As we close this blog for the GCTS 2015 edition of the Archaeology Study Tour in Israel and Jordan, we are moving from the "tour" dimension of the adventure, to the "study" part. People often say that field work only represents the tip of the iceberg. The real hard work takes place in libraries, labs, and in the quiet surroundings of our studies. This is also true of this tour. While the experience of visiting sites and learning about different cultural phases in the southern Levant was certainly enriching, there is so much more to "dig" and search in terms of historical geography, biblical-historical connections, and of, course, the nature of the material culture in the land.
To enable those who would want to "dig deeper," the following reading list represents suggestions that will provide further (and sometimes) in depth contexts for the sites we visited. My top ten list goes from less to more technical general resources.
10. The NIV Archaeology Study Bible
An excellent entry-level resource into the world of the Bible from an evangelical perspective. While the title says "archaeology" the entries are more historical in nature than archaeological, which makes the information very user-friendly.
9. Biblical Archaeology Review
A well-known and popular magazine which provides an excellent resource to recent archaeological discoveries related to the Bible. Graphics and photographs are also great resources. While the publication is not evangelical, it is usually quite friendly to the historicity of the Bible.
8. Associates for Biblical Research
A conservative evangelical group who focuses on a traditional apologetic approach to the relationship between archaeology and the Scriptures. Ardent proponents of the early date of the Exodus.
7. On the Reliability of the Old Testament
A veritable "tour de force" by one of the foremost Egyptologists of our generation, Kenneth Kitchen. He systematically addresses typical criticisms leveled at the Scripture and skillfully argues for the reliability of the Old Testament as an historical record. This book assumes a solid understanding of Biblical history, which can be gained here and especially here
6. The Sacred Bridge
The late Anson Rainey's historical-geographical magnum opus. Prof. Rainey was a long-time visiting faculty at Jerusalem University College and was probably the world's foremost expert on questions of historical geography in the Holy Land (not always sympathetic to evangelical understandings of Scripture).
5. Near Eastern Archaeology
A semi-technical magazine published by the American Schools of Oriental Research, North America's main scholarly society in near Eastern studies (which includes the southern Levant).
4. Anchor Bible Dictionary
A must-have resource for serious students of the Bible which includes excellent essays on the history and archaeology of many sites connected to the Bible (written mostly from a non-evangelical perspective). Warning: Brutal price tag
3. The Archaeology of Ancient Israel
Edited by Amon Ben-Tor. Excellent collection of essays on the history and archaeology of Ancient Israel with beautiful illustrations and photographs.
2. Archaeology and the Land of the Bible by Amihai Mazar
The "Bible" of any would-be serious students of archaeology in the southern Levant. Even though in serious need of an update (written in 1991), this is still the gold standard to understand the archaeology of Israel. Read this book three times (or more) with great care and you will become conversant with the "syntax" of the material-culture of Israel and Palestine.
1. The New Encyclopedia of Archaeological Excavations in the Holy Land
The next best thing to reading the actual site reports by the excavators. Each entry includes an historical summary of the site following by a detailed overview of the stratigraphy and the material finds. Also in need of updating, but still unmatched in its scope and depth.
Beyond this reading list, the only thing left would be to volunteer on a dig. Biblical Archaeology Review provides a list every January of expeditions that welcome volunteers.
Beyond these secondary sources, the best resource will remain the text of Scripture itself. There is no substitute for an up close and personal reading of the text in order to gain a sense of the historical development of Salvation History. Blessings as you seek to trust and obey Him in the vineyard to which He has called you!
Jan 21, 2015
Dec 1, 2014
DAY 13 - Herodium and the Old City of Jerusalem
For our final full day of exploring the land of the Bible, we are in for a great treat and some extraordinary sites as we will devote our time between Herodium and the Old City of Jerusalem. There will also be free time for participants to visit Museums, do some shopping, or simply sit and soak in the atmosphere of this most unique and remarkable spot on planet earth. For instance, the Church of All Nations and its 2000-year-old Olive trees is a wonderful place to pause and meditate, as it reminds us of the garden of Gethsemane (Matt 26:36-46; Luke 22:39-46) Although we don’t know where the garden actually was, we can get a sense of the setting from this spot. As a review, peruse again ANT chapter three, to get a sense of the geography of the city at the time of the NT.
Herodium (ANT chapter 4)
Herodium is one of the many of Herod the Great’s building projects (21 total), but this one holds particular appeal for several reasons. The view from the top of the tumulus offers great vistas of the Judean wilderness and the hill country. Its architectural remains are equally impressive. But, Herodium is most famous for the claim by the first Century AD Jewish historian that Herod was buried there. Over the course of the centuries, the actual burial site has proved to be particularly elusive. In 2007, however, the search came to an end, when Hebrew University archaeologist Ehud Netzer discovered Herod’s final resting place. For an account of the discovery, do read the following Smithonian article.
Herodium (ANT chapter 4)
Herodium is one of the many of Herod the Great’s building projects (21 total), but this one holds particular appeal for several reasons. The view from the top of the tumulus offers great vistas of the Judean wilderness and the hill country. Its architectural remains are equally impressive. But, Herodium is most famous for the claim by the first Century AD Jewish historian that Herod was buried there. Over the course of the centuries, the actual burial site has proved to be particularly elusive. In 2007, however, the search came to an end, when Hebrew University archaeologist Ehud Netzer discovered Herod’s final resting place. For an account of the discovery, do read the following Smithonian article.
Nov 24, 2014
DAY 12 - Judean Wilderness and Qumran
The highlight of today’s field trip will be the visit to Qumran. On the way there, we will follow the Old Jericho Road, which represents a steep drop in elevation from Jerusalem to Jericho (from 800 meters/2600 feet on Mount Zion in Jerusalem) to 225 meters/740 feet below sea level. If you are counting, this is an elevation loss of about 1000 meters/3000 feet! This ancient itinerary is of course the context of the parable of the Good Samaritan as recorded in Luke 10.
Jericho (Tell es-Sultan) is a famous archaeological site with a settlement going back to some of the earliest human presence in the Jordan Valley. The site is also a matter of intense debate with respect to the destruction of the city by Joshua (Joshua 2, 6). The 20th century excavator John Garstang interpreted the archaeological evidence to support the biblical narrative that the site was destroyed during the early part of the Late Bronze Age (1400 B.C.). Kathleen Kenyon, one of the best and most colorful figures among archaeologists during the post World War II era, questioned Garstang’s conclusions. Her interpretation (now still the majority view among archaeologists) created doubts as to the veracity of the biblical record in Joshua. More recently, however, Bryant Wood has again made a strong case for the presence of a settlement at Jericho which would coincide with the biblical account of Jericho’s destruction by Joshua. If you want to dig deeper on this topic, here is a great website.
Jericho (Tell es-Sultan) is a famous archaeological site with a settlement going back to some of the earliest human presence in the Jordan Valley. The site is also a matter of intense debate with respect to the destruction of the city by Joshua (Joshua 2, 6). The 20th century excavator John Garstang interpreted the archaeological evidence to support the biblical narrative that the site was destroyed during the early part of the Late Bronze Age (1400 B.C.). Kathleen Kenyon, one of the best and most colorful figures among archaeologists during the post World War II era, questioned Garstang’s conclusions. Her interpretation (now still the majority view among archaeologists) created doubts as to the veracity of the biblical record in Joshua. More recently, however, Bryant Wood has again made a strong case for the presence of a settlement at Jericho which would coincide with the biblical account of Jericho’s destruction by Joshua. If you want to dig deeper on this topic, here is a great website.
Nov 6, 2014
DAYS 10 & 11 of the Tour - Jerusalem
For this post, we are combining days 10 and 11 since we will spend most of our time within the walls of the city of Jerusalem. Jerusalem is very challenging to explore historically and archaeologically since it is a modern city with vibrant communities and traditions. We can’t simply point to an area of the site and describe the Iron Age settlement during the time of Solomon as we do at Megiddo. Instead, we need to create mental pictures of what the city might have looked like during the biblical periods. To this end, a trip to the Israel Museum on the afternoon of the first day in Jerusalem will be immensely valuable. The stunningly beautiful and expansive model of Jerusalem during the NT period will help us grasp the magnificence of the city during the Roman Period.
Earlier in the day, the visit to the Mount of Olives will afford us a general view of the city, but again, this will not be quite what the 19th century A.D. Scottish artist David Roberts was able to capture during his visit to the Holy Land. His rendering of the city from the Mount of Olives takes us a little bit closer to the stillness and quaintness of the ancient city.
Earlier in the day, the visit to the Mount of Olives will afford us a general view of the city, but again, this will not be quite what the 19th century A.D. Scottish artist David Roberts was able to capture during his visit to the Holy Land. His rendering of the city from the Mount of Olives takes us a little bit closer to the stillness and quaintness of the ancient city.
Oct 20, 2014
DAY 9 of the Tour - Israel's Southern Frontier
On this day of traveling, we will encounter more beautiful landscape, with a rich history stretching long before Israelite presence in the land. The “Negeb” (“South” in Hebrew) was Israel’s southern frontier in biblical history: inhabitants of the Negeb lived in a zone that was prone to tribal incursions (e.g., the Amalekites against David at Ziklag, I Sam. 30) and pressures from Edom, their neighbor to the east. The region was also quite strategic: whoever controlled the eastern Negeb controlled the lucrative trade routes and access to the treasures of Arabia (spices) and Africa (ivory).
In the western Negeb, trade was conducted directly with one of the Ancient Near East’s superpowers and Israel’s neighbor: Egypt. From times long preceding the biblical period, Egyptians were particularly fond of olive oil and wine from Canaan. The Negeb sites functioned as important trading posts for the hubs on the coastline (Ashkelon, among others). Scholars have a catchy name for this type of trade network: “Port Power.” Our modern equivalent --not a perfect one, of course-- would be the FedEx hub in Memphis, Tennessee or how Singapore functions as hub for the East Asian sea trade.
Arad
Arad is one of the most fascinating settlements on the southern border of Israel. From the Early Bronze Age city (mid-second millennium BC) to the settlement on the acropolis during the time of the Israelite monarchy in the OT, Arad provides extraordinary windows into life in ancient Palestine/Israel. To get a feel for the significance of Arad, I am including as part of this post the link to an article I wrote a few years ago for The Dictionary of the Old Testament: Historical Books (InterVarsity Press, 2005; see "Arad," pp. 39–41).
In the western Negeb, trade was conducted directly with one of the Ancient Near East’s superpowers and Israel’s neighbor: Egypt. From times long preceding the biblical period, Egyptians were particularly fond of olive oil and wine from Canaan. The Negeb sites functioned as important trading posts for the hubs on the coastline (Ashkelon, among others). Scholars have a catchy name for this type of trade network: “Port Power.” Our modern equivalent --not a perfect one, of course-- would be the FedEx hub in Memphis, Tennessee or how Singapore functions as hub for the East Asian sea trade.
Arad is one of the most fascinating settlements on the southern border of Israel. From the Early Bronze Age city (mid-second millennium BC) to the settlement on the acropolis during the time of the Israelite monarchy in the OT, Arad provides extraordinary windows into life in ancient Palestine/Israel. To get a feel for the significance of Arad, I am including as part of this post the link to an article I wrote a few years ago for The Dictionary of the Old Testament: Historical Books (InterVarsity Press, 2005; see "Arad," pp. 39–41).
Oct 14, 2014
DAY 8 of the Tour - Wadi Rum
The Wadi Rum
The Wadi Rum represents another stunning ecological environment we will be privileged to visit. As we survey the area, we won’t have to stretch our imagination too far to visualize the Israelite wanderings through the wilderness (Num. 20-21). Nowadays, Bedouin tribes of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan remind us that the pastoral-nomadic lifestyle remains as authentic as it was in ages past.
This permanent “camping trip” is not unlike our own spiritual sojourning on this earth, as we emulate the faith of Abraham (Heb. 11: 8-16). Paul, the tentmaker, certainly connected the dots with Abraham’s vocation. We, too, long for a city not built with human hands (2 Cor. 5:1)!
This permanent “camping trip” is not unlike our own spiritual sojourning on this earth, as we emulate the faith of Abraham (Heb. 11: 8-16). Paul, the tentmaker, certainly connected the dots with Abraham’s vocation. We, too, long for a city not built with human hands (2 Cor. 5:1)!
Oct 1, 2014
DAY 7 of the Tour - Petra
Petra
As we celebrate the Lord’s Day in Jordan, we also happen to spend our time at one of
the true great archaeological sites in the world (think Machu Picchu in Peru).
Petra is the most visited tourist attraction in Jordan and one of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites. There is simply nothing quite like it. Petra features preeminently in several movies (Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and everyone’s favorite: The Mummy Returns). A lesser-known appearance is in Tintin (a favorite childhood comic book) and also recently put to film.
The scope of this archaeological wonder is so great, we will devote the whole day to it. Take a look at the Wikipedia entry and peruse the pictures for a sense of the magnitude and the beauty of the site. Most of the material culture at Petra relates to the Roman-Nabatean phases. The UNESCO webpage on Petra is a highly recommended read for us, with many stunning photographs of Petra’s monumental architecture (including the famous rock-hewn tombs of Nabatean kings). It also provides a good synopsis of the history of the Nabateans at Petra (AOT pp. 418-21).
As we celebrate the Lord’s Day in Jordan, we also happen to spend our time at one of
the true great archaeological sites in the world (think Machu Picchu in Peru).
Petra is the most visited tourist attraction in Jordan and one of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites. There is simply nothing quite like it. Petra features preeminently in several movies (Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and everyone’s favorite: The Mummy Returns). A lesser-known appearance is in Tintin (a favorite childhood comic book) and also recently put to film.
The scope of this archaeological wonder is so great, we will devote the whole day to it. Take a look at the Wikipedia entry and peruse the pictures for a sense of the magnitude and the beauty of the site. Most of the material culture at Petra relates to the Roman-Nabatean phases. The UNESCO webpage on Petra is a highly recommended read for us, with many stunning photographs of Petra’s monumental architecture (including the famous rock-hewn tombs of Nabatean kings). It also provides a good synopsis of the history of the Nabateans at Petra (AOT pp. 418-21).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)