Course

The Unknow Biblical Israel

Presentation

  • This course will take a closer looks at lesser-known biblical archaeological sites in Israel. We will explore the social, political, cultural and religious context of the Bible from the time of King David (10th century BCE) to the time of Jesus in the Second Temple period (1st century CE), by analyzing both biblical historiography and the archaeological evidence. We will focus on the scientific aspects to gain a better understanding of what happened in the Land of Israel over the last 3000 years. We will study various periods of biblical history within their greater Near Eastern and European contexts, and refer to different cultures and nations of the biblical world, including the Philistines, Assyrians, Babylonians, Greeks, Romans and others. Through an analysis of the archaeological evidence and historical sources, we will attempt to reconstruct the historical picture and learn more about what motivate the various peoples who left their footprints in the Holy Land. The methodology used during the course will be based on three pillars:
  • Prior reading of study material
  • Lectures at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
  • Study field tours with renowned archaeologists

Course Objectives:

  • To deepen the historical and geographical context of the Bible
  • To expand our knowledge on terms and methods of biblical archaeology
  • To get to know striking archaeological sites that help us gain further insight into the historical context of the Bible

Learning outcomes:

  • The student will:
  • be introduced to archaeological findings that most of visitors to Israel are unfamiliar with, and their relationship to biblical history
  • delve deeper into methodologies in the field of archaeology
  • contextualize biblical chronology and major events in the greater ancient Near Eastern world

Requirements:

  • Participation in the Moriah program “Biblical Archaeology” or having previously visited Israel at least twice
  • Extensive knowledge of the Bible and biblical chronology
  • Basic knowledge of the history of the ancient Near East
  • Basic knowledge of the geography of the Land of Israel and the Middle East

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AGENDA​

Arrival at Ben Gurion International Airport and transportation to the hotel in Jerusalem

a. Presentation of the program

* Night in Jerusalem

Jerusalem

Topic: Introduction

  • Israel Museum
    • Biblical archaeology wing

 

  • Hebrew University of Jerusalem
    • Visit to the Institute of Archaeology
    • The Tomb of Nicanor
    • Lecture: “Jewish religiosity in the Greco-Roman world”
    • Lecture: “Messianic models of Second Temple Judaism”

* Night in Jerusalem

Jerusalem

Topic: Herod the Great

  • Temple Mount
    • The history of the Temple Mount: from Abram to the present day
    • The Holy Temple of Jerusalem
    • The Golden Gate

 

  • The Wailing Wall
    • What is the Wailing Wall and why is it called this?
    • The holiness of the place: Why and since when

 

  • The Western Wall Tunnels
    • The construction of the Western Wall according to recent findings
    • Construction methods in antiquity
    • Re-use of structures in the middle ages

 

  • The Burnt House
    • The destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem

 

  • Herodian Quarter
    • The life of the priests at the time of the Second Temple

 

  • Herodium
    • Herod’s palace, fortress and tomb
    • The discovery of Herod’s tomb
    • Herodium at the time of the Jewish revolt against Rome

* Night in Jerusalem

Judean Hills

Topic: The peoples of the Bible and their relationship with the Kingdom of Judea

  • Tel Maresha and Beit Guvrin
    • The caves of Tel Maresha
    • The amphitheater of Beit Guvrin
    • Excavations at Tel Maresha “Dig for a Day”

 

  • Khirbet Qayafa:
    • The history of archaeological research
    • The Biblical Shaarayim
    • David and Goliath: Legend or historical reality?

* Night in Jerusalem

Samaria

Topic: Samaria in biblical times

  • Tel Shilo
    • The 12 tribes
    • The tabernacle: What is the archaeological evidence?
    • The importance of Shilo for Christian theology

 

  • Mount Gerizin
    • Mount Gerizin and Mount Ebal in the Bible
    • The significance of Mount Gerizin for the Samaritan faith
    • The Samaritan Temple
    • The origin of the Samaritans according to the Bible
    • The origin of the Samaritans according to historical science

 

  • Samaritan Quarter of Nablus
    • The origin of the Samaritans according to Samaritan religion
    • The ethnic Samaritans today: theology, demography and politics

* Night in Jerusalem

Desert of Negev

Topic: The Southern Border of Biblical Israel

  • Tel Beer Sheva
    • Beer Sheva in the Bible: The Abraham and Isaac Stories
    • The Israelite period
    • The altar
    • The water system

 

  • Tel Arad
    • Arad in the Bible
    • The Canaanite city
    • The Arad fortress: when and why?
    • The Arad Temple
    • The Arad ostracas

 

  • Dead Sea
    • The Dead Sea in biblical and extrabiblical sources

* Night in Tiberias

Galilee I

Topic: Judaism, paganism and Christianity

  • Beit Shean
    • The Egyptian control over the land of Israel during the Canaanite period
    • King Saul
    • Scytopolis and the Decapolis
    • Beit Shean in the Roman-Byzantine period

 

  • Sepphoris
    • The capital of the Galilee in Second Temple period
    • The Land of Israel after Second Temple destruction
    • Rabbi Yehuda Ha Nassi
    • Mishna and Talmud
    • Christian influences on Judaism during the Byzantine period

* Night in Tiberias

Galilee II

Topic: The Galilee in biblical times

  • Ginossar
    • A meeting with the man who discovered the ancient boat in

 

  • Tel Hatzor
    • Hatzor in biblical and extrabiblical sources
    • Was Hatzor destroyed during Joshua conquest of Canaan?
    • Hatzor in the Israelite period

 

  • Bethsaida
    • The kingdom of Geshur
    • Was King David here?
    • Bethsaida in the New Testament
    • Is there an alternative Bethsaida?

 

  • Kursi
    • The exorcism of the Gerasene demoniac
    • Gerasa or Gadara?
    • Why did Jesus come to a pagan city?

 

* Night in Jerusalem

Jerusalem

Topic: Jesus´ final moments: from history to myth

  • Mount of Olives
    • The Mount of Olives in the Judeo-Christian conception
    • The biblical geography of Jerusalem

 

  • Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu
    • The House of Caiaphas: arguments for and against
    • From the House of Caiaphas to the trial by Poncio Pilato

 

  • Museum of the Tower of David – Herod’s Palace
    • The trial of Jesus
    • Antonia Fortress vs. Herod’s Palace

 

  • Holy Sepulcher
    • History of the Holy Sepulcher
    • The archaeology of the Holy Sepulcher: was Jesus buried here?

* Night in Jerusalem

Transport to Ben Gurion airport

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