In preparing for our mid-week Bible study tonight (Life of Christ) I came across a photo of the River Jordan I took back in Sept. 2011.
Jordan River. Photo by Leon Mauldin.
This is where the Jordan continues its flow just south of the Sea of Galilee.
Some of my other posts and photos of the Jordan River may be seen by clicking here and here.
Click image for larger view.
Leave a Comment » | 
Bible History and Geography, Bible Study, Israel, New Testament, Old Testament, photography, Travel | Tagged: Jordan River | 
Permalink
Posted by Leon Mauldin
1 Kings 9:15 reads, “Now this is the account of the forced labor which King Solomon levied to build the house of the LORD, his own house, the Millo, the wall of Jerusalem, Hazor, Megiddo, and Gezer.
During the time of pre-conquest Canaanite occupation, “Hazor formerly was the head of all these kingdoms” (Josh. 11:10), a reference to the city states of northern Canaan. It was located on the strategic Via Maris. This is a view of the tel:
Tel Hazor, one of the cities Solomon fortified. Photo by Leon Mauldin.
I have previously written on Hazor here.
Click image for larger view.
1 Comment | Bible History and Geography, Bible Study, Israel, Old Testament, photography, Travel | Tagged: Hazor, Solomon | Permalink
Posted by Leon Mauldin
Paul observed that God’s invisible attributes, his everlasting power and deity, are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made (Rom.1:20). This is true “since the creation of the world” (ibid.). Several years ago Jonathan Perz paired a text in Psalm 36 with one of my photos. Many of the psalms make reference to God’s power and glory as seen in the creation.
God’s Handiwork in Norway. Photo by Leon Mauldin.
Leave a Comment » | Bible History and Geography, Old Testament, photography, Travel | Tagged: Norway, Psalm 36 | Permalink
Posted by Leon Mauldin
“The Dead Sea Scrolls are undoubtedly the most important discovery found in Israel in the field of the Bible and history of Judaism and Christianity.”1 Fragments of about 900 scrolls from the 2nd Temple period (some dating as early as 3rd century BC) were found in the Qumran caves (NW shore of Dead Sea), between 1947 and 1956. Every book of the Old Testament (except Esther) were represented in the finds, including one complete copy of Isaiah.
Some of the Qumran Caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered (1946ff.). Photo by Leon Mauldin.
I remember when studying archaeology under the late Dr. James Hodges that he said the main value of the Dead Sea Scrolls was in the discipline of apologetics. The scrolls were about 1,000 years older (!) than the previously available manuscripts with which translators had to work. The huge find of fragments provided abundant samples with which to compare our Hebrew manuscripts. The result was:
it may now be more confidently asserted than ever before that the modern Hebrew text faithfully represents the Hebrew text as originally written by the authors of the Old Testament. Dead Sea discoveries have enabled us to answer this question with much greater assurance than was possible before 1948.2
Dr. Hodges pointed out that no new translations had to be made as a result of the discovery of the scrolls; they confirmed the accuracy of transmission of what we already have.
Another contribution:
“As a result of Dead Sea Scroll discoveries, it is no longer possible to date portions or entire Old Testament books as late as some scholars used to do. It is impossible to date any biblical work or any extensive part of one later than the early second century B.C. Fragments of the Pentateuch and the prophets date from the second century B.C. Ecclesiastes, sometimes believed to have been composed in the second or first century B.C., appears in a Cave 4 manuscript dating from 175 to 150 B.C. A second-century B.C. Copy of the Psalms indicates that the collection of Psalms was fixed by Maccabean times. A manuscript of Daniel dating about 120 B.C. brings into question the alleged Maccabean date of its composition. Moreover, the Dead Sea Scrolls do not support the existence of a deutero- or trito-Isaiah, at least during the second century B.C. The complete Isaiah and the long fragment of Isaiah from Cave 1 (second century B.C.) treat the book as a unit.”3
View from Qumran looking south. Dead Sea is in upper left of photo. Photo by Leon Mauldin.
Click photos for larger view.
1 Yigael Yadin quoted by Hanan Eshel in Qumran: Scrolls∙Caves∙History (p.7)
2 See F. B. Bruce, Second Thoughts on the Dead Sea Scrolls (pp.61-69)
3 Bible and Spade (1978), 7(1), pp.12–14.
Leave a Comment » | Bible History and Geography, Bible Study, Biblical Interpretation, Israel, Old Testament, photography, Travel | Tagged: Dead Sea Scrolls, Qumran | Permalink
Posted by Leon Mauldin
At ETS in Atlanta this afternoon I heard Dr. Tremper Longman III, professor of Biblical Studies at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California, and prolific author (including commentaries on the Song of Solomon), lecture on the Song of Solomon. His view of the book is that it is an anthology of love poems, rather than a narrative with a plot; a collection of poems that both celebrate sexual love (within marriage) but also give warnings. It was an interesting lecture.
He read from Song of Solomon 4:3, which includes this compliment: “Your lips are like a scarlet thread, And your mouth is lovely. Your temples are like a slice of a pomegranate Behind your veil.” You might want to remember this text when you wish to praise your wife for her beauty.
Pomegranate such as that referenced in Song of Solomon 4:3. Photo by Leon Mauldin.
This pomegranate orchard is located near biblical Lachish.
Pomegranate orchard near Lachish in southern Israel. Photo by Leon Mauldin.
One of the geographical references in the Song of Solomon is found in 1:14, where the young woman/bride says, “My beloved is to me a cluster of henna blossoms In the vineyards of Engedi.” Pictured here is a beautiful waterfall at Engedi, located on the west side of the Dead Sea.
Waterfall at Engedi. Photo by Leon Mauldin.
I have a previous post making a brief reference to the pomegranate here.
Click images for larger view.
Leave a Comment » | Bible History and Geography, Bible Study, Israel, Old Testament, photography, Travel | Tagged: Engedi, Pomegranate, Song of Solomon | Permalink
Posted by Leon Mauldin
In ATL, attending meetings of the Near East Archaeological Society. Two of the eight sessions I attended today were on biblical Gezer. A great deal of archaeological work has been done here for the past several seasons, including the ancient tunnel/water system, with more yet scheduled.
There are several Old Testament references to this site. It was one of the cities King Solomon fortified:
Now this is the account of the forced labor which King Solomon levied to build the house of the LORD, his own house, the Millo, the wall of Jerusalem, Hazor, Megiddo, and Gezer. 16 For Pharaoh king of Egypt had gone up and captured Gezer and burned it with fire, and killed the Canaanites who lived in the city, and had given it as a dowry to his daughter, Solomon’s wife. 17 So Solomon rebuilt Gezer and the lower Beth-horon 18 and Baalath and Tamar in the wilderness, in the land of Judah, 19 and all the storage cities which Solomon had, even the cities for his chariots and the cities for his horsemen, and all that it pleased Solomon to build in Jerusalem, in Lebanon, and in all the land under his rule. (1 Kings 9:15-19).
Our photo here shows the standing stones at the high place at Gezer.
Standing Stones at Gezer. Photo by Leon Mauldin.
Gezer guarded the entrance into the Shephelah region. It is located approximately thirty kilometers northwest of Jerusalem. Gezer was strategically situated at the junction of the Via Maris, the international coastal highway, and the highway connecting it with Jerusalem through the valley of Ajalon.
I have several previous posts with photos & info here, here, here, here, and here.
Hint: pronounce Gezer with “short” e, not GEEzer (def.: old man).
1 Comment | Archaeology, Bible History and Geography, Bible Study, Israel, Old Testament, photography, Travel | Tagged: Gezer | Permalink
Posted by Leon Mauldin
A study of the biblical “Divided Kingdom” period is challenging, (1 Kgs. 11ff. and 2 Chron. 11ff.) to say the least. The 1st of Israel’s kings, Jeroboam, made several (unauthorized) changes in the pattern for worship that Yahweh had revealed (see our previous post here). Jeroboam’s motive was to solidify his power, and to prevent his subjects from going south to Jerusalem to worship, which he thought would likely cause their loyalty to shift.
At Dan it is possible today to see the site referenced so many times in scripture, that of the high place where Jeroboam placed his golden calf. cf. 1 Kings 12:30: “Now this thing became a sin, for the people went to worship before the one [golden calf] at Dan.” “This event became sin to the house of Jeroboam, even to blot it out and destroy it from off the face of the earth” (13:34). Reference is made to the sins of Jeroboam “which he committed and with which he made Israel to sin” (14:16).
Info Sign at High Place at Dan. Photo by Leon Mauldin.
View of the altar where sacrifices were offered. Photo by Leon Mauldin.
Steps leading up to the platform where the golden calf was enshrined. Photo by Leon Mauldin.
Click images for larger view.
2 Comments | Bible History and Geography, Bible Places, Bible Study, Dan, Israel, Old Testament, photography, Travel | Tagged: High Place, Idolatry | Permalink
Posted by Leon Mauldin
While running some biblical references yesterday I came across a text in Song of Solomon 8:6: “Set me like a cylinder seal over your heart, like a signet on your arm. For love is as strong as death, passion is as unrelenting as Sheol. Its flames burst forth, it is a blazing flame” (NET Bible).
The NET Bible with its translation notes has some very useful material on the significance of the similes cylinder seal and signet as used in this passage:
In the ancient Near East (khotam “seal”) was used to denote ownership and was thus very valuable (Jer 22:24; Hag 2:23; Eccl 17:22). Seals were used to make a stamp impression to identify the object as the property of the seal’s owner (HALOT 300). Seals were made of semi-precious stone upon which was engraved a unique design and an inscription, e.g., LMLK [PN] “belonging to king […].” The impression could be placed upon wet clay of a jar or on a writing tablet by rolling the seal across the clay. Because it was a valuable possession its owner would take careful precautions to not lose it and would keep it close to him at all times.
The Oriental Institute Museum of the University of Chicago has some helpful displays of ancient seals, how they were made, how worn, along with several examples of actual seals and their imprints.
How Seals Were Made. Oriental Museum Chicago. Photo by Leon Mauldin.
Seals, How Worn. Oriental Institute. Photo by Leon Mauldin.
Note that this above display shows both the stamp seal as well as cylinder seal. The Hebrew word for seal, khotam or chotham, occurs twice in our text, characteristic of the parallelism of Hebrew poetry. The NET Bible renders the same word khotam as cylinder seal and then signet in the verse (Song of Solomon 8:6).
There were two kinds of cylinder seals in the ancient Near East, namely, those worn around one’s neck and those worn around one’s wrist. The typical Mesopotamian seal was mounted on a pin and hung on a string or necklace around one’s neck. The cylinder seal hung around one’s neck would, figuratively speaking, rest over the heart (metonymy of association). The Beloved wished to be to Solomon like a cylinder seal worn over his heart. She wanted to be as intimate with her lover as the seal worn by him (W. W. Hallo, “‘As the Seal Upon Thy Heart’: Glyptic Roles in the Biblical World,” BRev 2 [1985]: 26). (NET notes).
Seal on display, Oriental Institute. Photo by Leon Mauldin.
This cylinder above has a contest scene at top and what may be a childbirth scene at bottom.
Ancient seal Oriental Institute. Photo by Leon Mauldin.
This seal is dated at 2,900-2,750 BC according to its accompanying placard.
More on Khotam:
Literally “cylinder-seal” or “seal.” The term (khotam, “cylinder-seal”) is repeated in Sol 8:6 for emphasis. The translation above uses the terms “cylinder seal” and “signet” simply for the sake of poetic variation. The Beloved wanted to be as safe and secure as a cylinder seal worn on the arm or around the neck, hanging down over the heart. She also wanted to be placed on his heart (emotions), like the impression of a cylinder seal is written on a document. She wanted to be “written” on his heart like the impression of a cylinder seal, and kept secure in his love as a signet ring is worn around his arm/hand to keep it safe. (NET notes).
Finally re: the word rendered “arm,” (Song of Solomon 8:6) zeroa:
Alternately, “wrist.” In Palestine cylinder seals were often hung on a bracelet worn around one’s wrist. The cylinder seal was mounted on a pin hanging from a bracelet. The cylinder seal in view in Song 8:6 could be a stamp seal hung from a bracelet of a type known from excavations in Israel. (NET notes).
Click images for larger view.
Leave a Comment » | Archaeology, Bible History and Geography, Biblical Interpretation, Old Testament, photography, Travel | Tagged: seal, signet ring | Permalink
Posted by Leon Mauldin
1 Sam. 28:4: “So the Philistines gathered together and came and camped in Shunem; and Saul gathered all Israel together and they camped in Gilboa.”
The horizontal cluster of white buildings in the upper center of photo mark the spot of ancient Shunem, the site of the Philistine encampment referenced in our text.
Shunem, note white buildings upper center. Photo by Leon Mauldin.
Saul and the forces of Israel were encamped at Gilboa. This view of Gilboa is from Beth Shan.
Gilboa as seen from Beth Shan. Photo by Leon Mauldin.
As the 1 Samuel narrative continues, the next chapter states, ” Now the Philistines gathered together all their armies to Aphek, while the Israelites were camping by the spring which is in Jezreel” (29:1) We have previously posted photos/articles on Aphek here and here, where the Philistines at this time gathered all their armies. At Jezreel one can see the spring mentioned here in 1 Sam. 29:1.
Jezreel Spring. Note greenery at center. Tel Jezreel is in foreground. Photo by Leon Mauldin.
Saul and his three sons (including David’s best friend Jonathan) died at Mt. Gilboa, a great victory for the Philistines. It was a sad day for Israel:
8 It came about on the next day when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. 9 They cut off his head and stripped off his weapons, and sent them throughout the land of the Philistines, to carry the good news to the house of their idols and to the people. 10 They put his weapons in the temple of Ashtaroth, and they fastened his body to the wall of Beth-shan. (1 Sam. 31:8-10).
We are told that also the bodies of Saul’s sons were nailed to the walls of Beth Shan (1 Sam. 31:12).
Beth Shan, where the Philistines nailed the bodies of Saul & sons. Photo by Leon Mauldin.
These photos may be used along with maps to show where the events of 1 Sam. 28-31 transpired. Click on images for larger view.
4 Comments | Bible History and Geography, Biblical Interpretation, Israel, Old Testament, photography, Travel | Tagged: Beth Shan, Beth-shean, Gilboa, Jezreel, Shunem | Permalink
Posted by Leon Mauldin
1 Samuel 18-31 details an extensive period of David’s life when his major concern was escaping King Saul’s efforts to kill him. At one point David left Israel’s territory to live in Philistia, where he and his men were given the city of Ziklag. While David was away, Amalekites invaded the South including Ziklag (1 Sam. 30:1). They burned the city, and took the women and children as captives. Upon returning and learning what had transpired, David and his men pursued. The text states:
So David went, he and the six hundred men who were with him, and came to the Brook Besor, where those stayed who were left behind. 10 But David pursued, he and four hundred men; for two hundred stayed behind, who were so weary that they could not cross the Brook Besor (1 Sam. 30:9-10).
Brook Besor. Map by BibleAtlas.org.
The Brook Besor, mentioned in the text, has been identified as Wâdī Ghazzleh, and empties into the Mediterranean south of Gaza.
Bridge crossing the Besor. Photo by Leon Mauldin.
The brook is mostly filled with reeds.
Brook Besor. View from bridge. Photo by Leon Mauldin.
Here is a view from the tel at Besor. The green vegetation in a desert area is always an indication of water.
Besor. View from tel. Photo by Leon Mauldin.
The text goes on to state that David and the 400 men who were able to pursue were successful in their recovery of persons and possessions (1 Sam. 30:11-20). Upon returning to the Brook Besor, here’s what happened:
Now David came to the two hundred men who had been so weary that they could not follow David, whom they also had made to stay at the Brook Besor. So they went out to meet David and to meet the people who were with him. And when David came near the people, he greeted them. 22 Then all the wicked and worthless men of those who went with David answered and said, “Because they did not go with us, we will not give them any of the spoil that we have recovered, except for every man’s wife and children, that they may lead them away and depart.” 23 But David said, “My brethren, you shall not do so with what the LORD has given us, who has preserved us and delivered into our hand the troop that came against us. 24 “For who will heed you in this matter? But as his part is who goes down to the battle, so shall his part be who stays by the supplies; they shall share alike.” 25 So it was, from that day forward; he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel to this day (1 Sam. 30:21-25).
It is exciting as well as educational to see such landmarks as the Brook Besor that are mentioned in the biblical text.
Click images for larger view.
Leave a Comment » | Bible History and Geography, Bible Study, Israel, Old Testament, photography, Travel | Tagged: Besor | Permalink
Posted by Leon Mauldin
You are currently browsing the archives for the Old Testament category.
leonmauldin.blog 