The Spice of Ancient Life
The biblical world was wider than one might imagine.
The Spice of Ancient Life Read More »
A Tale of Two Scales
A metaphor for the ultimate judgment in two ancient cultures - despite their differing interpretations - still has meaning today.
A Tale of Two Scales Read More »
Say Thou Art My Sister
Thousands of clay tablets dating from the time of Abraham reveal crucial cultural context for some weird episodes in the Hebrew Bible.
Say Thou Art My Sister Read More »
A Prayer in the Privy
Today’s religious Jews recite a benediction every time they successfully complete a trip to the bathroom. Might this practice have its roots in ancient Israelite ritual?
A Prayer in the Privy Read More »
Midian and the Midianites
Northwestern Saudi Arabia may have played a crucial role in shaping the stories of the Hebrew Bible. A reader of last month’s post was curious about the Land of Midian, which I mentioned twice: once in a story from the Book of Exodus about where Moses fled after killing an Egyptian slave-driver, and a second
Midian and the Midianites Read More »
Mining the Evidence
Intense economic activity in the biblical era centered on a copper mine not far from the Red Sea. Archaeologists have found a tabernacle similar to the one described in the Hebrew Bible at the site.
Mining the Evidence Read More »
Stonehenge in Sinai
Hundreds of uncarved standing stones, almost all facing east, almost all in deliberate arrangements, have been strewn throughout the wilderness of Israel since the fifth millennium BCE. They may be silent witnesses to essential tenets of Judaism today.
Stonehenge in Sinai Read More »
The Name(s) of God
The appellation “Jehovah” is an English mispronunciation of a German spelling of a Hebrew word that no one knows how to say out loud.
The Name(s) of God Read More »
The Origins of God
Some scholars see evidence that Jehovah may have started out as a warrior god worshiped in the Land of Midian.
The Origins of God Read More »