ABSTRACT

From the ruins of the ancient seaside city of Acco, to the small but archaeologically important town of Yokneam, Fifty Major Cities of the Bible provides readers with a comprehensive guide to the ancient cities that played a vital role in the world from which the Bible originated.

Not only covering renowned cities such as Jerusalem and Jericho, the book also includes lesser known towns like Aroer, Beth-Zur and Gibeah, which have all provided their own valuable contributions to the way in which we now understand the biblical world.

A fascinating, easy-to-follow text, key features include:

* the biblical context of each city or town

* a summary of its known archeological history

* non-biblical references to the site

* photographs and illustrations

* a concise bibliography for further reading

Also provided is a handy reference map to the major archaeological sites in Israel, as well as chronological tables for easy reference.

Concise, informative and high accessible, Fifty Major Cities of the Bible is a superb overview of the cities and towns that made up the Biblical world, and an essential resource for students and enthusiasts.

chapter |8 pages

INTRODUCTION

chapter |5 pages

ACCO

CITY WITH A VIEW

chapter |2 pages

ACHZIV

THE CITY OF CEMETERIES

chapter |4 pages

˛AI (ET-TELL)

IF ET-TELL IS “˛AI”,THE CONQUEST OF JOSHUA ISN’T

chapter |5 pages

APHEK (RAS EL-AIN)

THE CITY OF PALACES

chapter |5 pages

ARAD

FROM ANCIENT CANAANITE CITY TO JUDEAN “TEMPLE”

chapter |3 pages

AROER (IN JUDAH)

WHERE DID DAVID REALLY GO?

chapter |4 pages

ASHDOD

HOME OF THE “ASHDODA”

chapter |6 pages

ASHKELON

HOME OF THE MIDDLE BRONZE AGE SILVER CALF AND A PERSIAN DOG CEMETERY

chapter |3 pages

AZEKAH

WHERE THE FIRE WENT OUT

chapter |6 pages

BEERSHEBA

AN IRON AGE II JUDEAN TOWN “MUSEUM”

chapter |3 pages

BETHEL (TELL BEITIN)

NO GOLDEN CALF: YET

chapter |4 pages

BETHLEHEM

WAS JESUS REALLY BORN HERE?

chapter |3 pages

BETHSAIDA

FROM THE LOST AND FOUND DEPARTMENT: AN IRON AGE CITY REAPPEARS

chapter |6 pages

BETH-SHEAN

WHY IS THERE A “CIGAR-SHAPED” COFFIN IN THIS PLACE?

chapter |5 pages

BETH-SHEMESH

OF MICE AND (PHILISTINE) MEN

chapter |3 pages

BETH-ZUR

A FORGOTTEN OUTPOST OF JUDAH?

chapter |5 pages

CAESAREA MARITIMA

HEROD’S CITY BY THE SEA

chapter |7 pages

Caesarea Philippi (Banias): the magnificent palace of

THE MAGNIFICENT PALACE OF AGRIPPA II

chapter |8 pages

CAPERNAUM

OF FISHERMEN AND GOLD COINS

chapter |3 pages

CHORAZIN

DID THE CURSE REALLY WORK?

chapter |4 pages

DAMASCUS

A VERY OLD CITY WHERE PAUL ALMOST GOT HIMSELF KILLED

chapter |8 pages

Dan (Tel): Massebot

AND “HIGH PLACES”: THE GODS OF DAN

chapter |5 pages

EKRON/TEL MIQNE

PHILISTINE CAPITAL OF THE OLIVE OIL INDUSTRY

chapter |4 pages

FAR˛AH, TELL EL- (NORTH) – BIBLICAL TIRZAH?

IS THERE A WALL OF “SEPARATION”?

chapter |3 pages

FAR˛AH, TELL EL- (SOUTH)

AN IMPORTANT CITY, BUT PROBABLY NOT SHARUHEN

chapter |4 pages

GATH (TELL ES-SAFI)

“TELL IT NOT IN GATH”

chapter |5 pages

GEZER

DID SOLOMON BUILD A CITY GATE HERE?

chapter |3 pages

GIBEAH (TELL EL-FUL?)

CONCUBINES BEWARE!

chapter |4 pages

GIBEON (EL-JIB)

A HUGE WATER WELL AND A DEADLY “GAME”

chapter |3 pages

HALIF, TELL (RIMMON?)

WHERE EXACTLY ARE WE?

chapter |5 pages

HAZOR

THE MIGHTIEST CANAANITE CITY OF THEM ALL

chapter |3 pages

HEBRON

OF MYTHS AND LEGENDS: WHO’S BURIED HERE?

chapter |3 pages

HERODIAN JERICHO

WHY DID HEROD THE GREAT HAVE TO SHOW OFF SO MUCH?

chapter |3 pages

HESHBON (TELL HESBAN)

A “LOVER’S EYES”

chapter |7 pages

JERICHO (TELL ES-SULTAN)

A BIG NAIL IN THE COFFIN OF A “MILITARISTIC CONQUEST”

chapter |9 pages

JERUSALEM

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO “DAVID” AND “SOLOMON”?

chapter |4 pages

JEZREEL (TEL)

WAS OMRI JUST BOASTING?

chapter |6 pages

LACHISH

AT LEAST THE ASSYRIANS WERE IMPRESSED

chapter |6 pages

MEGIDDO

FRONT-ROW SEAT FOR WATCHING THE END OF THE WORLD

chapter |4 pages

MIZPAH (TELL EN-NASBEH?)

WHAT’S AN “EBENEZER”?

chapter |3 pages

NAZARETH

A PEASANT VILLAGE: HOMETOWN OF JESUS

chapter |3 pages

RAMAT RACHEL (BETH-HACCHEREM)

WHY PROPHETS SOMETIMES HATED KINGS

chapter |5 pages

SAMARIA

THE PRIDE OF THE OMRIDES

chapter |7 pages

SHECHEM

WHAT DO ALL THESE TREES AND STONES MEAN?

chapter |4 pages

SHILOH

THE PLACE OF PRIESTS

chapter |5 pages

TA˛ANACH

HOME OF THE CULTIC PRIZE

chapter |4 pages

TELL BEIT MIRSIM

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

chapter |3 pages

TIBERIAS

THE JEWEL BESIDE THE SEA OF GALILEE

chapter |5 pages

TIMNAH (TEL BATASH)

A LION, A WIFE, AND A RIDDLE

chapter |4 pages

YOKNE˛AM (TELL QEIMUM)

YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE FAMOUS TO BE IMPORTANT