Sermons and Biblical Studies

Sandy Souza A Photo tour of the 2004 season (all photos by the author) Hazor is about 9 mi (14 km) north of the Sea of Galilee, which is 700 ft (215 m) below sea level, so it is not only very hot, but also very humid. Called “the head of all those kingdoms” in … Continue reading “EXCAVATING
WITH ABR AT HAZOR”

Later in Bible history, Abimelech, the son of Gideon’s Shechemite concubine (Jgs 8:31), colluded with some Shechemites to kill 70 of Abimelech’s brothers (Jgs 8:30–31; 9). However, Abimelech’s youngest brother Jotham survived (Jgs 9:5). Jotham climbed to the top of Mt. Gerizim and shouted to the Shechemites below. He foretold the destruction of the men … Continue reading “ABIMELECH
AT SHECHEM”

David G. Hansen “If the full meaning of a passage [in the Bible] is to be grasped, the context of the passage needs to be appropriately developed” (Greenwold 2004: 72). In his pithy study of Luke’s Gospel account of Elizabeth and Zachariah, Greenwold gives an example of what he means: “All too often in our … Continue reading “SHECHEM:

ITS ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND CONTEXTUAL SIGNIFICANCE”

A 16-year-old and his father share their impressions Ben Felker It was like a page from one of the magazines. The arid landscape, punctuated by bush like trees that looked like spiky cotton balls, gave way to buildings made of the most common building material in the land, stone. It looked as if the land … Continue reading “DIGGING
WITH ABR AT HAZOR”

C. Ermal Allen Biblical scholarship will be forever indebted to Edwin Thiele for his discovery that finally made sense of the confusing dating systems for kings mentioned in the OT. Two keys unlocked the secrets that had mystified scholars for centuries: (1) the year in some time-lines began with the month Nisan (in the spring), … Continue reading “JERUSALEM
FELL IN 587 NOT 586 BC”

George M. Grena “These are more proverbs of Solomon, copied by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah” (Prv 25:1). Five lmlk handles representing five seal sets. Upper right: two-winged icon with only one word in the top register. Upper left: two-winged icon with divided words in both registers. Center: two-winged icon with divided word … Continue reading “WHAT
ARE LMLK STAMPS AND WHAT WERE THEY USED FOR?”

Samson in the Philistine temple. “Then Samson reached toward the two central pillars on which the temple stood. Bracing himself against them, his right hand on the one and his left hand on the other, Samson said, ‘Let me die with the Philistines!’ Then he pushed with all his might, and down came the temple … Continue reading “BETWEEN
THE PILLARS:
REVISITING “SAMPSON AND THE HOUSE OF DAGON””

Joseph L. Thimes In the era of Rameses II (about 1250 BC), the sacred plants of Egypt were the lotus and papyrus. This article will explain how the lotus influenced the lives of people in ancient Egypt and how it was used in the Bible. Today’s Taxonomy According to today’s plant taxonomy, the two sacred … Continue reading “THE
LOTUS IN ANCIENT EGYPT AND THE BIBLE”

Gary A. Byers The main route between Canaan and Egypt was along the northern coast of Sinai. A number of Biblical figures no doubt traveled this road. Known to the Egyptians as “the Way of Horus,” and in the Bible as “the road through the Philistine country” (Ex 13:17), it ended in the eastern delta … Continue reading “ISRAEL
IN EGYPT”

The Rosetta Stone Traveling with the French army when Napoleon invaded Egypt in 1798 were 175 scientists. They studied known sites as well as previously unknown places. Their research resulted in a 24-volume publication that became the foundation for the modern field of Egyptology. Their most important discovery was made in 1799, near the village … Continue reading “GREAT
DISCOVERIES IN BIBLICAL ARCHAEOLOGY”