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Flavius Josephus

May 30 Blog

Josephus on the Essenes

By: BAS Staff

Josephus’s commentaries on the laws and characteristics of the Essene community have been invaluable to scholars studying ancient Jewish laws and customs.

Late-15th-century painting of The Last Supper by the Spanish artist known as the Master of Perea.

Apr 6 Blog

Was Jesus’ Last Supper a Seder?

By: Jonathan Klawans

Many assume that Jesus' Last Supper was a Seder, the ritual Passover meal. Examine evidence from the synoptic Gospels with scholar Jonathan Klawans.

last-supper

Mar 31 Blog

Jesus’ Last Supper Still Wasn’t a Passover Seder Meal

By: Jonathan Klawans

Many people still assume that Jesus’ Last Supper was a Seder, a ritual meal held in celebration of the Jewish holiday of Passover. In this exclusive Bible History Daily guest post, Boston University Professor of Religion Jonathan Klawans provides an update to his popular Bible Review article questioning this common assumption.

Aug 26 eBook

The Dead Sea Scrolls: Past, Present, and Future

By: Robert Bronder

The Dead Sea Scrolls are considered by many to be the most significant archaeological find of the 20th century. This year, 2022, marks the 75th […]

Qumran Pool

Oct 13 Blog

Clean or Unclean?

By: John Drummond

Second Temple Judaism has become almost synonymous with the idea of ritual purity. From various sources, including Rabbinic writings, the works of Josephus, and the […]

gutenberg_bible

Aug 2 Blog

Defining Biblical Hermeneutics

By: Ellen White

The hermeneutics of the Bible are the many ways people read the Bible.

Nov 29 Blog

Biblical Pharisees and Jewish Halakhah

By: Biblical Archaeology Society Staff

Were the Biblical Pharisees really as bad as the New Testament makes them seem? Professor Roland Deines of the University of Nottingham thinks not.

damascus-document

Jul 13 Blog

First Person: Was the Dead Sea Scroll Community Celibate?

By: Hershel Shanks

One of the many fascinating questions about the Dead Sea Scroll community living at Qumran is whether its members were celibate. Did they marry and have children or not?

Jan 5 Blog

Ancient Jewish Theology and Law

By: Robin Ngo

According to scholar Jonathan Klawans, ancient Jews—including the Pharisees, Sadducees and Essenes—cared as much about matters of Jewish theology as about laws and practices.

building-qumran

Aug 26 Blog

Sectarianism in the Second Temple Period

By: Lawrence H. Schiffman

In part three of his study on schisms in Jewish history, Lawrence H. Schiffman examines sectarianism in the Second Temple Period.

Must-Read Free eBooks

The Dead Sea Scrolls: Past, Present, and Future
Biblical Peoples—The World of Ancient Israel
Who Was Jesus? Exploring the History of Jesus’ Life
Ancient Israel in Egypt and the Exodus
More Free eBooks

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