Be'er Sheva (Beer-sheba) was so well-known in acinet Israel it became part of a saying meant to comprise the whole of the land, "From Dan to Beer-Sheba."
Be’er Sheva: Abraham’s Well
Abraham’s brothers and father also became believers in the One True and Living God, the first monotheists in the history of humankind.
Ashdod: Clash of Cultures
As one enters the Museum of Philistine culture, we are met with a reconstruction of what a Philistine warrior might have looked like.
Ashdod: Philistine Origins
Philistines were never included in this list of Canaanite people. They came from somewhere else.
Ashdod
The Philistines had five great city-states, each with their own king: Ashkelon was the only port city. Gaza was Philistia’s southernmost city-state, Ashdod to the north was a bit further inland, and even more inland was Ekron, known for its olive oil export, then Gath was to its south.
Ashkelon
David and I are once again in Israel, the “Beautiful Land,” as the prophet Daniel described it. Today we visited Ashkelon National Park with the oldest arched gate in the world.
Shabbat
Every Friday evening, we make a special point of dressing nicely, and arriving to dinner in time for the kiddush. It's important to be punctual, since the candles are to be lit at least 18 minutes before sunset.
Astragali
As I carefully brushed around what seemed like a floor formation of pottery sherds and cobblestones, almost by accident, I unearthed what looked like a knucklebone—actually a bone in the ankle.
The Forensics of Archaeology
Some people dig for gold, others for artifacts. But the true archaeologist digs for knowledge.
Ashtoreth
Working in the Pottery Lab complex is one of several unexpected pleasures I've been experiencing on this excavation. As a microcosm of Israel itself, our Lab is international.