Two lectures on Dead Sea Scroll found at Qumran and their significance for biblical studies. How the scrolls were found? What do they teach us and what their texts represent? Sample readings from the scrolls. The lectures were recorded live, they are unedited, complete with questions and comments from the live audience.
Posts
Roman Dining Room Mosaic in Egypt
Alexandria, Egypt – Ahram Online reports that a team of Egyptian and Polish archaeologists discovered a well-preserved Roman mosaic floor in a house at the site of Kom El-Dikka, which features a small theater, an imperial bath, and a group…Continue Reading
Help for Imperfect Scribes
Have you ever sent an email and then realized that you colossally misspelled a couple of words in your message? I have. And even worse, the grammatical structure of one of my sentences was so backward that I truly wondered…Continue Reading
Sunday vs. Saturday and Messianic Jews
There is a long-standing debate over Sunday and Saturday among Christ-followers, both Jewish and non-Jewish. The institution of Sunday in historical Christianity is a well-known fact and for many Christians, their very identity is tied to Sunday and what it…Continue Reading
The Bethlehem Seal
Back in 2012 some volunteers and archeologists have uncovered a number of important discoveries while sifting through dirt in vicinity of Jerusalem Archaeological Park near Siloam pool. Among the findings was an ancient clay seal (bulla) which was probably used…Continue Reading
A City from the days of David and Saul Discovered
Researchers from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, the Israel Antiquities Authority and Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia, believe they have discovered the Philistine town near Kiryat Gat, immortalized in the Biblical narrative. Ziklag is mentioned multiple times in the Bible…Continue Reading
Is Kosher Biblical?
You are probably intrigued. Why would anyone suggest that Kosher is not biblical? Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14 articulates what should be eaten and what should not be eaten by Israelites without ambiguity. However, the terminology of Kosher vs. Unkosher…Continue Reading
What Kinds of Fish Were Eaten in Ancient Jerusalem?
Over the past century and a half, archaeologists have excavated a variety of sites in Jerusalem, bringing to light many aspects of everyday life in the biblical city. The examination of ceramic vessels for cooking and serving, as well as…Continue Reading
Fifth Century Samaritan Master Adios Inscription
A new Tzur Natan neighborhood construction in central Israel was proceeded by a dig. The excavation unearthed a rare written record. It points to a Samaritan business from 1600 hundred years ago. The Greek inscription mentions a wealthy landowner ‘Master…Continue Reading
Top Useful Websites for Bible Study
From time to time I get asked to recommend some good websites for studying Biblical texts and for free research resources. So in this article, I decided to offer a collection of links with some brief annotations. If you are…Continue Reading
Aramaic Comics
Archaeologists in Jordan have uncovered a Roman-era tomb decorated with spectacular frescoes (Aramaic Comics) that include some very elaborate drawings. The unique feature of the frescoes is that the titles and descriptions were written in Aramaic, but using the Greek…Continue Reading
Last Supper: Unleavened Bread or Leavened?
Recently, I was asked an intriguing question, “Did Jesus use bread or Matzah on Passover?” I was a bit puzzled at first. Because in my mind, of course, he used Matzah (מַצָּה), the unleavened bread. So I had to clarify,…Continue Reading
Mysterious Hebrew Title
A handful of ancient Israelite inscriptions feature an enigmatic title that has been variously translated as “governor of the city” and “commander of the fortress.” Who was this figure? This late eighth-century B.C.E. bulla discovered near Jerusalem’s Temple Mount displays…Continue Reading
The Symbolism of Doves
Few symbols have a tradition as long and as rich as the dove. A particular favorite in art and iconography, the dove often represents some aspect of the divine, and its use has been shared, adapted and reinterpreted across cultures…Continue Reading
New Digital Tool for Researching Ancient Literature and History
The Digital Corpus of Literary Papyri, a new digital tool for researching ancient literature, is now available. The open-access database, which offers information about and transcripts of Greek and Latin texts preserved on fragments of papyri, ceramic shards NAND wooden…Continue Reading
Harmonizing God and Bible Verses
When it comes to the Bible people have many ideas curious ideas of what it actually is. Why does that matter? It matters simply because what the Bible reveals and what it means to us, and whether we believe its…Continue Reading
Three Witnesses of Yeshua
Occasionally I bump into people who doubt that Yeshua (Jesus) ever existed, deeming him to be a fictional character like Hercules, Loch Ness Monster or Santa Claus. I am not surprised that people have trouble recognizing what Yeshua did, who…Continue Reading
How December 25 Became Christmas
On December 25, Christians around the world will gather to celebrate Jesus’ birth. Joyful carols, special liturgies, brightly wrapped gifts, festive foods—these all characterize the feast today, at least in the northern hemisphere. But just how did the Christmas festival…Continue Reading