Bible History Daily
Jul 17
The Odyssey, the Bronze Age Collapse, and the World Before Israel
For many readers, Homer’s Odyssey is remembered as a story about journeying home. The cyclopes, Sirens, and sea monsters who prolong Odysseus’s voyage have made […]
Jul 17
“Hey, Turtledove!”
Biblical writers in both testaments are known for their excellent writing, vibrant verbs, limited descriptions, and—above all!—brevity. Instead of lengthy explanations, they control the narrative […]
Jul 16
What Does the Bible Say About Tattoos?
By: Megan Sauter
Although Leviticus 19:28 clearly prohibits tattoos, it does not give an explicit reason why. This begs the question: Why does the Bible prohibit tattoos?
Jul 16
Jews and Arabs Descended from Canaanites
By: Jonathan Laden
After examining the DNA of 93 bodies recovered from archaeological sites around the southern Levant, the land of Canaan in the Bible, researchers have concluded […]
Jul 15
Christianity in Pagan Homes
It is well known that early Christian communities gathered in private homes. Dedicated church buildings did not appear until much later, with adapted house churches […]
Jul 15
Eating Salted Fish in Roman Judea
Excavated along the northern coast of Israel more than four decades ago, a large industrial site has long been understood as a Roman-era factory for […]
Jul 14
Hanukkah, 1 and 2 Maccabees, and the Apocrypha
By: Jonathan Klawans
Every year, Jewish families the world over celebrate the festival of Hanukkah. And how dramatic it is: Just as the nights are starting earlier and […]
Jul 14
Bible Scholar Brent Landau Asks “Who Were the Magi?”
By: BAS Staff
A lost Syriac manuscript, the Revelation of the Magi, translated into English by Bible scholar Brent Landau, may help answer that key question from the Christmas story: “Who were the magi?”
Jul 13
Lost Christian Town Emerges from Egypt’s Western Desert
The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced the discovery of a well-preserved Byzantine-era settlement at the site of Ein Sabeel in the Dakhla Oasis. […]
Jul 13
Fortifying Arabia
Although the urbanization of Canaan in the Early Bronze Age (c. 3300–2000 BCE) has long been established in scholarship, recent excavations in Saudi Arabia have […]
