tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5184112Fri, 17 Jul 2026 21:26:42 +0000Ancient IsraelAncient Judaism; Early ChristianityDavila 666ScriptureTenured professor Hebrew Bibleias<p><big><b>Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.</b></big> <p> E-mail: paleojudaica-at-talktalk-dot-net ("-at-" = "@", "-dot-" = ".")</p></p>http://paleojudaica.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Jim Davila)Blogger24302125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5184112.post-6113984147534420454Fri, 17 Jul 2026 09:47:48 +00002026-07-17T10:47:48.247+01:00TISHA B'AV IS COMING: 135 CE Beitar in Memory: Rabbinic Lament and the Legacy of the Fall (Rabbi Shlomo Pereira, Times of Israel Blogs).JEWISH MOMENTS IN THE LAND OF ISRAEL 135 CE Beitar in Memory: Rabbinic Lament and the Legacy of the Fall The fall of Beitar, the Mishnah states occurred on the 9th of Av, passed from history into memory. Rabbinic literature, above all Lamentations Rabbah http://paleojudaica.blogspot.com/2026/07/the-rabbinic-texts-on-fall-of-betar.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jim Davila)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5184112.post-1414487890574514850Fri, 17 Jul 2026 09:28:35 +00002026-07-17T10:28:35.198+01:00ANCIENT MATERIAL CULTURE? Inside the tragic, decades-long mystery of Qumran's lost Second Temple incense. The vast majority of material was lost after a 2025 murder. All that remains is a small amount of dust collected from the floor and a few samples preserved by the Jones family. (Josh Aronson, Jerusalem Post). I'm very sorry to hear about the murder. As for the "incense." I have a http://paleojudaica.blogspot.com/2026/07/vendyl-joness-qumran-incense-is-lost.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jim Davila)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5184112.post-3902092300205395156Fri, 17 Jul 2026 09:15:34 +00002026-07-17T10:15:34.344+01:00OLD TESTAMENT PSEUDEPIGRAPHA WATCH: Reason, Revelation, and the Book of Enoch (Haile haile, Catholic Standard).The Book of Enoch has long stirred debates among theologians, historians, and believers. Dismissed in most Western traditions as apocryphal and excluded from the canonical Bible, it has often been labelled a “false” book. Yet, when approached with reason, the very tool Aquinas urged http://paleojudaica.blogspot.com/2026/07/what-would-thomas-aquinas-say-about.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jim Davila)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5184112.post-1820552946543462657Thu, 16 Jul 2026 10:15:42 +00002026-07-16T11:15:42.417+01:00ORGANIC MATERIAL CULTURE: Mysterious 3,700-Year-Old Decorated Reed Revealed in Judaean Desert Cave First of its kind in the Southern Levant, the Middle Bronze Age object still keeps its purpose secret (oguz kayra, Arkeonews).A slender reed fragment found deep inside a cave in the Judaean Desert has emerged as one of the most unusual objects known from the Middle Bronze Age Southern Levant. It is http://paleojudaica.blogspot.com/2026/07/mba-incised-reed-recovered-from-wadi.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jim Davila)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5184112.post-2427125244106662382Thu, 16 Jul 2026 09:56:36 +00002026-07-16T10:56:36.528+01:00OLD TESTAMENT PSEUDEPIGRAPHA WATCH: Ancient book banned from the Bible fuels theory of fallen angels imprisoned beneath Antarctica (Stacy Liberatore, Daily Mail). That book is, of course, the Book of 1 Enoch, specifically the Book of Watchers (chapters 1-36).Supporters of the theory cite passages describing imprisoned heavenly beings awaiting God's final judgment, along with references to the http://paleojudaica.blogspot.com/2026/07/does-1-enoch-say-that-watchers-are.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jim Davila)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5184112.post-6946648107862443623Thu, 16 Jul 2026 09:41:47 +00002026-07-16T10:41:47.053+01:00SAINT CATHERINE'S MONASTERY: New Report Warns St. Catherine’s Monastery Has Reached a Decisive Stage in the Dismantling of Its Fifteen-Century Legal Status (Standard Newswire).WASHINGTON, July 13, 2026 /Standard Newswire/ — Coptic Solidarity today released a new report warning that the crisis surrounding St. Catherine’s Monastery in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula is not an isolated property dispute but http://paleojudaica.blogspot.com/2026/07/is-egypt-dismantling-legal-status-of.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jim Davila)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5184112.post-471500113483039827Wed, 15 Jul 2026 10:44:59 +00002026-07-15T11:44:59.527+01:00CALENDAR MYSTERY CONTINUED: Prof. Eshbal Ratzon's Tarbiz article about the ancient Jewish 364-day solar calendar is getting lots of attention. The original TAU press release is posted by Popular Archaeology (and elsewhere): Hasmonean history is combined with the enigma of the Qumran calendar – to solve an ancient mystery of the Dead Sea Scrolls. You can download the full text of the Hebrew http://paleojudaica.blogspot.com/2026/07/more-on-that-solar-calendar.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jim Davila)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5184112.post-475212526646043453Wed, 15 Jul 2026 10:21:52 +00002026-07-15T11:21:52.209+01:00PUNIC WATCH: A Bioenergetic Study Places the Col de la Traversette as the Most Probable Route for Hannibal’s Crossing of the Alps. An international study applies African elephant energy expenditure models to resolve the historic debate over the Carthaginian army’s passage in 218 B.C. (Guillermo Carvajal, LBV). For another analysis of Hannibal's route from a quite different evidence base (http://paleojudaica.blogspot.com/2026/07/the-movement-ecology-of-hannibals-route.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jim Davila)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5184112.post-1824983032911965021Wed, 15 Jul 2026 09:54:30 +00002026-07-15T10:54:30.079+01:00ONOMASTIC POLITICS, CONTINUED: Row continues over removal of term ‘Palestine’ from British Museum displays. Campaigners claim internal emails show decision was driven by ‘undue political influence’ (Museums Journal Staff). If I find a substantive response to these claims from the British Museum, I will let you know. Background to the story is here and links. Follow-up related posts are herehttp://paleojudaica.blogspot.com/2026/07/more-on-british-museums-palestine.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jim Davila)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5184112.post-7064285209550218102Tue, 14 Jul 2026 11:07:08 +00002026-07-14T12:07:08.529+01:00PROF. AMAR ANNUS:The Rephaim—Biblical Memories of West Semitic Ancestral Giants and Shades (TheTorah.com).Standing in the Transjordan, Moses describes how the previous inhabitants had been the frightening, gigantic Rephaim (lit. “healers”). Elsewhere in the Bible, rephaim are powerless shades, living in the underworld, Sheol. Greek epic also preserves a memory of Meropes as a population of giantshttp://paleojudaica.blogspot.com/2026/07/the-rephaim-and-greek-meropes.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jim Davila)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5184112.post-2388797971317594350Tue, 14 Jul 2026 10:18:03 +00002026-07-14T11:18:03.569+01:00CALENDAR MYSTERY: Dead Sea Scrolls mystery: Qumran’s 364-day calendar may have been real, until it failed. Tel Aviv University study argues the calendar was not only a religious ideal but was used by the sect in its early years, before seasonal drift and political changes made it impractical (YNet News).The study suggests that the calendar was indeed used in practice during the sect’s early http://paleojudaica.blogspot.com/2026/07/on-364-day-solar-calendar.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jim Davila)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5184112.post-324259126383712759Tue, 14 Jul 2026 09:55:27 +00002026-07-14T10:55:27.279+01:00TECHNOLOGY WATCH: Hidden Passage In Great Pyramid Of Giza Could Unlock New Secrets, May Rewrite History In 2026. Egypt’s most prominent archaeologist has announced that an international team of scientists will unveil a major archaeological discovery inside the ancient wonder (Saurabh Verma, News18.com).According to [Dr. Zahi] Hawass, advanced scanning technology and remote-controlled robotics http://paleojudaica.blogspot.com/2026/07/hidden-portal-in-giza-pyramid-to-be.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jim Davila)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5184112.post-5291388284908666679Mon, 13 Jul 2026 10:02:49 +00002026-07-13T11:24:01.654+01:00ARCHAEOLOGY: Archaeologists uncover Second Temple period treasures at Ancient Shiloh Heritage Site. Days before Tisha B’Av, archaeologists uncovered rare Second Temple-era treasures at ancient Shiloh, including a lavish ritual bath and a purple-dye snail shell once used for sacred garments, shedding new light on the site’s historic Jewish connection (Idan Bloemhof, YNet News). For more on http://paleojudaica.blogspot.com/2026/07/second-temple-era-discoveries-at-shiloh.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jim Davila)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5184112.post-6531813237153796773Mon, 13 Jul 2026 09:52:25 +00002026-07-13T10:52:25.913+01:00BRYN MAYR CLASSICAL REVIEW: Diodoros of Sicily: Bibliotheke Historike. Books 21-40: from the battle of Ipsos (301 BC) to the Catilinarian conspiracy (62 BC).Duane W. Roller, Diodoros of Sicily: Bibliotheke Historike. Books 21-40: from the battle of Ipsos (301 BC) to the Catilinarian conspiracy (62 BC). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2025. Pp. 384. ISBN 9781009277495. Review by Charles http://paleojudaica.blogspot.com/2026/07/review-of-roller-diodoros-of-sicily.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jim Davila)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5184112.post-1702061356588081781Mon, 13 Jul 2026 09:40:58 +00002026-07-13T10:40:58.542+01:00CONGRATULATIONS TO DR OEGEMA AND TO THE PTHU: Dr Albertina Oegema appointed Assistant Professor of New Testament (PThU press release).9 July 2026 The Protestant Theological University (PThU) has appointed Dr Albertina Oegema as Assistant Professor of New Testament. On 8 July 2026, the Executive Committee (moderamen) of the General Synod of the Protestant Church in the Netherlands approved the http://paleojudaica.blogspot.com/2026/07/dr-albertina-oegema-appointed-to.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jim Davila)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5184112.post-8150283506909288886Sun, 12 Jul 2026 09:59:00 +00002026-07-12T10:59:00.250+01:00NEW BOOK FROM EERDMANS:Archaeology, Jesus, and the Gospel of John What Recent Discoveries Show Us by Paul N. Anderson Imprint: Eerdmans 650 Pages, 6.00 × 9.00 in Hardcover 9780802879899 Publication Date: May 26, 2026 $99.99 £73.99 Out of Stock eBook 9781467463584 Publication Date: May 26, 2026 $99.99 £73.99 Description Discover the Fourth Gospel’s significance for historical Jesus http://paleojudaica.blogspot.com/2026/07/anderson-archaeology-jesus-and-gospel.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jim Davila)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5184112.post-1331965684297503527Sat, 11 Jul 2026 09:52:00 +00002026-07-11T10:52:00.109+01:00NEW BOOK FROM YALE UNIVERSITY PRESS:Body Language Voice, Embodiment, and Textuality in the Hebrew Bible by Jacqueline Vayntrub Series: The Anchor Yale Bible Reference Library 232 Pages, 6.12 × 9.25 in Hardcover 9780300230901 Published: Tuesday, 23 Jun 2026 $50.00 eBook 9780300291575 Published: Tuesday, 23 Jun 2026 $50.00 Out of Stock eBook 9780300291551 Published: Tuesday, 23 Jun http://paleojudaica.blogspot.com/2026/07/vayntrub-body-language-yale.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jim Davila)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5184112.post-7857436267940554281Fri, 10 Jul 2026 10:48:39 +00002026-07-10T11:48:39.943+01:00THE ANXIOUS BENCH: How The Enlightenment Discovered The Alternative Scriptures (Philip Jenkins).I have long worked on what we might call alternative Christianities and especially the scriptures they produced. In the modern world, we are well used to the idea of early systems that get labeled heresies, but which actually (many believe) conveyed many of the authentic teachings of the early church. http://paleojudaica.blogspot.com/2026/07/noncanonical-scriptures-in-enlightenment.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jim Davila)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5184112.post-5084535756501295433Fri, 10 Jul 2026 10:28:08 +00002026-07-10T11:28:08.495+01:00BECAUSE YOU SHOULD KNOW THESE THINGS: The remarkable 12,000 mile journey of the Isaiah scroll from Qumran to Jerusalem (Jo Elizabeth, Israel National News).The Isaiah Scroll, the most complete and important of the Dead Sea Scrolls discovered in Qumran, is currently on display at the Israel Museum for the first time since 1968. Although the distance from Qumran to Jerusalem is a mere 23 http://paleojudaica.blogspot.com/2026/07/the-journey-of-great-isaiah-scroll.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jim Davila)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5184112.post-5877982220825244986Fri, 10 Jul 2026 10:00:01 +00002026-07-10T11:00:01.613+01:00THE BIBLE AND INTERPRETATION:Shared Symbols and Religious Boundaries in Late Antiquity: A View from Personal Experience and Late Antique Magic Shared religious symbols do not necessarily mean weak or blurred religious boundaries. Christian ritual texts that combine anti-Jewish rhetoric with names for God often labeled “Jewish” show that cultural sharing and sharp religious differentiation could http://paleojudaica.blogspot.com/2026/07/ritual-boundaries-in-late-antique-magic.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jim Davila)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5184112.post-2046289812296332377Thu, 09 Jul 2026 10:09:19 +00002026-07-09T11:09:19.206+01:00ANCIENT MATERIAL MULTI-CULTURE: Ancient Seal Found in Israel Reveals Moon and Star Worship 2,600 Years Ago (Abdul Moeed, Greek Reporter).Archaeologists have found an ancient seal in Israel that shows a man worshipping the moon and stars, offering new evidence of religious practices from more than 2,600 years ago. The small stone object turned up at a large pottery-making site near Tel Yavne, on http://paleojudaica.blogspot.com/2026/07/assyrian-religious-themed-seal.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jim Davila)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5184112.post-3375709978579784664Thu, 09 Jul 2026 09:51:26 +00002026-07-09T10:51:26.168+01:00EXHIBITION: Secrets of Huqoq revealed: New exhibition provides first glimpse of ancient Jewish village. New artifact and photographic exhibition housed on the shores of the Sea of Galilee and overlooking the Horvat Huqoq site showcases site's original Samson floor mosaic, alongside a bronze coin cache’s premier public display (Israel National News).Horvat Huqoq, visible from the museum’s windows,http://paleojudaica.blogspot.com/2026/07/secrets-of-huqoq-at-yigal-allon-center.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jim Davila)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5184112.post-3654480810996381064Thu, 09 Jul 2026 09:38:20 +00002026-07-09T10:38:20.593+01:00IN THE MAIL:Samuel Hildebrandt (ed.) with Kengoro Goto, Society for Old Testament Study Book List 2026 (= JSOT 50.5; London: Sage, 2026). Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.http://paleojudaica.blogspot.com/2026/07/sots-booklist-2026.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jim Davila)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5184112.post-8714638678795425691Wed, 08 Jul 2026 09:56:00 +00002026-07-08T10:56:00.123+01:00RECENT BOOK FROM BLOOMSBURY/T&T CLARK:Text as Revelation Hanna Tervanotko (Anthology Editor) , Jonathan Stökl (Anthology Editor) Paperback $39.95 $35.95 Hardback $120.00 $108.00 Ebook (PDF) $35.95 $28.76 Ebook (Epub & Mobi) $35.95 $28.76 Product details Published Dec 28 2023 Format Ebook (PDF) Edition 1st Pages 168 ISBN 9780567689733 Imprint T&T Clark Series The Library http://paleojudaica.blogspot.com/2026/07/tervanotko-stokl-text-as-revelation-t.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jim Davila)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5184112.post-3758318123197428371Wed, 08 Jul 2026 09:28:00 +00002026-07-08T10:28:00.112+01:00PROF. RABBI MARTY LOCKSHIN: Husbands Inherit, Wives Do Not: A Legitimate Biblical Exegesis? (TheTorah.com).Sons, and then daughters, brothers, and paternal uncles all inherit, but the Bible is silent about spouses. The Talmud, in a midrashic reading of the laws of inheritance (Numbers 27:8–11) that the sages themselves admit is not what the verses say, adds that husbands are first to inherit fromhttp://paleojudaica.blogspot.com/2026/07/does-bible-say-husband-inherits-from.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jim Davila)