Dr. Claude Mariottini - Professor of Old Testament

Deborah and Jael

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Claude Mariottini) — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 18:39:00 +0000

The story of the deliverance of Israel from Canaanite oppression (Judges 4-5) is focused on two women, with a third playing a supporting role. Although Barak commanded the Israelite army in battle, it was Deborah and Jael who played a major role in Sisera’s defeat. A third woman, Sisera’s mother, makes an appearance at the end of the story. Her role in the story is small, however, very significant in the context of the story.

In previous posts, I have dealt with the role of Deborah as a judge, as a prophetess, and as a mother in Israel (see below). In the present post I will address Jael’s role in Sisera’s death. In an upcoming post, I will address the role of Sisera’s mother in the Song of Deborah (Judges 5:28-30).

When Deborah commanded Barak to fight against Sisera, commander of Jabin’s army, Barak was reluctant to go to battle without Deborah’s presence. Deborah, was a prophetess, a woman called by God to urge Israel to fight for its liberation. She represented God’s presence with the army and the assurance that God would fight for Israel.

Deborah’s words to Barak serve both as an affirmation and an admonition. She said: “I will surely go with you. Nevertheless, the road on which you are going will not lead to your glory, for the LORD will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman” (Judges 4:9). Although some commentators believe that the woman mentioned in v. 9 is a reference to Deborah, it is probable that Deborah’s words anticipated Sisera’s defeat by the hands of Jael.

Jael was the wife of Heber, the Kenite. A form of her name appears in Psalm 104:18 and Job 39:1 and it means “a mountain goat” or “a wild goat.” In the Ancient Near East, women were often named after animals.

Heber was the leader of a nomadic clan who lived among the Israelites. According to Judges 4:11, Heber separated himself from the other Kenites to live among the Israelites. He pitched his tent at Elon-bezaanannim (“Oak of the Wanderer”), a place near Kedesh.

Since Heber’s clan was not Israelite, Heber had maintained a neutral position in the conflict between the Israelites and the Canaanites. Because Heber was a descendant from Hobab, Moses’ father-in-law (Judges 4:11), he lived among the Israelites. Since Heber was not hostile to the Canaanites, he established some kind of peace treaty with Jabin, King of Hazor and the Canaanites.

After the struggle between the Canaanites and the Israelites, Sisera was defeated by Barak. As a result of the flooding of the Kishon River which hindered the movement of the chariots of the Canaanite army (Judges 5:21), Sisera got down from his chariot and fled on foot, abandoning his army. In his attempt to escape Israel’s army, Sisera fled to the area where Heber lived. When he reached Heber’s tent, he took advantage of the peace that existed between Jabin and the Kenites and asked for the hospitality and protection to which he was entitled under the conditions of their relationship.

According to Judges 4:17, Sisera fled to the tent of Jael. The reason for taking refuge in Jael’s tent was probably because Heber’s tent was separated from Jael or because Heber was not present when Sisera came to Jael’s tent. According to the traditions of hospitality that existed in the Ancient Near East, Sisera believed that he was safe from Barak and his army because of the inviolability of the protection offered by his host.

However, although Sisera sought refuge among the Kenites, it was improper for a man to enter a woman’s tent. He did so because he received Jael’s invitation to enter her tent (v. 18). Because he was invited to enter her tent, Sisera accepted Jael’s invitation.

However, Sisera’s action was a violation of Ancient Near Eastern traditions. Sisera’s action was a violation of Heber’s family and dishonored Jael by entering her tent. As a man, Sisera should had approached Heber and not his wife.

Sisera asked Jael to keep watch as the entrance of the tent and asked her to lie on his behalf in order to protect his life. Such a request would endanger the alliance that existed between the Kenites and the Israelites and would put the life of Heber and his clan in danger.

Sisera told Jael: “Stand at the entrance to the tent. If a man comes and asks you, ‘Is there a man here?’ say, ‘No.’” (Judges 4:20). By asking Jael to lie and say there was no “man” in her tent, Sisera was undermining his own masculinity by saying that a warrior who seeks refuge in the tent of a woman is not a man. And since Sisera was the commander of the Canaanite army and since he sought the protection of a woman in a woman’s tent, it is clear that the writer is making an effort to womanize Sisera.

Jael offered her hospitality. After he entered and sat down exhausted on the floor, Jael covered Sisera with a mantle, some kind of blanket. Sisera asked for water but, as a good hostess, she gave him milk. She did not give him wine because the Kenites did not drink wine (Jeremiah 35:6; cf. 1 Chronicles 2:55). It is possible that the drink she gave him induced him to sleep and thus enabled her to take action against her visitor.

Confronted with Sisera’s request for asylum and her pro-Israelite sentiments, Jael made a political decision to take the side of Israel in this conflict. While Sisera was asleep from exhaustion, Jael took a tent peg and walked quietly toward him with a hammer in her hand. She hammered the tent peg through his temples into the ground and thus Sisera died, died between Jael’s feet (Judges 5:27). From the perspective of the writer of Judges, Jael’s action was justified. Since Sisera had already violated Jael’s honor, Jael’s act could be seen as a vindication of her honor. The killing of Sisera was one way by which she eliminated the threat to her clan and avenged the violation of her tent.

In his pursuit of Sisera, Barak came by the place where Jael lived. She led him into her tent, then showed him where the body of the dead warrior lay dead. The death of Sisera by the hands of Jael fulfilled the prophecy of Deborah, that God would deliver Sisera into the hand of a woman (Judges 4:9).

Jael has been criticized by many commentators because she violated the ancient Near East tradition of hospitality. Jael has been accused of being treacherous, inhospitable, and of having broken her pledge of sanctuary by killing her guest.

She is also accused of violating the peace treaty that existed between the Kenites and the king of Hazor. Jael is presented as an opportunist who, when she saw that the Israelites were defeating the Canaanites, was afraid of being accused of supporting the oppressors of Israel by hiding Sisera in her tent.

However, these interpretations are contradicted by the eulogistic reference Jael received in the Song of Deborah:

“In the days of Jael, caravans ceased and travelers kept to the byways” (Judges 5:6).

“Most blessed of women be Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, most blessed of tent-dwelling women” (Judges 5:24).

Israel saw Jael as an instrument used by God to strike the last blow against the Canaanites, an act that sealed Israel’s victory against Jabin and his army.

The death of Sisera was unusual because the general of the Canaanite army lost his life by the hands of a woman, which in the culture of the Ancient Near East, was considered to be the greatest humiliation a soldier could ever experience (see Judges 9:54).

The words about Jael in the Song of Deborah, “Most blessed of women be Jael, of tent-dwelling women most blessed” (Judges 5:24), indicate that Jael was regarded as a popular heroine in Israel, a woman who courageously accomplished what the army of Israel had not been able to accomplish. These words intimate Jael was doing the work of God in bringing judgment upon the Canaanites (Judges 4:23).

Jael’s action is celebrated as an act of God because Jael defeated the oppressor of God’s people. What Jael, Deborah, and Barak accomplished was part of the righteous acts of the LORD (Judges 5:11). The death of Sisera by the hands of Jael is then part of the work of God in liberating the oppressed and defeating the oppressor.

Jael is called “most blessed of women.” These words seem to anticipate Elizabeth’s words to Mary: “Blessed are you among the women” (Luke 1:42). In response, Mary sang a song, the Magnificat, a song that evokes God’s victory against Sisera:

He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent empty away. He has helped his servant Israel (Luke 1:51-54).

Other Posts on Deborah:

Deborah: Prophetess and Judge

Deborah: A Judge in Israel

Deborah the Prophetess

Deborah: A Mother in Israel

Sisera’s Mother (forthcoming).

Claude Mariottini
Professor of Old Testament
Northern Baptist Seminary

Tags: Barak, Deborah, Jael, Sisera, Song of Deborah

The Apostle Paul’s Remains - Again

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Claude Mariottini) — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 19:21:00 +0000

A news report from Rome says that the analysis conducted on the remains found in a tomb in Rome believed to be Paul’s body is not conclusive. The following is an excerpt from the news report:

ANSA) - Vatican City, July 3 - A recent scientific analysis on a tomb Vatican officials believe belongs to St Paul does not ''confirm or exclude'' that the relics inside are those of the apostle, the head of the Vatican Museums' diagnostics laboratory said Friday.

Speaking at a Vatican press conference Ulderico Santamaria, who is also a science professor at Tuscia University, said the analysis did not offer conclusive proof.

However, Cardinal Andrea Cordero Lanza di Montezemolo, archpriest of the basilica of St Paul's Outside the Walls where the tomb was found in 2006, said the results made him optimistic.

''Nothing is contrary and everything seems to point towards the tomb being that of the apostle, in line with a 2,000-year tradition,'' he said.

Pope Benedict XVI announced on Sunday that a probe inserted through a small hole in the tomb revealed pieces of purple and blue material, incense grains and small fragments of bone that were carbon dated to between the first and second century.

Although the Pope said that the tests “confirm the unanimous and uncontested tradition that these are the mortal remains of Paul the apostle,” it is doubtful that a definite identification is possible with the evidence available to archaeologists.

Claude Mariottini
Professor of Old Testament
Northern Baptist Seminary

Tags: Archaeology, Archaeology, Paul, Paul’s Body

June’s Top 50 Bibliobloggers

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Claude Mariottini) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:31:00 +0000

The list of the Top 50 Bibliobloggers for June 2009 is out. If you want to know who were the top 50 bibliobloggers in June, click here.

Claude Mariottini
Professor of Old Testament
Northern Baptist Seminary

Tags: Top 50 Bibliobloggers

Biblical Studies Carnival 43

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Claude Mariottini) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:18:00 +0000

Patrick McCullough at kata ta biblia has posted his selection for the Biblical Studies Carnival 43 or, what he called, “The Apocalypse of Eve.”

Pat’s selection was presented in a very creative way. Visit Pat’s blog and review his selection.

Claude Mariottini
Professor of Old Testament
Northern Baptist Seminary

Tags: Biblical Studies Carnival

Biblical Scholarship and Sex

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Claude Mariottini) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:59:00 +0000

I have been reading some of the books I have selected to read this summer. My list is long and it includes different types of books. Some of them are in the areas of biblical studies while others deal with ethics, political science, and fiction.

I have already finished reading Elie Wiesel’s Night. I wrote a review of the book and published it here. Now, I am reading Alan M. Dershowitz’s The Genesis of Justice (New York: Warner Books, 2000). The subtitle of the book explains what the book is all about: Ten Stories of Biblical Injustice that Led to the Ten Commandments and Modern Law.

All ten stories are taken from the book of Genesis. So far, I am enjoying reading and learning some interesting things.

I have selected a quote from the book that is directly related to what bibliobloggers do: biblical study. Dershowitz, a professor of law at Harvard University, wrote:

A midrash describes how man “toils much in the study of the Torah.” Maimonides believed that Torah study is so demanding that husbands engaged in this exhausting work should be obliged to have sex with their wives only “once a week, because the study of Torah weakens their strength.” For comparative purposes, rich men who don’t work must have sex with their wives “every night,” and ordinary laborers “twice a week” (p. 3).

I could make many comments on this quote, but I am going to refrain. I believe, and Dershowitz agrees, that biblical scholarship should not interfere with anyone’s sex life.

Claude Mariottini
Professor of Old Testament
Northern Baptist Seminary

Tags: Biblical Scholarship, Sex

Raiders of the Lost Outhouse

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Claude Mariottini) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:18:00 +0000

I generally do not post on outhouses, but this news report caught my attention because it deals with the work of archaeologists.

The Byron Museum of History has a large outhouse exhibit which consists mostly of things found in peoples’ outhouses.

At the present, the museum is excavating an outhouse found recently at the Lucius Reed House. This house is one of the oldest houses in Byron, Illinois and it was on the Underground Railroad.

Now, what do you think archaeologists attached to the Byron Museum of History have found by excavating outhouses? According to the museum director, they have found over a thousand pieces of old artifacts, china, nails, glass bottles, old shell buttons, even bones.

However, as I read the inventory of things they have found, I think the archaeologists failed to mention one thing commonly found in outhouses. Can you guess what they have not found yet?

For outhouses at Qumran, see:

Toilets, Qumran, and the Essenes

Ancient Parasites Show that Cleanliness May Have Been Next to Sickliness

Claude Mariottini
Professor of Old Testament
Northern Baptist Seminary

Tags: Archaeology, Humor, Outhouses

A Christian Cross from a Cave in Israel

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Claude Mariottini) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 19:11:00 +0000

Photograph: Courtesy University of Haifa

In a recent post, I reported on the largest human-made cave in Israel which was discovered by Israeli archaeologist Adam Zertal. According to published reports, the “cave may have served as a monastery and a hideout for persecuted Christians or the Roman army.”

National Geographic has published several photographs of the caves and its content. Among the items found in the cave, archaeologists discovered what could be a Zodiac sign dating to around the first century B.C. or the first century A.D., thirty-one Christian crosses, Roman letters, and what looks to be a Roman army pennant etched into the cave’s columns.

The above photograph shows one of the crosses found in the cave. The crosses may come from a time when Christians used the cave as a hiding place.

To see all the photos of the cave, visit the National Geographic web page.

Claude Mariottini
Professor of Old Testament
Northern Baptist Seminary

Tags: Adam Zertal, Archaeology, Cross, Zodiac

My 1,000th Post

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Claude Mariottini) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:00:00 +0000

Today I have posted my 1,000th post. I began blogging on August 16, 2005. Four years ago when I posted my first post, I was a neophyte to the world of blogging. I had many ideas for the blog, and I still do. I had to learn how to post and how to do many things that challenged me because of my limited knowledge of web design.

I began blogging at the insistence of my son JR. He introduced me to blogging and he designed my blog and my web page. JR still helps me when I face any kind of trouble. My son is always there to help his helpless father.

My goal has been to write posts that are primarily related to the Old Testament. I have done serious studies of difficult passages in the Bible. I have written humorous posts, all of them dealing with the Old Testament. Once in a while I write on politics, American values, and religious issues that are of interest to the readers of my blog.

Many readers have asked me to write on specific topics. As much as possible, I try to address issues that reflect the concern of readers as expressed by their request. Sometimes, I am unable to respond to every request made by readers since my time is limited.

I have been blogging for almost four years and only now I have reached my 1,000th post. The reason for this is because I am unable to post every day. Since I teach full time and pastor a church part-time, my time to blog is limited by the constraints imposed on me by my teaching schedule and pastoral work.

My 1000th post was a review of Eli Wiesel’s book Night. I am glad that my 1,000th post was dedicated to an important book written by a man who has a significant role to play in our society. I encourage you to read my post on Night. I also encourage you to read the book.

I want to thank you for reading and following my blog on a regular basis. Your comments and emails motivate me to continue to blog and to develop quality material for readers of my blog.

Many bloggers have linked their blog to mine. I am also willing to link my blog to their blog. Mutual linking of blogs is beneficial to all because it exposes good blogs to a larger audience.

I hope to see you again when I post my 2,000th post.

Claude Mariottini
Professor of Old Testament
Northern Baptist Seminary

Tags: Blogging

Elie Wiesel: The Witness

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Claude Mariottini) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 05:02:00 +0000

When Ken Brown at C. Orthodoxy challenged bibliobloggers to list five books or authors that made a difference in their understanding of the Bible, I submitted my five authors and John Anderson at Hesed we 'emet submitted his.

In a comment on my post, John commented that one book that we had in common, Terence Fretheim’s The Suffering of God, had become an influential book in his understanding of God. In response, I told John that of the five books he had selected, I was not familiar with two of them.

One of the books that John listed was Elie Wiesel, Night (New York: Hill and Wang, 2006). When John became aware that I had never read Wiesel’s book, John urged me to read the book and comment on it. So, I added Wiesel’s book to my crowded list of summer readings and Night was placed on the top of the list. I am glad I decided to read this amazing book.

Night is Elie Wiesel’s story of his experience in the Nazi concentration camps and how he survived the ordeal that took the life of his father, mother, and his sister. This book details the terrifying evil that he and countless other Jews faced at the hands of the Nazis.

The title of the book refers to the time Eli Wiesel entered the Kingdom of Night. That night was Wiesel’s first night in the concentration camp, the night “that turned my life into one long night seven times sealed” (p. 34).

In the preface to this new translation of the book, a book that was originally published in French in 1958, Wiesel declares he wrote the book not “to leave behind a legacy of words, of memories,” but to speak as a witness lest people forget the great tragedy that decimated the Jewish people. Wiesel wrote:

“For the survivor who chooses to testify, it is clear: his duty is to be witness for the dead and for the living” (p. xv).

I was captivated by Wiesel’s story of survival. To read this book is to enter the suffering, the pain, and the agony of those who struggled to find the meaning of incomprehensible evil and to understand the tenacity of one man who chose to live in the face of a certain death.

Those who suffered under the ruthlessness of their oppressors often asked: “Where is God?”
One time when a child was hanging from the gallows, someone groaned: “For God’s sake, where is God?” Wiesel wrote: “And from within me, I heard a voice answer: ‘Where He is? This is where–hanging here from this gallows’” (p. 65).

Even Wiesel, who had committed his life to study the Talmud and the Kabbalah, had his own struggles with the issues of faith. One time when a group of inmates were praying “Blessed be the Almighty,” Wiesel paused and asked himself; “Why should I bless God’s name?” He wrote:

Why, but why would I bless Him? Every fiber in me rebelled. Because He caused thousands of children to burn in His mass graves? Because He kept six crematoria working day and night, including Sabbath and the Holy Days? Because in His great might, He created Auschwitz, Birkenau, Buna, and so many other factories of death? How could I say to Him: Blessed be Thou, Almighty, Master of the Universe, who chose us among all nations to be tortured day and night, to watch as our fathers, our mothers, our brothers end up in the furnace? Praise be Thy Holy Name, for having chosen us to be slaughtered on Thine altar?

Night provides only a glimpse of the utter suffering of millions of people who were murdered by the Nazi regime. Here we read about people who died of starvation, neglect, maltreatment, and all kinds of diseases. This is the reason Wiesel becomes a powerful witness of the atrocities of the Holocaust to future generations because no one can forget the Kingdom of Night: “To forget would be not only dangerous but offensive; to forget the dead would be akin to killing them a second time” (p. xv).

In light of the reality of the genocide against the Jews, it is amazing that there is an anti-Semitic propaganda movement that denies or minimizes the reality of the Holocaust. These deniers question the existence of an organized killing program against the Jews and the fact that millions of people were killed in the crematoria.

But Eli Wiesel was there and he remembers the pain and the agony he and many others suffered in the concentration camps and he has written Night to keep the memory alive: “I have tried to keep memory alive ... I have tried to fight those who would forget. Because if we forget, we are guilty, we are accomplices” (p. 118).

A witness never forgets. And Wiesel’s commitment to be a witness and never forget is, in my opinion, the most touching section of the book:

Never shall I forget that night, the first night in camp,
that turned my life into one long night seven times sealed.
Never shall I forget that smoke.
Never shall I forget the small faces of the children whose bodies
I saw transformed into smoke under a silent sky.
Never shall I forget those flames that consumed my faith forever.
Never shall I forget the nocturnal silence that deprived me
for all eternity of the desire to live.
Never shall I forget those moments that murdered my God
and my soul and turned my dreams to ashes.
Never shall I forget those things, even were I condemned
to live as long as God Himself.
Never. (Night, p. 34).

Thank you John, for recommending me to read this wonderful book. Now, I recommend this book to all who read this post.

Claude Mariottini
Professor of Old Testament
Northern Baptist Seminary

Tags: Eli Wiesel, Holocaust, Night

The Fall of Jericho: The Archaeological Evidence

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Claude Mariottini) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:18:00 +0000

Was the city of Jericho destroyed as written in the book of Joshua? Expedition Bible has released a DVD, “Jericho Unearthed,” in which archaeologists discuss the arguments in favor and against the destruction of the city by Joshua and the army of Israel.

The web page of Expedition Bible describe the DVD as follows:

The battle of Jericho is one of the most enduring biblical stories. The description of the “walls falling down” is among its most well-known accounts. Yet, the most famous excavation of this ancient site, carried out in the 1950's under the direction of Kathleen Kenyon, claims that there wasn’t even a city at Jericho—much less city walls—at the time when Joshua supposedly conquered it.

What are the implications of the battle of Jericho being disproven? Wouldn’t the Bible be demonstrated untrustworthy? Couldn’t it be argued that the Jewish people have no more right to the land of Israel than anyone else? The implications really are staggering!

For more than fifty years scholars have built a wall of doubt against the historical accuracy of the Bible using Jericho as one of its cornerstones. It’s time to face those challenges head on! It’s time to determine whether or not the conclusions of modern scholarship stand in light of the evidence or if those arguments don’t in fact collapse like Jericho’s walls.

Join us, as we return to the site of one of history’s most important battles in order to explore the crucial question relating to Joshua’s conquest: Did the walls of Jericho really come tumbling down? Find out here in this episode of Expedition Bible.

“Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them” (Joshua 1:6).

Watch the DVD online by clicking here and then decide for yourself whether the archaeological evidence negates or confirms the fact that the city of Jericho was destroyed just as it was described in the book of Joshua.

HT: Todd Bolen

Claude Mariottini
Professor of Old Testament
Northern Baptist Seminary

Tags: Jericho, Joshua

The End of Wisdom: A Rebuttal by Martin Shields

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Claude Mariottini) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 05:02:00 +0000

In a recent post, I noted the new review of books listed in the most recent issue of The Review of Biblical Literature. Among the books reviewed was a book written by Martin A. Shields, The End of Wisdom: A Reappraisal of the Historical and Canonical Function of Ecclesiastes. The book was reviewed by Harold C. Washington.

The author of the book, Martin Shields, has written a post for his blog, shields up, in which he rebuts some of the criticism Washington made about the content of the book. You can read Shield’s rebuttal here.

Claude Mariottini
Professor of Old Testament
Northern Baptist Seminary

Tags: Martin Shields, Qoheleth, Wisdom

The Oldest Image of the Apostle Paul

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Claude Mariottini) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 19:00:00 +0000

Image: The Oldest Image of the Apostle Paul

Archaeologists have found an image on the walls of the Catacomb of Santa Tecla in Rome that may be the oldest image of the Apostle Paul. According to archeologists, the image is dated to the late fourth century A.D.

Archaeologists have also opened the white marble sarcophagus located under the Basilica of St. Paul. They found traces of linen cloth laminated with gold, red incense, protein, and limestone. Roman authorities say that scientific tests of the remains indicate that the remains belong to the apostle Paul.

Read the article here.

Read also: Paul's Tomb Found in Rome

Claude Mariottini
Professor of Old Testament
Northern Baptist Seminary

Tags: Archaeology, Image of Paul, Paul

Joseph in Egypt: Evidence for an Egyptian Background for the Exodus

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Claude Mariottini) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 18:37:00 +0000

Rabbi Leibel Reznick, in an interesting and informative article, “Egyptology in the Torah: Biblical Archeology,” published by Aish.com, says that, contrary to popular view held by many scholars, the Torah provides evidence of contemporary life and customs that reflects life in Egypt during the Eighteenth Dynasty.

The following is an excerpt from the article:

Egyptologists have expressed disappointment that almost nothing relating to ancient Egyptian life or culture can be gleaned from the Bible. This has lead many, such as Egyptologist Donald Redford of Pennsylvania State University to disparagingly claim, "The Hebrew writer (of the Bible) was not so well acquainted with Egypt as has often been imagined." [2]

For us, the lack of cultural references is quite understandable because the Torah is neither a history book nor an anthropological record of ancient societies but rather it is a guide for everyday life based on human nature and the spiritual loftiness of the Jewish soul and these elements are timeless. However, many Egyptologists have taken a different approach. They claim that the Torah was composed 8-10 centuries after the Exodus and the "Biblical author(s)" had no idea what was going on in ancient Egypt. Therefore, these Egyptologists claim, the Torah had no choice but to remain silent about ancient Egyptian practices.

Not only are they wrong about when the Torah was composed and by Whom, these Egyptologists are also quite mistaken if they think there are no revelations to be found in the Torah reflecting ancient Egyptian life. Let us see for ourselves.

1. "they sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for 20 pieces of silver; and they brought Joseph to Egypt (Genesis 37:28). In ancient times, just as in our day and age, prices slowly but steadily increased over the course of time. In ancient Ur, circa 2000 BCE, a slave would cost 10-15 pieces of silver (shekels). During the reign of the Hammurabi dynasty, the price increased slightly, to about 20 pieces of silver. For a while, the price of a slave remained fairly stable but by the last quarter of the second millennium BCE., the price crept up to 30 shekels. During the first quarter of the Assyrian Empire, a healthy slave could fetch 50-60 pieces of silver and by the middle of the first millennium, the price of a slave soared to over 100 shekels.[3] When the Torah tells us that Joseph was sold for 20 pieces of silver it was an accurate reflection of the price of a slave in Canaan/Egypt at that time period, about 1500 BCE according to our Biblical chronology.

2. The Torah (Genesis 37:36) tells us that the name of Joseph's slave-master was Potiphar. It later tells us that Joseph's wife's name was Asenath (Genesis 41:45). These were in fact Egyptian names in use in Egypt during the time of Joseph, though they were quite unusual and later fell into disuse. Biblical "author(s)" not aware of these obscure ancient names could never have used them.[4]

Torah uses the exact expression the contemporary Egyptians used for the foreman of the servants and slaves.

3. The Torah tells us that Joseph was the overseer of Potiphar's estate. There are many possible titles one can give the chief slave or servant. The Torah chose to call Joseph the one "Over the house" (Genesis 39:4). The Papyrus Brooklyn 53.1446 refers to a chief slave and gives his proper title as the one who was "Over the house."[5] We see that the Torah is using the exact expression the contemporary Egyptians used for the foreman of the servants and slaves.

4- "And Joseph's master took him, and put him in the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were confined" (Genesis 39:20). Due to the false accusations of Potiphar's wife, Joseph was thrown into a prison. The concept of imprisonment was not widespread in the ancient world of the early Biblical era. In the Torah itself, we do not find any mention of imprisonment being a form of punishment. We do find that the son of Shelomith, who cursed God, was held in confinement, but that was only until the correct punishment could be determined. The actual detention was not a punishment. In the ancient world, those convicted of crimes were generally killed, tortured, mutilated or made to compensate monetarily. The concept of imprisonment was almost unheard of. Egypt was one of the very few exceptions to have prisons. Many of the isolated fortresses that guarded the borders of ancient Egypt also served as royal prisons.[6]

5. "Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon; and he shaved himself, and changed his garment, and came in to Pharaoh." (Genesis 41:14) Joseph, known to be an interpreter of dreams, was taken out of prison to be brought before the pharaoh to interpret pharaoh's dream. But first, Joseph had to shave to make himself more presentable to the king.

Throughout the ancient Middle East, beards were considered the norm, especially among "Asiatics" such as the Israelites. In fact the longer and more styled the beard, the greater the admiration. The common folk had shorter, trimmed beards. The king was depicted with a long tightly curled beard. The exception to this rule was in Egypt. Egyptians are rarely depicted with beards and those few times that they are depicted with facial hair, it is usually the pharaoh and not any of his subjects. In Egyptian tomb and temple depictions, enemies are often depicted with beards. The Biblical "author(s)" seem to be very aware that proper Egyptian etiquette demanded that Joseph had to shave before entering the presence of the pharaoh, unlike anywhere else in the ancient world.

6. Pharaoh had a dream in which "… behold, I stood upon the bank of the river. And, behold, there came up from the river seven cows, fat and beautiful; and they fed in the reed grass. And, behold, seven other cows came up after them, scrawny and very gaunt and thin, such as I have never seen in all the land of Egypt for badness. And the thin and the gaunt cows ate the first seven fat cows. And when they had eaten them up, it could not be known that they had eaten them; but they were still inferior as before." (Genesis 41:18-21)

You can read the article in its entirety and consult the notes mentioned in the article by visiting Aish.com.

Claude Mariottini
Professor of Old Testament
Northern Baptist Seminary

Tags: Archaeology, Joseph, Egypt, Exodus

“I Have Seen the Ark of the Covenant With My Own Eyes”

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Claude Mariottini) — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 17:56:00 +0000

Image: The Ark of the Covenant

Abuna Pauolos, patriarch of the Orthodox Church of Ethiopia, in an interview, said these words about the Ark of the Covenant:

“The Ark of the Covenant is in Ethiopia for many centuries. As a patriarch I have seen it with my own eyes and only few highly qualified persons could do the same, until now."

You can read the story here.

I don’t know about you, but when the leader of a church says: “I have seen the Ark of the Covenant with my own eyes,” you have to believe him, don’t you?

But to be honest, I don’t, do you?

Claude Mariottini
Professor of Old Testament
Northern Baptist Seminary

Tags: Abuna Pauolos, Ark of the Covenant

A Dream Game: Brazil v. USA

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Claude Mariottini) — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 14:30:00 +0000

Now that Jim West has blogged on the soccer game between Brazil v. USA, I will too.

The game between Brazil and the USA in Johannesburg on Sunday will be a great game. However, people have to remember that the only reason the USA is playing in the Confederations Cup final game is because of Brazil (of course, the USA had to help itself too).

The USA was almost out of the tournament. In order to qualify for the semifinals, Brazil had to beat Italy by at least 3 goals and the USA had to beat Egypt by at least 3 goals. Brazil helped the USA by beating Italy 3-0 and the USA helped itself by beating Egypt 3-0.

Now, after Brazil beat South Africa and the USA, miracle of miracles, beat Spain in the semifinals, here we are, playing in the finals.

As a Brazilian, I always root for Brazil, even when Brazil is playing the USA. My three sons, all born in the USA, always root for Brazil, except when Brazil plays the USA. So, on Sunday, we will have a divided family watching the game. In the end, whoever wins, the four of us will celebrate, because our team won, whichever team wins.

I pity Jim West because he won’t be able to watch the game.

Don’t worry, Jim, my sons and I will watch the game for you. And as soon as the game is over, I will write a comment on your post and let you know by how many goals Brazil beat the USA.

Claude Mariottini
Professor of Old Testament
Northern Baptist Seminary

Tags: Soccer

The New Face of King Tut

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Claude Mariottini) — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 13:17:00 +0000

Photo: King Tut's New Face

Using more than 1,700 high-resolution CT-scanner images of King Tut’s mummy, scientists have been able to give King Tut a face, finally. The above image is the reconstructed face of King Tut.

For more information on King Tut, see the following:

Technology unlocks more King Tut mysteries

National Geographic article: King Tut, Unraveling the mystery

BBC article: Face to Face with Tutankhamun

Science Daily Article: The Fresh Face of King Tut

De Young Museum Photo Gallery: Exhibition Preview (Photos of King Tut’s Treasure)

National Geographic: Photo Gallery (More photos of King Tut’s treasure)

Claude Mariottini
Professor of Old Testament
Northern Baptist Seminary

Tags: King Tut, King Tutankhamun

Did Jesus Wear a Dress?

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Claude Mariottini) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 13:47:00 +0000

A few days ago, I wrote a post and made the following statement:

According to Pastor Steve Anderson, Jesus wore pants because Deuteronomy 22:5 says that it is an abomination to God for a man to wear women’s clothing. This is what the Bible says about wearing women’s clothing:

“A woman must not wear men's clothing, nor a man wear women's clothing, for the LORD your God detests anyone who does this” (Deuteronomy 22:5).

Now, my friend Darrell Pursiful at Dr. Platypus has asked the following question: “Did Jesus Wear a Dress?”

Darrell has written an excellent article in which he discusses the issue of “how men dressed in the first century.” Visit Darrel’s blog and read his article; it is an article worth reading.

Claude Mariottini
Professor of Old Testament
Northern Baptist Seminary

Tags: Deuteronomy 22:5, Dress, Jesus, Pants

God, Guns and the Gospel: Bring Your Gun To Church

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Claude Mariottini) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 13:30:00 +0000

A pastor in Kentucky is urging the members of his church to bring their guns to church. Here is an excerpt from a news report published in The New York Times:

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Ken Pagano, the pastor of the New Bethel Church here, is passionate about gun rights. He shoots regularly at the local firing range, and his sermon two weeks ago was on “God, Guns, Gospel and Geometry.” And on Saturday night, he is inviting his congregation of 150 and others to wear or carry their firearms into the sanctuary to “celebrate our rights as Americans!” as a promotional flier for the “open carry celebration” puts it.

“God and guns were part of the foundation of this country,” Mr. Pagano, 49, said Wednesday in the small brick Assembly of God church, where a large wooden cross hung over the altar and two American flags jutted from side walls. “I don’t see any contradiction in this. Not every Christian denomination is pacifist.”

The bring-your-gun-to-church day, which will include a $1 raffle of a handgun, firearms safety lessons and a picnic, is another sign that the gun culture in the United States is thriving despite, or perhaps because of, President Obama’s election in November.

You can read the news release in its entirety here.

Somewhere is all of this, we must consider the words of the prophet Isaiah:

Doom to those who go off to Egypt
thinking that horses can help them,
Impressed by military mathematics,
awed by sheer numbers of chariots and riders—
And to The Holy of Israel, not even a glance,
not so much as a prayer to God.
(Isaiah 31:1).

Claude Mariottini
Professor of Old Testament
Northern Baptist Seminary

Tags: Guns

The Review of Biblical Literature - Old Testament

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Claude Mariottini) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:29:00 +0000

The Review of Biblical Literature has published a list of new reviews in the area of biblical studies. The Review of Biblical Literature is a publication of the Society of Biblical Literature.

The following new reviews are of interest to students of the Old Testament:

Stephen C. Barton, ed.
Idolatry: False Worship in the Bible, Early Judaism and Christianity

Description: Idolatry is a collection of nineteen authoritative essays on major aspects of this fascinating subject, unduly neglected in recent years. The coverage is varied and comprehensive, ranging across theoretical perspectives, the Old Testament, Early Judaism, the New Testament, Church History, and Christian Theology to the present day. The contributors are all authorities in their respective fields of study. In biblical studies, there is John Barclay, Stephen C. Barton, Helen Bond, Mark Bonnington, Crispin Fletcher-Louis, Robert Hayward, David Horrell, Nathan MacDonald, Christopher Rowland, and Stuart Weeks. In Church History and Christian Theology, there is David Clough, Andrew Goddard, Carol Harrison, Trevor Hart, Timothy Jenkins, Gerard Loughlin, Paul Murray, Bernd Wannenwetsch, and Graham Ward.

Walter Brueggemann
A Pathway of Interpretation: The Old Testament for Pastors and Students

Description: Writing with the pastor and student in mind, Walter Brueggemann provides guidance for interpreting Old Testament texts. He offers both advice for the interpreter as well as examples of working with different sorts of passages: from narratives, prophecies, and Psalms. He also demonstrates how to work thematically, drawing together threads from different traditions. His goal is to work through the rhetoric of these passages to reach toward theological interpretation. These investigations indicate Brueggemann's conviction that the process of moving from text to interpretive outcome is an artistic enterprise that can be learned and practiced.

J. Harold Ellens
Sex in the Bible: A New Consideration

Description: What is the Bible's stance on such controversial issues as homosexuality and polygamy? What does it have to say about sexual behaviors that some would deem perverted or criminal? Is sex always wrong if it is not used to create life? Ellens answers these and other questions in a book that argues that our understanding of what the Bible has to say about sex is frequently misguided. He corrects our impressions with a look at the Scriptures themselves, considers what they might have meant to people in the past, and reflects on how we understand, or misunderstand, them today. Focusing on early interpretations and contemporary misconceptions, Ellens guides readers through what the Bible actually says, showing how these messages have been interpreted in different contexts, and suggesting new ways of reading and translating them for use in our own lives. Readers hoping to reach a better understanding of the Bible's views on sexual practices and sexuality in general will find their questions answered here. What does the story of Adam and Eve reveal about sex and sexuality? What does the Old Testament say about sex and how might we interpret that in our own lives today? How does the New Testament say we should behave in our sexuality and our lives? What lessons can we learn from a closer examination of the Bible and its teachings on human love, marriage, and sexuality? These are among the many questions Ellens answers in an effort to help us all come to a better understanding of the gift of sexuality and its attendant behaviors in our lives. In non-judgmental prose, he elucidates the Bible and our understanding of its teaching on these and related issues.

Jonathan Gan
The Metaphor of Shepherd in the Hebrew Bible: A Historical-Literary Reading

Martin A. Shields
The End of Wisdom: A Reappraisal of the Historical and Canonical Function of Ecclesiastes

H. G. M. Williamson
A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on Isaiah 1-27: Volume 1: Commentary on Isaiah 1-5

Description: Hugh Williamson's Isaiah 1-5 is the first of three volumes in a important new commentary on Isiah 1-27. For over one hundred years International Critical Commentaries have had a special place among works on the Bible. They bring together all the relevant aids to exegesis - linguistic, textual, archaeological, historical, literary, and theological - to help the reader understand the meaning of the books of the Old and New Testaments. The new commentaries continue this tradition. All new evidence now available is incorporated and new methods of study are applied. The authors are of the highest international standing. No attempt has been made to secure a uniform theological or critical approach to the biblical text: contributors have been invited for their scholarly distinction, not for their adherence to any one school of thought.

Enjoy your reading.

Claude Mariottini
Professor of Old Testament
Northern Baptist Seminary

Tags: Bible, Hebrew Bible, Literature, Old Testament

The Storage of Grain in Antiquity

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Claude Mariottini) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:05:00 +0000

From the Associated Press

WASHINGTON – People were storing grain long before they learned to domesticate crops, a new study indicates. A structure used as a food granary discovered in recent excavations in Jordan dates to about 11,300 years ago., according to a report in Tuesday's edition of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

That's as much as a thousand years before people in the Middle East domesticated grain, the research team led by anthropologist Ian Kuijt of the University of Notre Dame said.

Remains of wild barley were found in the structure, indicating that the grain was collected and saved even though formal cultivation had not yet developed.

The granary was between two other structures used for grain processing and residences, discovered in excavations at Dhra', near the Dead Sea. The granary was round with walls of stone and mud. The researchers said it had a raised floor for air circulation and protection from rodents.

Read the article here.

Claude Mariottini
Professor of Old Testament
Northern Baptist Seminary

Tags: Archaeology, Farming, Food Storage

A Canaanite (?) Tomb Found in Bethlehem

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Claude Mariottini) — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 15:52:00 +0000

According to a news release by the Associated Press, workers renovating a house in Bethlehem have discovered an untouched ancient tomb containing clay pots, plates, beads, and the bones of two humans. According to the report, the tomb is dated to the Early Bronze Age, between 2,200 B.C. and 1,900 B.C.

The following is an excerpt from the news release:

BETHLEHEM, West Bank (AP) — Workers renovating a house in the traditional town of Jesus' birth accidentally discovered an untouched ancient tomb containing clay pots, plates, beads and the bones of two humans, a Palestinian antiquities official said Tuesday.

The 4,000-year-old tomb provides a glimpse of the burial customs of the area's inhabitants during the Canaanite period, said Mohammed Ghayyada, director of the Palestinian Authority's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.

Workers in a house near the Church of the Nativity uncovered a hole leading to the grave, which was about one yard below ground, he said. They contacted antiquities officials, who photographed the grave intact before removing its contents.

They dated the grave to the Early Bronze Age, between 1,900 B.C. and 2,200 B.C.

Jerusalem-based archaeologist and historian Stephen Pfann called the find "an important reference to the life of the Canaanites," adding that it could give a glimpse into life in the area before the time when the Biblical patriarchs are said to have lived.

While many artifacts exist from this period, intact graves are rare, mainly because of looting, he said.

Intact graves are more useful to scholars because they show how items were arranged.

You can read the news release in its entirety by clicking here. The story also contains the photo of a representative of the Palestinian Ministry of Tourism examining the pottery found in the tomb.

HT: Todd Bolen

Claude Mariottini
Professor of Old Testament
Northern Baptist Seminary

Tags: Archaeology, Canaanite Tomb, Early Bronze Age, Pottery

Spurgeon on Preaching

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Claude Mariottini) — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 12:39:00 +0000

The Southern Baptist Magazine has dedicated its Spring 2009 issue to preaching. The theme for the Spring issue is: “Preach the Word.” There are several articles on preaching in this issue of the Southern Baptist Magazine. One of the articles is a collection of quotes from Charles Spurgeon on preaching.

Spurgeon on Preaching

“The kind of sermon which is likely to break the hearer’s heart is that which first has broken the preacher’s heart, and the sermon which is likely to reach the heart of the hearer is the one which has come straight from the heart of the preacher.”

“Surely if men’s heart were right, short sermons would be enough.”

“If you always enjoy sermons, the minister is not a good steward. He is not acting wisely who deals out nothing but sweets.”

“You are listening to a man who professes to speak by God, and for God, and to speak for your good and his heart yearns over you. Oh, it is solemn work to preach, and it should be solemn work to hear.”

“It is not the bigness of' the words you utter, but the force with which you deliver them.”

“The preacher’s work is to throw sinners down into utter helplessness that they may be compelled to look up to Him who alone can help them.”

“The power that is in the gospel does not lie in the eloquence of the preacher; otherwise men would be the conveners of souls. Nor does it lie in the preacher’s learning; otherwise it would consist in the wisdom of men. We might preach until our tongues rotted, till we would exhaust our lungs and die, but never a soul would be converted unless the Holy Spirit be with the Word of God to give it the power to convert the soul.”

“We hear complaints that the minister speaks too harshly and talk too much of judgment. Saved sinners never make that complaint.”

"If some men were sentenced to hear their own sermons, it would be a righteous judgment upon them; but they would soon cry out with Cain, “My punishment is greater than I can bear.”

These are great and good advice for preachers. Here is another good advice for preachers I heard from my professor of homiletics: “Let the sun go down upon your sermon.”

Claude Mariottini
Professor of Old Testament
Northern Baptist Seminary

Tags: Preaching, Sermons, Spurgeon,

Jesus Wore Pants

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Claude Mariottini) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 23:53:00 +0000

According to Pastor Steve Anderson, Jesus wore pants because Deuteronomy 22:5 says that it is an abomination to God for a man to wear women’s clothing. This is what the Bible says about wearing women’s clothing:

“A woman must not wear men's clothing, nor a man wear women's clothing, for the LORD your God detests anyone who does this” (Deuteronomy 22:5).

Now, listen to this “amazing” sermon on Deuteronomy 22:5:

Pastor Steven Anderson is wrong in his interpretation of Deuteronomy 22:5. I have already written a post on Deuteronomy 22:5. In a future post, I will address again the issue of women wearing pants. I will also respond to another erroneous interpretation of Deuteronomy 22:5 written by Dr. Kent Brandenburg.

Claude Mariottini
Professor of Old Testament
Northern Baptist Seminary

Tags: Deuteronomy 22:5, Pants, Wearing Pants, Women,

Five Books That Changed My Mind

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Claude Mariottini) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 05:02:00 +0000

While I was away attending the Acton Institute, I was tagged by Darrell Pursiful to participate in a meme.

This meme began with Ken Brown at C. Orthodoxy. Ken tagged John Hobbins at Ancient Hebrew Poetry who then tagged Darrell Pursiful at Dr. Platypus who then tagged me.

The challenge of this meme is to name five books or scholars who had the most immediate and lasting influence on how I read the Bible. According to the original challenge, these books need not be my five favorite books. Rather, the list must include the five books that have permanently changed the way I think.

So, here is my list:

1. Walther Eichrodt, Theology of the Old Testament, 2 volumes.

This was the first Old Testament theology I read in seminary. After I read Eichrodt, I also read Gerhard von Rad Old Testament Theology, but it was Eichrodt who helped me understand Old Testament theology. It is hard to explain in detail the influence of Eichrodt in my understanding of the Old Testament. Suffice it to say that I have used Eichrodt’s book as a text both in English and Spanish.

2. Emil Brunner’s three volumes on Church Dogmatics: The Christian Doctrine of God, The Christian Doctrines of Creation and Redemption, and The Christian Doctrine of the Church, Faith, and Consummation.

I read Brunner’s three volumes while I was working toward my Master’s degree. Brunner’s dogmatics helped me gain a better understanding of Christian doctrines. Together with his book Revelation and Reason, Brunner made a profound impression on me as a seminary student.

3. John Bright, A History of Israel.

Probably, more than any other book, John Bright’s A History of Israel has been formative in my understanding of the Old Testament. Notwithstanding all the criticism Bright has received from minimalists, deconstructionists, and revisionists, John Bright’s book presents what I still consider the best introduction to the history of Israel.

4. Joseph Callaway, Faces of the Old Testament.

Joseph Callaway was my major professor and the supervisor of my Ph.D. thesis. I served as his Garret Fellow (Teacher’s Assistant) for five years. I sat in every one of his classes, taught for him, and attended all his seminars.

Callaway was a great archaeologist. He excavated Ai and Raddana and I had the opportunity to work with his field notes before his volumes on Ai were published. Faces of the Old Testament are based on his class lectures. When I read Callaway’s book, I recognize how indebted I am to his teaching.

5. Terence E. Fretheim, The Suffering of God: An Old Testament Perspective.

Fretheim’s book has given me a better understanding of the God of the Old Testament. His book deals with the concept of divine suffering and the idea of divine pathos. His conclusion, that “suffering belongs to the person and purpose of God” has been neglected, rejected, and ostracized by many. However, when one reads Fretheim’s book, one must conclude that the suffering of God is an integral aspect of divine revelation. The best way to understand Fretheim’s book is to read it once for content and a second time for understanding.

Darryl, there you have my five books. Thank you for the invitation to join you and others in this challenge.

Claude Mariottini
Professor of Old Testament
Northern Baptist Seminary

Tags: Books, Reading

Has the Site of Galgala Been Discovered?

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Claude Mariottini) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 17:20:00 +0000

According to an announcement released by the University of Haifa’s Department of Archaeology, an underground cave dating from the year 1 A.D. discovered in the Jordan Valley may be the site called Galgala, a place mentioned in the Madaba Map. Professor Adam Zertal was the leader of the archaeological team that discovered the cave.

The following is an excerpt of the press information released by the University of Haifa:

The enormous and striking cave covers an area of approximately 1 acre: it is some 100 meters long and about 40 meters wide. The cave is located 4 km north of Jericho. The cave, which is the largest excavated by man to be discovered in Israel, was exposed in the course of an archaeological survey that the University of Haifa has been carrying out since 1978.

As with other discoveries in the past, this exposure is shrouded in mystery. "When we arrived at the opening of the cave, two Bedouins approached and told us not to go in as the cave is bewitched and inhabited by wolves and hyenas," Prof. Zertal relates. Upon entering, accompanied by his colleagues, he was surprised to find an impressive architectonic underground structure supported by 22 giant pillars. They discovered 31 cross markings on the pillars, an engraving resembling the zodiac symbol, Roman letters and an etching that looks like the Roman Legion's pennant. The team also discovered recesses in the pillars, which would have been used for oil lamps, and holes to which animals that were hauling quarried stones out of the cave could have been tied.

The cave's ceiling is some 3 meters high, but was originally probably about 4 meters high. According to Prof. Zertal, ceramics that were found and the engravings on the pillars date the cave to around 1-600 AD. "The cave's primary use had been as a quarry, which functioned for about 400-500 years. But other findings definitely indicate that the place was also used for other purposes, such as a monastery and possibly as a hiding place," Prof. Zertal explains.

The main question that arose upon discovering the cave was why a quarry was dug underground in the first place. "All of the quarries that we know are above ground. Digging down under the surface requires extreme efforts in hauling the heavy rocks up to the surface, and in this case the quarrying was immense. The question is, why?" For a possible answer to this mystery, Prof. Zertal points to the famous Madaba map. This is a Byzantine mosaic map that was found in Jordan and is the most ancient map of the Land of Israel. Jerusalem and the Jordan Valley are depicted with precision on the map, and a site called Galgala is depicted next to a Greek inscription that reads "Dodekaliton", which translates as "Twelve Stones." This place is marked at a distance from Jericho that matches this cave's distance from the city. According to the map, there is a church next to Dodekaliton; there are two ancient churches located nearby the newly discovered cave. According to Prof. Zertal, until now it has been hypothesized that the meaning of "Twelve Stones" related to the biblical verses that describe the twelve stones that the Children of Israel place in Gilgal. However, it could be that the reference is a description of the quarry that was dug where the Byzantines identified the Gilgal. "During the Roman era, it was customary to construct temples of stones that were brought from holy places, and which were therefore also more valuable stones. If our assumption is correct, then the Byzantine identification of the place as the biblical Gilgal afforded the site its necessary reverence and that is also why they would have dug an underground quarry there," Prof. Zertal concludes. "But" he adds, "much more research is needed."

Claude Mariottini
Professor of Old Testament
Northern Baptist Seminary

Tags: Adam Zertal, Galgala, Madaba Map