Reviews

Enjoy book reviews by top scholars on wide-ranging topics in religion, archaeology and Biblical studies.

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• The Sisters of Sinai

  Reviewed by John Merrill   •  03/21/2012

  

  In her book The Sisters of Sinai, author Janet Soskice recounts the remarkable adventure that led to the discovery of the Sinai Palimpsest.   Read more…
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• Knights of Jerusalem: The Crusading Order of Hospitallers

  Reviewed by Adrian Boas   •  03/21/2012

  

  David Nicolle’s new book takes a look at the Order of Hospitallers, a military order of the Christian Crusades.   Read more…
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• The Oxford Handbook of the Dead Sea Scrolls

  Reviewed by Charlotte Hempel   •  03/21/2012

  

  Discovered in the caves above Qumran, the Dead Sea Scrolls have provided scholars with important information about the Jewish communities that resided in the environs of Qumran.   Read more…
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• Reading Genesis: Ten Methods

  Reviewed by Kent Harold Richards   •  03/21/2012

  

  Reading Genesis: Ten Methods edited by Ronald Hendel provides new approaches to Genesis Bible study and is a new tool that explains how to study the Bible effectively.   Read more…
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• The Historical Jesus: An Essential Guide

  Reviewed by John Merrill   •  03/21/2012

  

  In The Historical Jesus: An Essential Guide, New Testament and Dead Sea Scroll scholar James H. Charlesworth uses historical evidence to answer the question: Did Jesus exist?   Read more…
  1 comment

• Archaeology, Dogs and Gin: Dame Kathleen Kenyon, Digging Up the Holy Land

  Reviewed by Magen Broshi   •  03/21/2012

  

  Magen Broshi reviews Miriam C. Davis’ biography of British archaeologist Dame Kathleen Kenyon, one of the most famous archaeologists to excavate in the Holy Land.   Read more…
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• Excavating the City of David

  Reviewed by Jane Cahill West   •  03/21/2012

  

  Ronny Reich’s book on excavating the City of David, reviewed here by Jane Cahill West, reveals Jerusalem history through the eyes of one of it’s most noted archaeologists.   Read more…
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• The Bible Is for Living

  Reviewed by James F. Strange   •  03/21/2012

  

  Biblical scholar and priest Philip J. King’s has written the book he “always wanted to write” about his spiritual journey, scholarship and Bible interpretations, reviewed here by James Strange.   Read more…
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• Gertrude Bell: Queen of the Desert, Shaper of Nations

  Reviewed by Julia M. Asher-Greve   •  03/21/2012

  

  Gertrude Bell: archaeologist, feminist, stateswoman and Iraq’s first director of antiquities. Georgina Howell’s Gertrude Bell biography, reviewed here by Julia M. Asher-Greve, documents the life of this fascinating woman.   Read more…
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• City of David

  Reviewed by Jane Cahill West   •  03/21/2012

  

  Ahron Horovitz’s book on the City of David, reviewed here by Jane Cahill West, covers Jerusalem history with lavish illustrations and summaries of archaeological debates about ancient Jerusalem history.   Read more…
  1 comment

• The New Encyclopedia of Archaeological Excavations in the Holy Land, Supplementary Volume 5

  Reviewed by Philip J. King   •  02/14/2012

  

  Philip J. King reviews The New Encyclopedia of Archaeological Excavations in the Holy Land, Supplementary Volume 5, Edited by Ephraim Stern.   Read more…
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• Jerusalem’s Traitor

  Reviewed by Louis H. Feldman   •  02/13/2012

  

  Louis H. Feldman reviews “Jerusalem’s Traitor: Josephus, Masada, and the Fall of Judea” by Desmond Seward.   Read more…
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• Putting the Bible on the Map

  Reviewed by R. Steven Notley   •  02/12/2012

  

  R. Steven Notley reviews “The Biblical World: An Illustrated Atlas” by Jean-Pierre Isbouts, “Biblica: The Bible Atlas” by Barry J. Beitzel, “Aerial Atlas of the Holy Land” by John Bowker   Read more…
  1 comment

• Sex in the Bible

  Reviewed by Tal Ilan   •  02/11/2012

  

  Tal Ilan reviews “Sex in the Bible: A New Consideration” by J. Harold Ellens.   Read more…
  1 comment

• Jewish Quarter Excavations in the Old City of Jerusalem conducted by Nahman Avigad, 1969–1982 Volume III

  Reviewed by Hershel Shanks   •  02/10/2012

  

  Hershel Shanks reviews “Jewish Quarter Excavations” by Hillel Geva.   Read more…
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• Cuneiform in Canaan

  Reviewed by Hershel Shanks   •  02/09/2012

  

  Hershel Shanks reviews Cuneiform in Canaan: Cuneiform Sources from the Land of Israel in Ancient Times by Wayne Horowitz and Takayoshi Oshima.   Read more…
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• Masada VII

  Reviewed by Hershel Shanks   •  02/08/2012

  

  Hershel Shanks reviews Masada VII, The Yigael Yadin Excavations 1963–1965, Final Reports, The Pottery of Masada by Rachel Bar-Nathan.   Read more…
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• Leaves from an Epigrapher’s Notebook

  Reviewed by Christopher A. Rollston   •  02/07/2012

  

  Christopher Rollston reviews Leaves from an Epigrapher’s Notebook: Collected Papers in Hebrew and West Semitic Epigraphy, Harvard Semitic Studies, 51. by Frank Moore Cross.   Read more…
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• Explore Petra

  Reviewed by Dorothy D. Resig   •  02/06/2012

  

  Dorothy Resig reviews “Explore Petra: Lost City of Stone” by Petra National Trust.   Read more…
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• Soldier of the Pharaoh

  Reviewed by Biblical Archaeology Society Staff   •  02/05/2012

  

  Biblical Archaeology Society Staff reviews “Soldier of the Pharaoh: Middle Kingdom Egypt 2055-1650 BC” by Nic Fields.   Read more…
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• St. Peter’s

  Reviewed by Biblical Archaeology Society Staff   •  02/04/2012

  

  Biblical Archaeology Society Staff reviews “St. Peter’s” by Keith Miller.   Read more…
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• Temple Mount, the “Sacred Esplanade”

  Reviewed by James F. Strange   •  02/03/2012

  

  James F. Strange reviews “Where Heaven and Earth Meet” by Oleg Grabar and Benjamin Z. Kedar & “Jerusalem’s Temple Mount” by Hershel Shanks   Read more…
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• Bible Women

  Reviewed by Michael D. Swartz   •  02/02/2012

  

  Michael D. Swartz reviews The Gospels of Mary: The Secret Tradition of Mary Magdalene, the Companion of Jesus by Marvin Meyer with Esther A. de Boer.   Read more…
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• Neolithic and The Neolithic Revolution in the Near East

  Reviewed by Gary Rollefson   •  02/01/2012

  

  Gary Rollefson reviews “Neolithic by Susan Foster McCarter and The Neolithic Revolution in the Near East” by Alan H. Simmons.   Read more…
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• Who Owns Antiquity?

  Reviewed by Martin Weyl   •  01/31/2012

  

  Martin Weyl reviews “Who Owns Antiquity?: Museums and the Battle over Our Ancient Heritage” By James Cuno.   Read more…
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