Joseph – Vizier (Prime Minister) over Egypt
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 »
Biblical Commentary
Joseph – Slave, Steward, Prisoner
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 »
Joseph – Life in Canaan
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 »
Egypt in the Bible: Joseph – When?
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?
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.
The Language of the Torah – Update
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 »
The Conquest – Birth of a Nation
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 »
The Conquest – Introduction
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 »
Numbers
Numbers! We use them every day. They record how much we have and how much we owe. They help us remember important events past and present. They are very practical and accurate. Things were different in the ancient world. Numbers were the language of the gods. Their symbolic meanings influenced people’s lives. They were magical. How does this apply to the Bible?
Exodus When? (Part 2)
This article analyzes what some call the biblical date of the Exodus. Is there such a thing? How many biblical dates are there?
Exodus When? (Part 2) Read More »