the book is here and links.
Background on the book is here and links.
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Essays in Honour of N. T. Wright
CONGRATULATIONS TO MY ST. ANDREWS COLLEAGUE PROF. N. T. WRIGHT, who was presented with a Festschrift at the SBL Annual Meeting in Denver last week:
Eric Lewellen and John Anthony Dunne (eds.), One God, One People, One Future: Essays In Honour Of N. T. Wright (SPCK, 2018).
N. T. Wright is widely regarded as the most exciting and influential biblical scholar in the world today. These essays throw a spotlight on his contribution to New Testament theology and interpretation over the past four decades.
The structure is three-fold, corresponding to the three areas of classic Jewish theology that Wright views as starting points for discerning the shape of New Testament theology: monotheism, election and eschatology. The result is a book that facilitates a deep appreciation of key areas of current scholarly debate, and of Wright’s distinctive contribution to our understanding of the issues.
The contributors are world class scholars, including Richard Hays (Duke), Richard Bauckham (St Andrews, Emeritus), James Dunn (Durham, Emeritus), Michael Gorman (St Mary’s Seminary & University), David Horrell (Exeter), Edith Humphrey (Pittsburgh), Bruce Longenecker (Baylor), Oliver O’Donovan (Oxford, Emeritus), Ben Witherington (Asbury), and others.
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Sunday, November 25, 2018
Brill’s Companion to the Reception of Alexander the Great (ed. Moore)
BIBLIOGRAPHIA IRANICA: The Reception of Alexander the Great. Notice of a new book from Brill: Moore, Kenneth Royce (ed.). 2018. Brill’s Companion to the Reception of Alexander the Great. Leiden & Boston: Brill.
The subject is of considerable background interest for ancient Judaism. And a couple of the chapters deal specifically with the reception of Alexander in ancient and medieval Jewish tradition.
The subject is of considerable background interest for ancient Judaism. And a couple of the chapters deal specifically with the reception of Alexander in ancient and medieval Jewish tradition.
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TLG® Online Canon of Greek Authors and Works
THE AWOL BLOG: TLG® Online Canon of Greek Authors and Works. This looks like a helpful resource for users of the Thesaurus Linguae Graecae Canon database.
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SBL 2018 reports
REPORTS ARE COMING IN FOR SBL 2018, which took place just before Thanksgiving:
RELIGION PROF.: #SBLAAR18 Recap. James McGrath took many selfies.
THE ETC BLOG: Blog dinner photos (Peter Gurry). Tommy Wasserman gave the annual address.
RELIGION PROF.: #SBLAAR18 Recap. James McGrath took many selfies.
THE ETC BLOG: Blog dinner photos (Peter Gurry). Tommy Wasserman gave the annual address.
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Review of Bernhardt, Die jüdische Revolution
BRYN MAYR CLASSICAL REVIEW: Johannes Christian Bernhardt, Die jüdische Revolution: Untersuchungen zu Ursachen, Verlauf und Folgen der hasmonäischen Erhebung. KLIO. Beiträge zur Alten Geschichte. Beihefte, neue Folge, Band 22. Berlin: De Gruyter, 2017. Pp. xiii, 726. ISBN 9783050064819. €99,95. Reviewed by Jan Willem van Henten, Universiteit van Amsterdam (J.W.vanHenten@uva.nl).
This revised dissertation offers two books for the price of one: It deals with what is usually called the persecution of the Jews by Antiochus IV Epiphanes and the Maccabean Revolt with its aftermath. The book’s title is a clue to Bernhardt’s interpretation of the events (as explained on p. 34 and 484). The entire process of the causes, course and impact of the Maccabean revolt, together with the discursive development of Judean identity, points to a Judean or, better, a Jewish revolution. Besides a very detailed history of this revolution, the book offers a historiography of the events with detailed surveys of previous scholarship (up to 2015) and appendices about many issues dealt with by previous scholars.
[...]
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Saturday, November 24, 2018
Akiyama, The Love of Neighbour in Ancient Judaism
NEW BOOK FROM BRILL:
The Love of Neighbour in Ancient Judaism
The Reception of Leviticus 19:18 in the Hebrew Bible, the Septuagint, the Book of Jubilees, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and the New Testament
Series:
Ancient Judaism and Early Christianity, Volume: 105
Author: Kengo Akiyama
In The Love of Neighbour in Ancient Judaism, Kengo Akiyama traces the development of the mainstay of early Jewish and Christian ethics: "Love your neighbour." Akiyama examines several Second Temple Jewish texts in great detail and demonstrates a diverse range of uses and applications that opposes a simplistic and evolutionary trajectory often associated with the development of the "greatest commandment" tradition. The monograph presents surprisingly complex interpretative developments in Second Temple Judaism uncovering just how early interpreters grappled with the questions of what it means to love and who should be considered as their neighbour.
Publication Date: 5 June 2018
ISBN: 978-90-04-36688-6
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The case of the kiss and the dotted letters
DETAILS MATTER: Why Is Esau’s Kiss Dotted? (Prof. Albert I. Baumgarten, TheTorah.com).
Esau’s kiss to Jacob is written with scribal dots over the word וַׄ×™ִּׄשָּׁׄקֵ֑ׄ×”ׄוּׄ, “and he kissed him.” Traditional commentators suggest this hints to Esau’s feelings or state of mind. Critical scholarship, however, points to something much more prosaic, a question of syntax.Those are old dots. Origen seems to have known about them in the third century.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
Hurtado on the limits of C-14 dating
LARRY HURTADO: More on Carbon-14 Dating of Manuscripts. This post focuses on C-14 "plateaus," something I don't recall encountering before.
Carbon-14 dating is a useful tool, to be used alongside other tools such as paleography and archaeological stratigraphy. But like all tools, it has its limitations. It is not a magic bullet.
Some past PaleoJudaica posts on C-14 dating are collected here.
Carbon-14 dating is a useful tool, to be used alongside other tools such as paleography and archaeological stratigraphy. But like all tools, it has its limitations. It is not a magic bullet.
Some past PaleoJudaica posts on C-14 dating are collected here.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
Exploring water technology
TECHNOLOGY WATCH: Northwestern Students Explore Water Technology in Israel (Karyn Simpson, Northwestern University). They explored ancient, modern, and future water technologies.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
Friday, November 23, 2018
Did a giant meteor destroy Sodom and Gomorrah?
I WAS EXPECTING AN EARTH-SHATTERING KABOOM: Evidence of Sodom? Meteor blast cause of biblical destruction, say scientists. Multi-disciplinary team of scientists uses 3,700-year-old archaeological evidence from Jordan’s Tall el-Hammam Excavation Project to understand end to civilization near Dead Sea (Amanda Borschel-Dan, Times of Israel).
Could be. The Bible certainly knows a tradition of a fiery destruction of the region in antiquity — antiquity for the biblical writers, not just us. That could be a distant memory of this meteoric event. Or it could just be a story. Let's see how this develops.
Could be. The Bible certainly knows a tradition of a fiery destruction of the region in antiquity — antiquity for the biblical writers, not just us. That could be a distant memory of this meteoric event. Or it could just be a story. Let's see how this develops.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
Geniza Fragments 76
GENIZA FRAGMENTS, the Newsletter of the Taylor-Schechter Genizah Research Unit, Cambridge University Library has published its October 2018 Issue. Some topics are: a handover of the Lewis-Gibson Collection to the Bodleian Libraries; using calendar fragments to establish paleographic dating; "shorthand Bibles"; and new books on poets and poetry.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
Cohen Festschrift
MICHAEL SATLOW: Strength to Strength: Essays in Honor of Shaye J. D. Cohen. Notice of a new book in honor of Shaye Cohen:
Michael L. Satlow (ed.), Strength to Strength: Essays in Honor of Shaye J. D. Cohen (Brown Judaic Studies 363; Brown University, 2018).Follow the link for TOC and ordering information. And congratulations to Professor Cohen!
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
Slavonic varia
OLD CHURCH SLAVONIC WATCH: Roman Basilica holds exhibit on one thousand years of Roman Rite in Slavonic language (Rome Reports).The exhibition, "To God, in our own language," is in the Basilica of St. Mary Major and is sponsored by the Croatian embassy to the Holy See. Not surprisingly, St. Cyril is featured.
In related news, at wrti9.1, Susan Lewis asks: How Often Do You Hear a Mass in Old Church Slavonic? Now's your chance.
For past PaleoJudaica posts on (Old) Church Slavonic, with explanation of why we're interested, see here and here and follow the links.
In related news, at wrti9.1, Susan Lewis asks: How Often Do You Hear a Mass in Old Church Slavonic? Now's your chance.
For past PaleoJudaica posts on (Old) Church Slavonic, with explanation of why we're interested, see here and here and follow the links.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
Thursday, November 22, 2018
Biblical spices — plus vanilla at Megiddo
BIBLE HISTORY DAILY: A Biblical Spice Rack. Herbs and spices of the ancient Near East (Devorah Emmet Wigoder).
Also, timely, in light of an announcement last week at the ASOR conference (at the same time as AAR/SBL): Residue found in 3,600-year-old Holy Land tomb rewrites the history of vanilla. World’s 2nd most expensive spice was thought to have been introduced 13,000 miles away and thousand of years later, until analysis of burial offerings at Canaanite tomb in Megiddo (Amanda Borschel-Dan, Times of Israel).
It seems that traces of vanilla extract have been found at Megiddo, dating to c. 1600 BCE. Vanilla is not mentioned in the Bible, but now it seems that it may have been in use in the region even before the Israelite period.
I have already blogged on Meggido Tomb 50 and its impressive assemblage of organic remains.
In ancient times, herbs—the edible leaves, blossoms and soft stems of annuals and perennials—were used primarily as medicine. According to the apocryphal Book of Jubilees,1 angels revealed to Noah all the illnesses of the world and their remedies so that he could “heal by means of the herbs of the earth” (Jubilees 10:12). Noah diligently recorded the cures in a book. Below, I, like Noah, record the herbs and spices of the Near East throughout history.Informative.
Also, timely, in light of an announcement last week at the ASOR conference (at the same time as AAR/SBL): Residue found in 3,600-year-old Holy Land tomb rewrites the history of vanilla. World’s 2nd most expensive spice was thought to have been introduced 13,000 miles away and thousand of years later, until analysis of burial offerings at Canaanite tomb in Megiddo (Amanda Borschel-Dan, Times of Israel).
It seems that traces of vanilla extract have been found at Megiddo, dating to c. 1600 BCE. Vanilla is not mentioned in the Bible, but now it seems that it may have been in use in the region even before the Israelite period.
I have already blogged on Meggido Tomb 50 and its impressive assemblage of organic remains.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
National Geographic: "Bible Hunters"
VARIANT READINGS: National Geographic’s “Bible Hunters”: Some Observations. This National Geographic article does not seem to be online, and I haven't seen the print version, but Brent Nongbri (and Larry Hurtado by link) present some highlights from it.
UPDATE (28 November): For the article online, see here.
UPDATE (28 November): For the article online, see here.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
Mesha Stele day-conference in Jerusalem
NORTHWEST SEMITIC EPIGRAPHY WATCH: Colloque : 150e anniversaire de la découverte de la stèle de Mésha (THE MESHA STELE 150 Years After the Discovery). On 29 November 2018.
Past PaleoJudaica posts on the Mesha Stele/Moabite Stone are here and links.
HT Todd Bolen at the Bible Places Blog.
Le Centre de recherche français à Jérusalem est heureux de vous inviter à un colloque célébrant le 150e anniversaire de la découverte de la stèle de Mésha. Publiée par Charles Clermont-Ganneau, alors en poste au consulat de France à Jérusalem, cette stèle est l’une des plus grandes découvertes archéologiques en rapport avec la Bible. Pour l’occasion, nous avons invité Isabel Bonora, du Musée du Louvre, qui relatera l’extraordinaire histoire de la découverte de cette stèle et de sa reconstruction au Louvre, où elle est aujourd’hui exposée. André Lemaire, de l’EPHE-Sorbonne, fera ensuite le point sur les questions de déchiffrement et d’interprétation qui restent d’actualité 150 ans après la découverte. Dans une seconde partie, Shmuel Ahituv et Matthew Morgenstern reviendront sur des aspects épigraphiques et linguistiques, tandis que Michael Langlois évoquera le problème des contrefaçons nées à l’occasion de la découverte de cette stèle et qui perdurent jusqu’à aujourd’hui.As you might guess, the papers are in French. Follow the link for venue details and the program. I'm glad someone is taking notice of this anniversary.
Nous vous donnons rendez-vous le jeudi 29 novembre à 14h.
Past PaleoJudaica posts on the Mesha Stele/Moabite Stone are here and links.
HT Todd Bolen at the Bible Places Blog.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
Source criticism of a dream?
PROF BARUCH J. SCHWARTZ: Did Jacob Meet Yhwh by the Stairway to Heaven in Beth-El? (TheTorah.com)
I was less convinced of the distinction between J (the Yahwist) and E (the Elohist) than that P and D were separate traditions. But J and E usually did seem to work well in the book of Genesis.
I haven't revisited the question since in any detail, so I don't know what I would think now.
All that leading up to saying that this is an interesting essay, but this story in Genesis 28 doesn't strike me as the most convincing example of the case for J and E as originally separate narratives. Much of the argument involves finding inconsistencies in a dream narrative. My dreams are pretty internally inconsistent. I bet yours are too. And sometimes I dream that I'm doing something and still know that I'm asleep dreaming. The story of Jacob's dream seems to me to be skillfully crafted to read like an actual dream.
The narrative may well still be a combination of J and E but, in my opinion, this particular example doesn't provide a very strong argument for the source division.
On his way to Haran, Jacob stops at a place, later named Beth-El, and sees in a dream angels going up and down a staircase to the gateway of heaven. In the story, Jacob also notices Yhwh standing beside him and and Yhwh speaks to him. Examined closely, this short story is beset with literary difficulties that suggest it is composed of two independent narratives.Many years ago, when I was a doctoral student, I went through the Hebrew of the Pentateuch verse-by-verse to decide whether I thought that the Documentary Hypothesis worked. I decided that it more or less does.
I was less convinced of the distinction between J (the Yahwist) and E (the Elohist) than that P and D were separate traditions. But J and E usually did seem to work well in the book of Genesis.
I haven't revisited the question since in any detail, so I don't know what I would think now.
All that leading up to saying that this is an interesting essay, but this story in Genesis 28 doesn't strike me as the most convincing example of the case for J and E as originally separate narratives. Much of the argument involves finding inconsistencies in a dream narrative. My dreams are pretty internally inconsistent. I bet yours are too. And sometimes I dream that I'm doing something and still know that I'm asleep dreaming. The story of Jacob's dream seems to me to be skillfully crafted to read like an actual dream.
The narrative may well still be a combination of J and E but, in my opinion, this particular example doesn't provide a very strong argument for the source division.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
Thanksgiving 2018
HAPPY THANKSGIVING to my American readers and to anyone else who is celebrating!
This is a normal work day in the United Kingdom, so I'm here in my office as usual. Besides, I'm on research leave, so what better way to spend the day? But I'll be celebrating a little this evening.
This is a normal work day in the United Kingdom, so I'm here in my office as usual. Besides, I'm on research leave, so what better way to spend the day? But I'll be celebrating a little this evening.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
Wednesday, November 21, 2018
Beka weight excavated in Jerusalem
TEMPLE MOUNT WATCH: Artifact from First Temple period unearthed in Jerusalem. 'Beka' counting weight for census with ancient Hebrew script found in soil removed from Western Wall foundations (Arutz Sheva). A "beka" weight is equivalent to the half-shekel coin. This weight, however, was from the First-Temple period, before there were coins. It would perhaps have been used to weigh the half-shekel Temple tax. It is inscribed in mirror script, which is arguably an informative error.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
Shocker: People partied in the Stone Age
ARCHAEOLOGY: Israel dig provides clues on how feasting became an important ritual. Evidence from a 12,000-year-old archaeological site in country’s north shows communally shared meals have long been vital components of human ceremony (Natalie Munro, Times of Israel). This research is considerably more substantial than my cheeky header implies. I have commented further on it here.
This article, by one of the excavators, summarizes the story about the grave of the Neolithic female "shaman" (?) found in Israel. It also puts the story into a wider anthropological and archaeological context.
It looks as though feasting together has always been important to human beings.
This article, by one of the excavators, summarizes the story about the grave of the Neolithic female "shaman" (?) found in Israel. It also puts the story into a wider anthropological and archaeological context.
It looks as though feasting together has always been important to human beings.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
Magdala photos
THE HOLY LAND PHOTOS' BLOG: First Century Synagogue at Magdala — Did Jesus Worship Here? (Carl Rasmussen). Timely, given the recent publication of Richard Bauckham's book, Magdala of Galilee.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
Looting with the spirits?
MISAPPREHENSION: Middle East Looters Turn to Spirit Possession to Find Gold Treasure (Owen Jarus, Live Science).
As "antique" gold coins from the Middle East pour into the United States, some looters are turning to spirits called "jinn" in their hunt for gold treasure. A few gold seekers even go so far as to try to get the jinn to possess them in hopes that the spirits will guide them to that hidden jackpot.Mr. Jarus even infiltrated a social media group of jinn-assisted looters. (Yes, that is a thing.) Shockingly, and despite many stories in the Thousand and One Nights, it doesn't seem to work.
[...]
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
Tuesday, November 20, 2018
Mosaics from Huqoq and a new Pompeii fresco
DECORATIVE ART: Newly revealed 5th century mosaics a kaleidoscope of Jewish and secular imagery. Archaeologist Jodi Magness started to excavate the Galilean village of Huqoq to put to rest a decades-old academic debate. Then she found mosaics and the site just keeps on giving (Amanda Borschel-Dan, Times of Israel). This article covers the Huqoq mosaics, but also discusses the Huqoq excavation more generally. An interview with Prof. Jodi Magness, the chief excavator, gives the background on how and why she chose the site.
Background on the Huqoq excavation and its mosaics is here and many links.
And since we also like to keep track of the archaeology of Pompeii, let's note that a new mythologicaly-themed fresco has just been discovered there: Sensual fresco of queen and swan discovered in ancient Pompeii bedroom. Archaeologists say the figure of Leda being impregnated by Jupiter in bird form was a fairly common home decoration theme in town destroyed by Mount Vesuvius eruption in A.D. 79 (AP).
Background on the Huqoq excavation and its mosaics is here and many links.
And since we also like to keep track of the archaeology of Pompeii, let's note that a new mythologicaly-themed fresco has just been discovered there: Sensual fresco of queen and swan discovered in ancient Pompeii bedroom. Archaeologists say the figure of Leda being impregnated by Jupiter in bird form was a fairly common home decoration theme in town destroyed by Mount Vesuvius eruption in A.D. 79 (AP).
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
The Talmud on the shape of the shewbread
THIS WEEK'S DAF YOMI COLUMN BY ADAM KIRSCH IN TABLET: The Showbread Must Go On. In this week’s ‘Daf Yomi,’ the Talmud is ‘a kind of speculative historical fiction’ about Temple rituals.
Earlier Daf Yomi columns are noted here and links.
Earlier Daf Yomi columns are noted here and links.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
Ellens et al. (eds.), Wisdom Poured Out Like Water
IN THE MAIL:
Congratulations again to Professor Boccaccini on this very well-deserved honor! I was sorry to miss the SBL reception for his Festschrift, but I am not at the SBL meetings this year.
Background here.
J Harold Ellens (et al.), Wisdom Poured Out Like Water: Studies on Jewish and Christian Antiquity in Honor of Gabriele Boccaccini (Deuterocanonical and Cognate Literature Studies 38; de Gruyter, 2018)My contributor's copy arrived yesterday.
Congratulations again to Professor Boccaccini on this very well-deserved honor! I was sorry to miss the SBL reception for his Festschrift, but I am not at the SBL meetings this year.
Background here.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
Lied and Maniaci (eds.), Bible as Notepad
THE ETC BLOG: Bible as Notepad (Peter Malik). This is the title of a new book edited by Liv Ingeborg Lied and Marilena Maniaci, published by De Gruyter. Follow the link for TOC and discussion.
I was at the Bible as Notepad Conference in 2014, but I didn't publish a paper in this volume.
I was at the Bible as Notepad Conference in 2014, but I didn't publish a paper in this volume.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
Monday, November 19, 2018
"Design Showcase" for Septuaginta: A Reader’s Edition
THE LOGOS ACADEMIC BLOG: Design Showcase: The LXX Reader’s Edition (Tavis Bohlinger ). A very informative interview with William Ross, co-editor of Septuaginta: A Reader’s Edition, just published by Hendrickson.
In the following interview with William Ross, we discuss the creation of the Reader, technical aspects of the design, and what’s in store for LXX studies in the future. If you’re in Denver right now for ETS/SBL, now’s the time to get your copies.Background here and links.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
Schiffman on those fake DSS fragments
PROFESSOR LAWRENCE H. SCHIFFMAN: BUYER BEWARE! HOW FORGED DEAD SEA SCROLLS WERE EXPOSED BY HIGH-TECH TESTS. Reprint of a recent article in Ami Magazine.
Background here and links.
Background here and links.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
Alter's translation of the Hebrew Bible
NOW COMPLETE: Robert Alter’s epic, literary one-man Bible (David A.M. Wilensky, The Jewish News of Northern California). The article reports that full three-volume translation will be published in December. PaleoJudaica has been following its progress for many years. For relevant posts, run "Robert Alter" through the blog search engine.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
More Orbis books online
THE AWOL BLOG: Newly added to Orbis Biblicus et Orientalis Online, 13-15 November 2018. I appreciated Chuck Jones keeping a list of these. There are currently 301 free volumes online. Many are of interest for the study of ancient Judaism.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
Sunday, November 18, 2018
New images of Huqoq mosaics
DECORATIVE ART: Stunning biblical mosaics revealed in detail for the first time (James Rogers, Fox News).
Background on the Huqoq synagogue mosaics is here and many links.
For the first time, archaeologists have released detailed images of stunning biblical mosaics discovered at the site of an ancient synagogue site in Northern Israel.Nice photos.
The mosaics depict Noah’s Ark, the parting of the Red Sea, Jonah and the fish and the Tower of Babel, according to researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Portions of the mosaics have been revealed before, but this is the first time the artifacts have been shown in their full glory.
[...]
Background on the Huqoq synagogue mosaics is here and many links.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
Review of Cromwell, Recording Village Life: A Coptic Scribe in Early Islamic Egypt
BRYN MAYR CLASSICAL REVIEW: Jennifer A. Cromwell, Recording Village Life: A Coptic Scribe in Early Islamic Egypt. New texts from ancient cultures. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 2017. Pp. xxiv, 287. ISBN 9780472130481. $90.00. ISBN 9780472123117. ebook. Reviewed by Alain Delattre, Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB) (Alain.Delattre@ulb.ac.be).
This is the revised version of Jennifer Cromwell’s PhD dissertation (Liverpool 2008). The author originally aimed at studying and reediting the corpus of Djeme papyri (P.KRU). The enormity of the task led her to focus on the texts drawn up by a specific scribe, Aristophanes, son of John, who lived in Western Thebes during the first half of the 8th century.1 Not only did the author explore Aristophanes’ scribal practices, but she also considered people and procedures involved in the documents. This original perspective allows her to draw an interesting portrait of the society of a village in the early Islamic period and to offer a stimulating study on a scribe’s life and practices.Cross-file under Coptic Watch.
[...]
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
Review of Stern, The Jewish Bible: A Material History
THE JEWISH REVIEW OF BOOKS: Black Fire on White Fire (Adam Kirsch).
HT AJR.
The Jewish Bible: A Material HistoryExcerpt:
by David Stern
University of Washington Press, 320 pp., $50 [2017]
In The Jewish Bible, Stern masterfully synthesizes this scholarship, offering a chronological history of Jewish sacred books from Qumran to the JPS Tanakh. For if the Sefer Torah itself hasn’t changed, other ways Jews encounter their scripture definitely have. Indeed, as Stern shows, the Jewish book serves as a lens through which we can study central themes of Jewish history and thought.Adam Kirsh also has an ongoing Daf Yomi column at Tablet Magazine.
HT AJR.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
Journal of Jesus Movement in Its Jewish Setting partners with 3 universities
THE JOURNAL OF THE JESUS MOVEMENT IN ITS JEWISH SETTING FROM THE FIRST TO THE SEVENTH CENTURY HAS AN ANNOUNCEMENT:
PaleoJudaica noted the lauching of the journal back at the beginning of 2016.
JJMJS is strongly committed to remain open access. Moving forward, we, as any other open-access journals, must secure long-term economic stability without compromising academic quality. We are therefore very pleased to announce that, through a unique collaborative effort, JJMJS is now entering a multilateral partnership with Hebrew University of Jerusalem, DePaul University in Chicago, and the University of OsloThere are more details at the link, as well as the full text of the current, free, open-access Issue 5 (2018).
[...]
The current issue of JJMJS, the first in its new form, offers a Special Issue on Paul, which we have entitled Paul, Judaism, and the Jewish People. Contributors include: Margaret M. Mitchell, Matthew Thiessen, Paula Fredriksen, James Crossley, Neil Elliott, Adele Reinhartz, Matthew Novenson, and Gregory Tatum, with an introduction by the undersigned [chief editor Anders Runesson]. The issue considers in particular the impact of the work of E.P. Sanders forty years after the publication of his magisterial Paul and Palestinian Judaism, but also includes discussion of the very latest research in Pauline Studies.
PaleoJudaica noted the lauching of the journal back at the beginning of 2016.
Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.
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