Archaeological digs sprinkle the promised land in the quest for historical clues. Other than at the sites of Hazor and Bethel, no significant Late Bronze Age destruction layers appear. Most scholars agree: a Joshua led genocide never happened. Careful readers of the book of Joshua generally come to the same conclusion. But then, what do we do with some of the language which seems so violent? That’s the subject of this article.
Joshua and Morality Read More »
The book of Joshua provokes much criticism . To some, it is full of nonhistorical legends composed centuries after the fact. Others insist on super-literalism. To them, Joshua’s account exposes God’s wrathful, bloodthirsty, jealous nature. Even more mock the book as ridiculously unscientific; no way can the sun physically stand still without disastrous orbital repercussions. This article addresses these charges.
Joshua – Conquest, Coexistence, or Genocide Read More »
This article continues our series on the life of Joseph as it relates to Egyptian culture in the second millennium BCE.
Joseph – Vizier (Prime Minister) over Egypt Read More »
This article focuses on the first thirteen years of Joseph’s life in Egypt. During this time, his social status changed from slave to steward to prisoner. The biblical account contains many interesting cultural allusions consistent with ancient Egyptian culture.
Joseph – Slave, Steward, Prisoner Read More »
What was the coat of many colors? Is that something that Jacob dreamed up? Why were Joseph’s brothers so angry that they wanted to kill him? This article delves into these issues.
Joseph – Life in Canaan Read More »
There is no direct archaeological evidence that Joseph, the great grandson of Abraham, was ever in Egypt. This is not surprising. We could say the same for almost every person that lived in the ancient world. This does not mean that there is no indirect evidence. This article is the first installment. If the biblical account is reliable, when would Joseph have been in Egypt?
Egypt in the Bible: Joseph – When? Read More »
Who was Terah, Abraham’s father? What kind of person was he? The Bible provides a half dozen vague clues. Is there any other evidence to consider? A series of clay tablets from four-thousand-year-old archives just might. This article explores the possibilities.
A single discovery can completely upend strongly held convictions. A recent archeological analysis of two cuneiform tablets leads me to update my previous article concerning the language of the Exodus. This new find also impacts the interpretation of the Abraham narrative in the book of Genesis.
The Language of the Torah – Update Read More »
How did Israel become a people? This question provokes endless scholarly controversy, and creative speculations produce countless answers. This article will avoid rabbit trails. Instead I’ll focus on a few archeological sites and discuss whether the data are consistent with biblical narratives.
The Conquest – Birth of a Nation Read More »
Where did the ancient Israelites come from? “Isn’t it obvious?” They were oppressed slaves who escaped from Egypt. The majority of scholars answer: “No, it is not obvious at all.” They assert all sorts of alternate hypotheses. This article introduces evidences related to early Israeli history and their interpretations.
The Conquest – Introduction Read More »