MAGAZINE HIGHLIGHTS

Biblical Archaeology Review, Fall 2024

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The Fall 2024 issue of Biblical Archaeology Review showcases the latest discoveries that are shaping our understanding of the biblical world. In “Jews of Arabia,” journey to North Arabia to uncover evidence of the early Jews who migrated to this distant land following the Jewish revolts. Then head to “Gath of the Philistines” where excavation at Tell es-Safi has revealed new insights into ancient Israel’s archenemy. In “Letters to Pharaoh,” examine the Amarna Letters to discover the creative ways that Canaanite scribes used language to relay messages to Egypt’s rulers. And in “Too Good to Be True?” join epigrapher Christopher Rollston as he investigates the sensational claims made about several recently discovered inscriptions.

Strata looks back at the history of Israeli archaeology and how the search for the biblical past has long been tied to the country’s identity. We also review The Bible Among Ruins, which discusses how the biblical writers understood the ruined cities that were still visible in the landscape they inhabited. And we take you on a guided tour of Beth Shean, which was a major Canaanite (and then Israelite) city in the Jordan Valley before it was rebuilt as Scythopolis of the Decapolis.

In Epistles, re-examine the so-called Documentary Hypothesis about the Pentateuch’s origins. Dig deeper into the meaning of the name of Israel’s God YHWH, how it was likely pronounced, and why it took on special significance in Jewish tradition. Then revisit the works of Josephus, the rebel-turned-historian who chronicled Judean history and culture for his Roman audience.

Visit us online, at Bible History Daily, to see the latest news in biblical archaeology or to delve into additional articles, eBooks, and videos about key Bible and archaeology topics. And enjoy this issue’s Web Exclusive, “Who Were the Philistines?” to dig deeper into this infamous biblical people, where they came from, and what made their culture so distinctive.

All-Access Members can explore the BAS Library, which features every article ever published in Biblical Archaeology Review, Bible Review, and Archaeology Odyssey, as well as Special Collections of articles curated by BAR editors.

Features

Jews of Arabia: Ancient Inscriptions Reveal Jewish Diaspora

Gary A. Rendsburg
In the wake of two disastrous revolts against Rome, many Jews left Judah for neighboring lands, including the verdant oases of ancient North Arabia, where inscriptions bear silent witness to the lives of the early Jews who made Arabia their home. Explore what these inscriptions reveal about the Jewish presence at major oasis centers like Tayma, Al-Ula, and Hegra.

Gath of the Philistines: A New View of Ancient Israel’s Archenemy

Aren M. Maeir
A quarter-century of excavations at Tell es-Safi, site of the Philistine city of Gath, has allowed archaeologists to refine longstanding assumptions about ancient Israel’s most feared rivals and how these people of foreign origin integrated into the social and ethnic fabric of the southern Levant. Venture into this thriving metropolis to glimpse the rich and diverse culture of one of the region’s most powerful Iron Age kingdoms.

Letters to Pharaoh: The Canaanite Amarna Tablets

Alice Mandell
The Amarna Letters, a collection of cuneiform documents discovered in Egypt, provide a wealth of insights into diplomatic relations between Egypt and the kingdoms and empires of the Late Bronze Age. The letters written from the kings of the Canaanite polities illuminate the social and political realities these rulers faced, as well as the contours of their Canaanite language.

Too Good to Be True? Reckoning with Sensational Inscriptions

Christopher Rollston
From time to time, the world of biblical archaeology is upended by the discovery of a remarkable inscription. But is it possible that our insatiable appetite for such groundbreaking finds clouds our ability to evaluate them cautiously and fairly? A closer look at a few recent examples sheds light on how our eagerness to find the sensational can lead even experts to jump to inaccurate conclusions.

Departments

Strata

“Legio Lane” Unearthed Near Megiddo
How Many?
Trojan War Scenes Found at Pompeii
Where Is It?
Assyrian Seal Discovered in Galilee
Dating Biblical Jerusalem
Bar-Kokhba Revolt Coins
Out of Africa
Multicultural Elephantine
The Changing Landscape of Israeli Archaeology
Then and Now: Sleep Tight
Site-Seeing: Beth Shean: A Tale of Two Sites
Milestone: Donald Whitcomb (1944–2024)
Milestone: Edward Lipiński (1930–2024)
Century Mark: First Major Excavation of Babylon
Book Review: The Bible Among Ruins
World Wonders: The Valley of Elah

Epistles

Parsing the Divine Name
Text Treasures: The Histories of Flavius Josephus
Define Intervention
A Thousand Words: Door Panel from Cairo’s Hanging Church
What Happened to the Documentary Hypothesis?
What’s in a Name?: Nefertiti

Plus

Digging In
Queries & Comments
Authors
Caption Contest

Web Exclusive

Who Were the Philistines?
More Queries & Comments

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