Category Archives: Bible Lands

The Cyrus Cylinder may not be as tolerant as some suggest

Posted on March 7, 2012 | 2 comments

Dr. Jacob L. Wright, Candler School of Theology, offers a warning about using the Cyrus Cylinder as a model of toleration. He says,

As most historians who specialize in early Persian history would readily point out, the chief objective of Cyrus and his successors was no different than that of other imperial powers: to maintain control of their vast empire and to exploit the wealth of its subjects. Palace reliefs at Persepolis and Susa express this “vision of peace” in dramatic visual form: Delegations from various peoples are shown solemnly bearing precious gifts up to the enthroned king.

This perspective is in response to the lecture by Neil MacGregor, director of the British Museum, that we called attention to here.

The photo below shows a brick from Ur, in Southern Mesopotamia. According to the display sign in the British Museum the inscription in Babylonian cuneiform reads:

Cyrus, king of the world, king of Anshan, son of Cambyses, king of Ansham. The great gods delivered all the lands into my hand, and I made this land to dwell in peace.

The Biblical account of Cyrus allowing the Jews to return to their land and rebuild their temple is recorded in 2 Chronicle 36: 22-23 and Ezra 1:1-4.

Brick bearing name of Cyrus. British Museum. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

Brick with Babylonian inscription bearing name of Cyrus. British Museum. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

Wright concludes his article with these words,

The values of tolerance that the Cyrus Cylinder has come to represent today must be held high. Yet in doing so, we must also heed the voices of those who opposed Persia’s imperial reach. Otherwise, we lose sight of the danger posed by any power that would organize the world primarily for the purpose of greater control, exploitation and expansion.

The complete article is available in The Huffington Post Religion section here.

HT: Jack Sasson

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Posted in Archaeology, Bible Lands, Bible Study, Israel, Old Testament, Photography

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New discoveries at the Colossi of Memnon

Posted on March 6, 2012 | 1 comment

On the way from Luxor to the Valley of the Kings on the West Bank of the Nile one passes two huge statues known as the Colossi of Memnon. The statues are nearly 60 feet tall, and once stood at the entrance to the funerary temple of Amenhotep III (also known as Amenophis III). With their crowns, each statue would have been about 66 feet tall. Amenhotep III ruled Egypt during the 18th Dynasty (14th century B.C.).

During the time of the Roman Empire the statues were mistakenly associated with “Memnon, son of Eos and Tithonus, who was killed by Achilles during the Trojan War” (Baedeker’s Egypt).

Travelers since the time of the Emperor Nero have carved their name in these sandstone statues.

The photo below was made January 17, 2011. A fence may be seen in the background where archaeologists were working to restore new statues that have been found over the past few years.

The Colossi of Memnon in the West Bank of the Nile. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

The Colossi of Memnon in the West Bank of the Nile. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

I was able to get a few photos of the area where the workers were restoring some of the statues recently uncovered. Notice some items covered with white, and others lined up on the right side of our photo.

Temple of Amenophis III - West Bank of the Nile. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

Temple of Amenophis III - West Bank of the Nile. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

In the next photo you will see several pieces covered. One shows the distinct appearance of a giant arm in my original photo.

Temple of Amenophis III - West Bank of the Nile. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

Temple of Amenophis III - West Bank of the Nile. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

In addition to what I was able to see, the Luxor Times reported the unveiling of yet another new statute that has been restored. Here is one of the photo from that report. The brief news report with several photos may be read here.

Colossian statue of Amenhotep III - Luxor Times.

Colossian statue of Amenhotep III - Luxor Times.

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Posted in Archaeology, Bible Lands, Egypt, Photography, Travel

Has the tomb of a pre-70 A.D. Christian been found?

Posted on February 28, 2012 | 1 comment

It happens either before Christmas or Easter. A tremendous discovery has been made that will support or undermine Christianity. Everything we have always thought about Jesus, the early Christians, and the Bible will undergo a radical change as soon as the book by the discoverers and the TV program is released. (I have some friends who think so literally that I am fearful they will not understand my attempt to be satirical.)

James Tabor at SBL, Atlanta, 2010.

Prof. James Tabor at SBL, 2010.

If I say nothing about this, some readers will send me links to it and ask my opinion. Rather than dig into all of this material about the discovery by Prof. James Tabor and filmmaker Simcha Jacobovici, I am going to direct my readers to Todd Bolen’s Bible Places Blog. Todd will do a much better job with this than I could. You might prefer to begin with the bottom link and move up. Then check for updates for the next few days.

Bolen has already posted three significant blogs ahead of the onslaught of media attention. Read, and examine carefully.

  • More Reports on the Jerusalem Fish Ossuary here.
  • Jesus Discovery: Early Christian Burial in Jerusalem here.
  • Tomorrow: The Jesus Discovery here.

The words of an early Christian apostle would be appropriate here.

But examine all things; hold fast to what is good. (1 Thessalonians 5:21 NET)

UPDATE: Todd Bolen has now commented on Dr. Tabor’s preliminary report here. The complete 46-page report is available in PDF here.

Let the media begin. Fox News just ran a report about this discovery. See link here. Trace Gallagher informed us that “the gospels date to 200 or 300 years after Jesus.” Poor guy. I think he means well, but has left his area of expertise.

UPDATE  Feb. 29: Bible Places Blog includes a report here by Gordon Franz who was present at the press conference. Franz says,

My initial impression is that the “fish” looks like an ornamental glass vessel, perhaps a pitcher or flask of some sort.

An illustration is included.

Another Update: See “Talpiot Tomb Updates” here.

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Posted in Archaeology, Bible Lands, Bible Places, Bible Study, Israel, New Testament

Visual illustrations for Daniel 8

Posted on February 26, 2012 | 1 comment

In Daniel’s vision of a ram and a male goat we are given a glimpse of the two world empires following Babylon — the Medo-Persian Empire and the Alexandrian (or Hellenistic/Grecian) Empire.

Daniel sees a ram.

I raised my eyes and saw, and behold, a ram standing on the bank of the canal. It had two horns, and both horns were high, but one was higher than the other, and the higher one came up last. (Daniel 8:3 ESV)

Ram at Socoh. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

A ram. With horns like that it is easy to see who is boss. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

In apocalyptic literature the visions take liberty with reality. It would require an artist to draw the ram and the male goat exactly as Daniel saw them.

Then Daniel sees a male goat.

As I was considering, behold, a male goat came from the west across the face of the whole earth, without touching the ground. And the goat had a conspicuous horn between his eyes. (Daniel 8:5 ESV)

A male goat in Gilead (modern Jordan). Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

A male goat in Gilead (modern Jordan). Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

The interpretation is easier for us than it was for Daniel before Gabriel gave him an understanding of the vision (vs. 15-16).

As for the ram that you saw with the two horns, these are the kings of Media and Persia.  And the goat is the king of Greece. And the great horn between his eyes is the first king.  (Daniel 8:20-21 ESV)

It will not be difficult to find other uses for photos of the ram and the male goat in Bible lessons (e.g., Genesis 15:9; Leviticus 23:19; 16:5)

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Posted in Bible Lands, Bible Places, Bible Study, Biblical Studies, Culture, Greece, Old Testament, Photography, Travel

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Neil MacGregor: 2600 years of history in one object

Posted on February 20, 2012 | 2 comments

A friend just forwarded a link to a fascinating talk by Neil MacGregor, Director of the British Museum, about the Cyrus Cylinder. MacGregor took the Cyrus Cylinder from the British Museum to Iran when it was loan to the museum in Tehran.

What I learned was the use made of the Cyrus Cylinder by the Jews at the time of the Balfour Declaration, and the use made of it by the Shah of Iran.

MacGregor speaks of the Cyrus Cylinder as a “major player in the politics of the Middle East.”

Follow this link. The film is about 20 minutes old.

Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing:  “Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, ‘The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever is among you of all his people, may the LORD his God be with him. Let him go up.'” (2 Chronicles 36:22-23 ESV)

The Cyrus Cylinder in the British Museum. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

The Cyrus Cylinder in the British Museum. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

Check some of our previous links to the Cyrus Cylinder here and here. Use the search box to locate others.

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Posted in Archaeology, Bible Lands, Bible Places, Bible Study, Israel, Old Testament, Photography, Travel

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Cooking at 4th century Qatzrin

Posted on February 20, 2012 | 1 comment

Golan in Bashan is first mentioned in the Bible in connection with the priestly cities of refuge that were appointed to Israel east of the Jordan (Deuteronomy 4:43; cf. Joshua 20:8; 1 Chronicles 6:71).

After modern Israel captured the Golan Heights from Syria in 1967, considerable efforts was made to identify Jewish villages that may have existed in the area. One such village was Qatzrin (pronounced kats-REEN). Archaeologist Anne Killebrew spent a decade or more working at the site and directing the reconstruction of the site which included a synagogue and several houses.

Qatzrin was originally built in the 4th century A.D. and remained in use till the mid-8th century. I wanted to show you the oven that we have from that village. The photo below shows a small clay oven placed within a mud-brick chimney. The chimney took the smoke out of the house and provided heat for the second floor bed room as well as for the kitchen. Not quite a microwave, but it wasn’t terribly different from the wood-burning stoves I knew as a child. (No, not in the 4th century!)

An oven inside a chimney at Qatzrin. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

An oven inside a mud-brick chimney at Qatzrin. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

Killebrew and Steven Fine wrote about “Qatzrin—Reconstructing Village Life in Talmudic Times” in Biblical Archaeology Review 17:03 (May/June 1991). The reconstruction of the oven and chimney are explained in a sidebar to the article.

The kitchen of the House of Rabbi Abun, seen on our cover, can be understood as a microcosm of the painstaking effort that went into the reconstruction of the whole house. The small domed oven at center stands within a mudbrick chimney. Excavated remains of this indoor oven—employed both for heating the house and for cooking in bad weather, when outdoor cooking was difficult—indicated the size and shape of the oven, a type still used by the Druze (a Moslem sect residing in the area). A portion of the chimney exits the roof in the corner, behind the period pottery on the chimney’s mantle, and rises high enough above the roof to create a draw that effectively pulls smoke out of the house. No remains of the original chimney were found, but the reconstruction was built, as was the rest the house, by Druze workmen using traditional styles and methods. Experiments have shown that this chimney works well.

Both Matthew and Luke record the statement of Jesus,

But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? (Matthew 6:30; cf. Luke 12:28 ESV)

The Greek word for oven or furnace (in a few English versions) is klibanos. According to BDAG it is used of “an oven (made of pottery),” exactly what you see in the photo.

Louw-Nida explains further:

a dome-like structure made of clay, in which wood and dried grass were burned, and then after being heated, was used for baking bread – ‘oven.’… ‘the grass of the field which is alive today and tomorrow is cast into the oven’ Mt 6.30. The function of klibanos may be described as ‘a place heated for baking bread,’…

After one gets the fire going with grass or other kindling, it was often kept going with dung cakes. See Ezekiel 4:15 for a biblical example.

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Posted in Archaeology, Bible Lands, Bible Study, Culture, Israel, New Testament, Old Testament, Photography, Travel

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Baking bread in Bible times

Posted on February 18, 2012 | 4 comments

The Druze are especially noted in Israel for baking bread on a convex griddle. There are Druze villages on Mount Carmel and in the Golan Heights where the border with Israel and Syria come together. The photo below slows a woman preparing the dough for baking at a restaurant in the north of the Golan Heights at Birket Ram.

Druze woman preparing bread for baking at Birket Ram. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

Druze woman preparing bread for baking at Birket Ram. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

She will first place the dough on a rounded cushion which looks like a pillow (at the bottom of the photo).

After that she will turn it over on the griddle at the top of the photo. There you see bread cooking. To the left there is bread that has been taken from the griddle. Your chosen ingredients of meal and/or vegetables will be rolled in the thin bread.

Druze woman preparing bread for baking at Birket Ram. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

Druze woman preparing bread for baking at Birket Ram. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

I certainly am not an expert on cooking, nor even an expert on how this type of cooking might compare with some bread baking in Bible times. Ovens were often used by people of the Bible world, but some bread was cooked on a plate or griddle made of clay or iron.

King and Stager say,

“When a griddle (mahabat) of clay or iron (Ezek. 4:3) was used, it was set on stones over a pit in which a fire was kindled; then the dough was baked directly on the griddle” (Life in Biblical Israel, 66).

There are a few biblical references in which this type of griddle seems to be in mind.

And if your offering is a grain offering baked on a griddle, it shall be of fine flour unleavened, mixed with oil. (Leviticus 2:5; see also 6:21; 7:9 ESV)

For a visual aid, Ezekiel was told to take an iron griddle (plate, frying pan) and use it as an iron wall between himself and the city.

And you, take an iron griddle, and place it as an iron wall between you and the city; and set your face toward it, and let it be in a state of siege, and press the siege against it. This is a sign for the house of Israel. (Ezekiel 4:3 ESV)

Holladay’s Hebrew lexicon defines the Hebrew word for griddle as “(metal) plate, griddle for roasting & frying.”

I would write more, but I think I will go eat.

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Posted in Bible Lands, Bible Study, Culture, Israel, Old Testament, Photography, Travel

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Great deal for Logos (or Libronix) users

Posted on February 16, 2012 | 1 comment

Logos has a feature called Community Pricing. It works like this. A book (or set) is chosen for publication. Interested persons are asked to place a bid on the completed digital publication. When there are enough bids to pay for publication the book is published. After the initial publication, the price goes up. I have purchased many Logos publication using Community Pricing and Pre-Publication Specials.

To use the Community Pricing or Pre-Pub specials you must already have Logos (or Libronix) on your computer. You may purchase a base package from Logos, or buy a relatively inexpensive set of books from someone like Rejoice Christian Software. I suggestion you buy something like the  Baker New Testament Commentary ($50 here), the Norman Geisler Apologetics CD-Rom Library ($25 here), or one of the other great specials they offer.

Back to the Community Pricing. The Travels through Bible Lands Collection (15 vols.) is now available for $15 (and it might go lower if more people purchase before noon Friday). I bid $20 several months ago. Just saved $5.

Travel through Bible Lands collection. Only in digital format.

Travel through Bible Lands collection. Only in digital format.

Here is some info about the set of nearly 7,000 pages. Just the four volumes by Tristram and Layard are worth far more than the asking price. The works are all old, but sometimes old is good.

The Dead Sea. Bethlehem. The Sea of Galilee. Jericho. Babylon. Cairo. These are but a few of the places visited by these courageous writers in the Travels through the Bible Lands Collection (15 Vols.). During the turn of the nineteenth century, traveling to and across the Holy Land was a dangerous and arduous journey for a Westerner. These diverse explorers—missionaries, writers, cartographers, theologians, ethnographers, diplomats, archeologists—risk the danger to trek the deserts between Egypt and Turkey, survey the caves of the Dead Sea, dig in the dirt of Babylon, fight disease in Beirut, spread the gospel in Turkey, and stand in awe of the pyramids of Egypt.

These fifteen volumes embody some of the best travel writing of the nineteenth century. After two failed expeditions, Henry Baker Tristram finally gets his chance to explore the east shore of the Dead Sea with the help of a prominent sheik and his armed men. Charles Warner chronicles his winter-long voyage through Egypt, culminating in an unforgettable Christmas spent on the Nile River. Austen Henry Layard and his team survive a perilous journey to The Holy Land, and make historical discoveries at the ruins of Nineveh and Babylon for their efforts. Ella Sykes, exploring the alleyways of Tehran and the beauty of the Indian desert, becomes one of the first European women to travel across Persia. William Wittman, a British surgeon, battles unfamiliar diseases as he treats patients from Turkey to Egypt on his long expedition with the British Army.

Each volume in this collection is rich with Scriptural landmarks, highlighting some of the most significant places from the Bible. Full of adventure and inspiration, Travels through Bible Lands Collection (15 Vols.) is a fascinating window into history that is perfect for any Logos collection.

Logos is also giving away a free book each month. The free one for February is The Works of B. B. Warfield, Vol. 1: Revelation and Inspiration.

To check out either offer, just go to Logos.com, and then click on the appropriate tab.

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Posted in Bible Lands, Bible Places, Bible Study, Books, Israel, Jordan, New Testament, Old Testament

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Those who ride white female donkeys

Posted on February 15, 2012 | 2 comments

Deborah was a prophetess who judged Israel (Judges 4:4). In the Song of Deborah, the prophetess describes the conditions in the country before she arrived on the scene.

Caravans had ceased. Travelers kept to the side roads. There were no warriors in Israel till Deborah arose. She describes herself “as a mother in Israel” (Judges 5:7). She cared for and nurtured the nation just as a mother cares for and nurtures her own child. Under her leadership warriors arose and conditions improved.

6 “In the days of Shamgar son of Anath,
in the days of Jael, the caravans had ceased,
the travelers, they kept to the byways.
7 The warriors ceased;
they failed to appear in Israel;
until I, Deborah, arose;
I arose as a mother in Israel.
8 God chose new leaders,
then war was at the gates;
a small shield for a spear was not seen
among forty thousand in Israel.
9 My heart goes out to the commanders of Israel,
those offering themselves willingly among the people;
bless Yahweh!
10 The riders of white female donkeys,
those sitting on saddle blankets,
and those going on the way, talk about it!
11 At the sound of those dividing the sheep
among the watering places,
there they will recount the righteous deeds of Yahweh,
the righteous deeds for his warriors in Israel.
Then the people of Yahweh went down to the gates.
12 “Wake up, wake up, Deborah!
Wake up, wake up, sing a song!
Get up, Barak!
Take captive your captives, O son of Abinoam.  (Judges 5:6-12, The Lexham English Bible)

Verse 10 caught my attention. Deborah mentioned the riders of “white female donkeys” who sat on saddle blankets. I take it that these were the more well to do individuals.

Donkey and colt at Nazareth Village. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

Donkey and colt at Nazareth Village. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

The Hebrew word used for white is defined in several lexicons as “tawny.” The donkey being described by Deborah might look more like the one below.

Donkey near Nebi Samwil and Gibeon. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

Donkey between Nebi Samwil and Gibeon. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

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Posted in Bible Lands, Bible Places, Bible Study, Israel, Old Testament, Photography, Travel

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Zacharias asked for a writing tablet

Posted on January 18, 2012 | 3 comments

When John was born, the neighbors and relatives thought they would call the child “Zacharias, after his father.” His mother, Elizabeth, said that he should be called John. The guests made signs to the mute Zacharias to have him say what he wanted the child called. Luke says,

He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they were all amazed.  (Luke 1:63 NET)

The Greek word Luke used for tablet is pinakidion. It is used only here in the New Testament. BDAG Lexicon says the term is used of a “little (wooden) tablet esp. of a writing-tablet for notes.”  Louw-Nida says the word describes “a small writing tablet (normally made of wood).” The Study Note in the NET Bible points out that “The writing tablet requested by Zechariah [Zacharias] would have been a wax tablet.”

Four leaves of a wooden writing tablet. Roman period from Hawara, Egypt. British Museum.

Wooden writing tablet (Roman period from Egypt). British Museum. Photo by F. Jenkins.

Ralph Earle comments on the tablet:

It was a wax-coated, small, wooden “writing tablet” (NIV)—something quite different from a “writing table” (KJV). — Word Meanings in the New Testament.

A little insight into the culture of the time makes the Bible come alive.

Origen, c. 185–c. 254, comments on this verse in his Commentary on Matthew Bk. XIII.

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Posted in Bible Lands, Bible Study, Church History, Culture, Israel, New Testament, Travel

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