Biblical Archaeology Review, May/June 2008
Features
Nebi Samwil
Where Samuel Crowned Israel’s First King
On Tuesday morning, June 7, 1099, the knights of the First Crusade caught their first glimpse of Jerusalem—from a height near the campsite where they had spent the night. The Crusaders called the hill Mons Gaudii—Mount Joy, or Montjoie in Norman French. The Holy City had finally...Read more ›
Did Captured Ark Afflict Philistines with E.D.?
I’ve always been troubled by the Philistine hemorrhoids. The Hebrew word is ‘opalim (Mylpe). That was supposedly their affliction when they captured the Ark of the Covenant and placed it before a statue of their god Dagon. The story is told about the Ark (sometimes called the...Read more ›
Judas Iscariot Among the Gnostics
What the Gospel of Judas Really Says
As we go to press, the National Geographic has announced the publication of a substantially revised edition of its The Gospel of Judas, which it originally published less than two years ago, in 2006. The new edition is not yet available for sale but has been made...Read more ›
Ein Gedi’s Archaeological Riches
I have visited Ein Gedi, the oasis on the western shore of the Dead Sea, a number of times. But not until I looked at this volume did I appreciate its rich variety of archaeological treasures. Most tourists who stop here come for the natural beauty, not...Read more ›