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richard elliott friedman

richard elliott friedman Latest

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Mar 2 Blog

Did the Ancient Israelites Think Children Were People?

By: T. M. Lemos

The Book of Exodus presumably reflects the views of its Israelite authors on their deity, morality, and the like. Why then would the Israelites have imagined Yahweh slaughtering Egyptian children for sins the children themselves had not committed? Did the Israelites even think children were persons with any type of rights?

Domenichino

Jan 31 Blog

How the Serpent in the Garden Became Satan

By: Shawna Dolansky

The serpent in the Garden of Eden is portrayed as just that: a serpent. The story in Genesis 2–3 contains no hint that he embodies the devil, Satan or any other evil power. So where does the devil come into the details of Eden? Biblical scholar Shawna Dolansky examines how the serpent became Satan.

Dec 31 Blog

Understanding Israel’s 10 Commandments

By: Shawna Dolansky

Are the 10 Commandments really a moral code, or did the ancients understand them rather as the constitutional basis of a political theocracy?

Nov 15 Blog

Love Your Neighbor: Only Israelites or Everyone?

By: Richard Elliott Friedman

The Book of Leviticus tells us to love our neighbors, but who are our neighbors? Does the command mean to just love fellow Israelites—or everyone?

open-torah-pointer

Oct 15 Blog

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?

garden-of-eden-fall-of-man

Aug 28 Blog

Should We Take Creation Stories in Genesis Literally?

By: Robin Ngo

Were the creation stories in Genesis meant to be taken literally? Maybe not, says Biblical scholar Shawna Dolansky in her Biblical Views column “The Multiple Truths of Myths” in the January/February 2016 issue of BAR.

Jun 1 Blog

Beyond the Texts

By: Biblical Archaeology Society Staff

Richard Elliott Friedman reviews Beyond the Texts by William G. Dever.

Feb 22 Blog

The Exodus

By: Biblical Archaeology Society Staff

Eric H. Cline reviews The Exodus by Richard Elliott Friedman.

gutenberg_bible

Jul 17 Blog

An Introduction to the Hebrew Bible with Richard Elliott Friedman

By: Biblical Archaeology Society Staff

Take a course on the Hebrew Bible from the comfort of your own home with renowned Biblical scholar Richard Elliott Friedman.

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Feb 18 Blog

The Biblical Archaeology Society 2015 Publication Awards Call For Entries

By: Biblical Archaeology Society Staff

Nominations are invited for the 2015 Biblical Archaeology Society Publication Awards for books published in 2013 and 2014.

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A Digger’s Life: A Guide to the Archaeology Dig Experience
The Dead Sea Scrolls: Past, Present, and Future
Biblical Peoples—The World of Ancient Israel
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