Formerly published as The Macmillan Bible Atlas,
this is the atlas to buy for *reference* - it offers
maps of nearly every historical event, including intertestamental and New
Testament periods. The text is scholarly, generally accurate, but critical.
The strength of this atlas is its scholarly text and its
generally conservative stance. Some of the sections, such as that on
climate, are the best among the atlases. The maps, though, are less
detailed than what one would hope for, often presenting the whole country
instead of close-up regional views. The second edition includes a code so
that you can download the maps electronically (see this
BiblePlaces
Newsletter for details).
Cleave, Richard.
1999. The Holy Land Satellite
Atlas, 2 volumes. Nicosia, Cyprus:
Rohr Productions.
Buy these volumes for the pictures. There are no better photographs of the land of Israel for the
interests of the biblical student. The
text is meager, but the satellite images and the aerial photographs makes this
work unique. Because the producer
favors unconventional distribution channels, this may be hard to find.
(SundaySoftware.com has
volume 1 and the CD for $70, or you can look for used copies at
addall.com or
Amazon). Some of these satellite maps are included in the
latest printed edition of the NET Bible.
Monson, James M. et al.
1979. Student Map Manual:
Historical Geography of the Bible Lands. Jerusalem: Pictorial Archive; Grand
Rapids: Zondervan.
This is an atlas of a different kind; it requires the
user/student to make the historical markings (using Monson’s The Land
Between). The marking assignment is
rigorous, but when completed, it makes this atlas the most useful of them
all. It covers nearly every OT event
and has good summary and index pages, though there is a learning curve in using
this work. Unfortunately it is now out of print. Monson's latest
materials are outstanding and you can find them at
Bible Backgrounds, Inc.
This is the atlas to buy to *read* - and therefore is
the first choice for a beginning or intermediate student who can read only one work on the
geography of the land. Though the maps are not as extensive or
detailed as some atlases, the text is well-organized, well-written, and
trustworthy. The first seventy pages
are a geographical overview of the land, region by region. The remaining 130 pages is a historical
overview of the lands of the Bible through the biblical periods. For more
reflections on the second edition, see this
BiblePlaces blog post.
Geography
Aharoni, Y. 1979. The Land of the
Bible.
Revised and enlarged edition, trans., ed., A. F.
Rainey. Philadelphia: Westminster.
Until the recent publication of The
Sacred Bridge, this was the standard textbook for historical
geography. Though outdated, Aharoni's work provides the
basic data for biblical geography. He follows in the historical-critical
tradition of Alt and thus he denies biblical accuracy at many points, e.g., the
tribal boundaries of Joshua date to the time of Solomon.
Monson, James M. 1983.
The Land Between. Jerusalem: author’s edition.
Designed to accompany the above Student Map Manual,
this book consists of map marking instructions and explanatory text. Though the text
itself is helpful, if the
student is not using it for marking purposes, other and better explanatory
texts exist.
Monson, James M. 2009.
Regions on the Run: Introductory Map Studies in the Land of the
Bible. 3rd ed. Rockford, IL: Biblical
Backgrounds.
A
more recent work by a long-time Israel field studies instructor, this manual was designed
to prepare short-term students for on-site study. The maps are north-oriented and graphically engaging. The text is very helpful as an introduction
or review, but it is also very dense (must be read slowly and carefully).
It is part of a package that includes Regional Study Maps (inexpensive), Guide
(free), and CD (forthcoming). These are available from
bibback.com
Smith, George A. 1931.
The Historical Geography of the Holy Land. 26th ed. Grand Rapids: Kregel.
Though originally written more than 100 years ago,
Smith’s book is yet unsurpassed for its verbal description and insight into the
character of the land. This work gives
the reader a better feel for the land of Israel than anything short of being
there in person. Even the frequent traveler will find himself seeing the land
in new and bigger ways with this book as his guide. Many used copies are usually available through
addall.com.
This helpful guide primarily gives the most important biblical information about
the most visited sites in Israel, Jordan, Egypt, Turkey, and Greece. The
book also includes tips for travelers, a packing list, and a four-week schedule
of Bible reading for preparing for a trip. This is especially recommended
for first-time visitors to the biblical countries.
This is easily the best guide to the sites that Paul visited and those that
are mentioned in Revelation. Accurate and easy-to-read, this book is a
great companion for touring the sites on your own or with a licensed guide (who
likely won't know a fraction of what this book describes).
This is rightly known as the classic touring book for the
archaeologically minded. The author is
a Catholic scholar who lives in Israel and has over the years developed an
alphabetically arranged guide to the sites and the most significant
archaeological remains at those sites.
Not all sites are included, but the Jerusalem section is particularly
good.
With each chapter written by the scholar of that
archaeological period, this is the single best survey work. However it is quite lengthy and as such,
more difficult to read cover to cover.
But for studying of a single period (for instance, the Iron II Age),
there is nothing better.
As the title indicates, this work approaches the
subject from an apologetic viewpoint.
Brantley is not an archaeologist, but he has researched the subject and
incorporated conservative material in a helpful way, particular with regard to
the Conquest. Students looking for help
against the critical approach will find this valuable, particularly given the
lack of sources from this perspective.
A
short introduction to field work by an evangelical, this is a helpful primer
for someone looking to learn the basics without a survey of the archaeological
periods. A book like this should be
required for all before joining an archaeological excavation.
This book is a great book for Old Testament history, but less
good for detailed archaeology. Hoerth includes archaeological insights
and parallels where possible, but most of the text reads as a historical
recounting of the Bible. This book is
highly recommended for one less versed in OT history and eager to gain some
archaeological insights along the way.
The required text for my OT archaeology class, Mazar’s work is a good survey of the
archaeological periods but is too technical for most American students not in
Israel. Though currently the standard
introductory text for the subject, this book is not very readable or
well-illustrated. Mazar is a leading
Israeli archaeologist and takes a mainstream approach to most issues.
The second archaeological encyclopedia to purchase,
after Stern (below). It has a different
approach which means that there is a lot of information not included in Stern
(such as important figures and topics as well as places outside of Israel), but
its treatment of those issues tends to be more cursory.
Price, Randall. 1997.
The Stones Cry Out: What Archaeology Reveals About the Truth of the
Bible. Eugene, OR: Harvest House.
Promoted as a conservative introduction to
archaeology for the layman, this book is not recommended because of its numerous
errors.
Sailhamer, John H. 1998. Biblical Archaeology.
Zondervan Quick Reference Library.
Grand Rapids: Zondervan.
This promising title from a conservative author is
more “quick” than “reference.” It’s not
a bad introduction to the subject for an interested layman with no exposure to
the subject and limited time. But with
very short treatments of limited subjects and no documentation, a better buy
for the beginner is Hoerth (above).
Stern, Ephraim, et al,
eds. 1993. The New Encyclopedia of Archaeological Excavations in the Holy
Land, 4 vols. Jerusalem: Israel
Exploration Society and Carta.
The most thorough summarization of archaeological
excavations at sites throughout Israel, these volumes are indispensable for any
kind of research concerning individual locations in Israel. Especially good is the lengthy article on
Jerusalem. Volume 5
(sold separately) updates the set significantly. The four-volume set is available at
Eisenbrauns at this
writing
for $222.
Archaeology Periodicals
Biblical Archaeology Review – the most popular magazine on the subject, BAR is
mainstream in its approach and its article and photograph selection is
excellent. $15 for six issues a year,
this is a bargain for staying up to date on the latest in archaeological
research in Israel.
Near Eastern Archaeology – once known as Biblical Archaeologist, this
magazine has a much smaller readership and appeals more to the academic
reader. Teachers and archaeology
students will find this semi-popular magazine valuable, but less so than BAR.
Bible and Spade – a more limited archaeological publication by the
Associates for Biblical Research, this periodical focuses on presenting the
latest discoveries from a conservative perspective. This organization has done work on Jericho and
has recently excavated a potential site for biblical Ai, and this magazine is the best
place to stay current on archaeological issues from evangelical scholars.
Jerusalem Archaeology
Avigad, Nahman. 1983.
Discovering Jerusalem.
Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
Avigad’s popular description of his excavations in
the Jewish Quarter is still an interesting and profitable read for learning
about important finds from the Broad Wall to the Herodian Quarter. It is difficult to find.
Bahat, Dan. 1990.
The Illustrated Atlas of Jerusalem. Jerusalem: Carta.
This expensive book has the best maps available for the different periods of
Jerusalem’s history. Unfortunately the text is marred by numerous mistakes.
Like all works on Jerusalem, it has quickly become out of date. (Hard to
find, but available now from
Carta).
The Atlas of Biblical Jerusalem is a cheaper alternative that is an
abridged version of the Illustrated Atlas.
Geva, Hillel. 1994.
Ancient Jerusalem Revealed.
Jerusalem: Israel Exploration Society. (Revised with 3 additional articles in
2000).
A collection of scholarly articles, most translated
from Hebrew, that includes much information on various aspects of Jerusalem
that is not published elsewhere.
Important for anyone studying Jerusalem in depth.
Reich, Ronny, Gideon Avni and
Tamar Winter. 1999. The Jerusalem Archaeological Park. Jerusalem: Israel Antiquities Authority.
The most up-to-date work on an area of recent
excavations in the city, this book is organized as “tours” around the City of
David and southern Temple Mount excavations.
It is both scholarly and popular, but its limited focus means it is not
the first book to buy on Jerusalem.
For a popular, readable and well-illustrated history
of Jerusalem, this is the book to get.
Shanks wrote his first book on Jerusalem twenty years earlier and his
love and knowledge for the city, combined with his superb editorial skills and
access to the best photographs make this both essential and enjoyable. Unfortunately it is out of print and hard to
find.
This work contains more material relevant to the New
Testament city than any other work and consequently is must reading for anyone
intending to understand Jerusalem in Jesus’ day. Wilkinson includes much information that none of the above
sources include.
New Testament Background
Connolly, Peter. 1983.
Living in the Time of Jesus of Nazareth. Israel: Steimatzky.
I
frequently recommend this as a "gift book" because of the colorful (and accurate)
reconstruction drawings. It also has
appeal because of its New Testament emphasis.
Buy the book for the pictures, but the text is also informative but not
evangelical. Available in the US with
the title The Holy
Land.
Josephus. 1981. The Jewish War. Trans. G.
A. Williamson. New York: Penguin.
Apart
from Josephus’ writings, we would know almost nothing of the first Jewish
revolt. The Jewish War is the most
valuable of Josephus’ writings for detailing the political and religious scene
in Judea from 150 B.C. to 70 A.D. His
work should be required reading for all seminary students and the most readable
translation is this Penguin edition by Williamson.
My textbook choice for a class on the subject,
McRay’s treatment appeals to the student of Scripture in its focus and
scope. A conservative professor at
Wheaton, McRay covers Galilee, Jerusalem and the locations of Paul’s travels in
a way careful enough to satisfy most beginning students. A study of this subject and a reading of
this text should be required for all seminary students focusing on the NT.
A
revision of Robertson’s work, this harmony puts the gospels in parallel columns
with valuable explanatory footnotes.
These revisers usually follow Robertson’s order, but where they differ
they explain their rationale. The dozen
appendices dealing with various issues of the gospels, the critical method and
alleged contradictions are worth the value of the book alone. This work was originally issued in the
NASB.
There is not a better textbook on the history of
ancient Israel. Merrill has spent a
lifetime carefully studying the biblical text and the ancient Near Eastern
discoveries and parallels. He gives due
place to extrabiblical sources and his work is scholarly and respected, yet
Merrill never shortchanges the historical accuracy of the Scriptures. The
second edition adds interaction with recent skeptical approaches.
There are various harmonies available, but this is the best in placing the
historical books in parallel columns so that the reader can easily discern the
differences between the Samuel-Kings work and the Chronicler’s. This is a
must-have text for any studying the records of the kings of Israel and Judah.
Out of print for years, it is now available from Wipf & Stock.
Provan, Iain W., V. Philips Long, and Tremper Longman III. 2003.
A
Biblical History of Israel. Westminster John Knox.
The first hundred pages of this book is a very careful and intelligent
evaluation of the methods used in analyzing the Old Testament as a historical
source. They demonstrate some major weaknesses in the approach that
denies the historical accuracy of Scripture. This is must-reading for any
student of the subject, conservative or liberal.
Shanks, Hershel, ed. 1999.
Ancient Israel.
Revised
and expanded. Washington: Biblical
Archaeology Society.
The
second book to read on the subject (after Merrill). Graduate students in the course should be required to read this
survey of Israel’s history from mainstream scholarship. Each chapter was written by a scholar and
later revised by a different one. It is
interesting to see the results of liberal scholarship in re-writing Israel’s
history. The incorporation of
archaeological discoveries into the text is a model for future histories.
Now over 50 years after its first edition, Thiele’s
study of the chronology of the kings of Israel and Judah remains unchallenged
and unparalleled. This book is for the
sturdy of heart who is eager to understand the intricate methods of the ancient
chronologists. All students of the Old
Testament benefit from Thiele’s conclusions whether they read this or not.
Modern Israel
Collins, Larry and LaPierre, Dominique.
1972. O Jerusalem.
New York: Simon and Schuster.
A fascinating account of the traumatic days of Jerusalem in the 1948 War of
Independence. This compelling story is based on extensive research and
interviews with hundreds of survivors. The
audio
version (22 CDs) is wonderfully narrated by Theodore Bikel.
Because Jerusalem is a microcosm for the whole Arab-Israeli
conflict, this may be a good starter book.
It will be of greater interest to the one who knows Jerusalem and its
sites and streets well, but Gilbert’s collection of stories and quotes together
with his own insightful analysis makes this an enjoyable and instructive
read. It offers this over the classic O Jerusalem: it covers a broader range of history and thus may be more helpful to
one new to the subject.
An excellent resource for understanding current events. Gilbert provides 150 maps that tell the
story of the nation of Israel in the 20th century.
Essential for anyone wanting to know how
things got the way they are.
Ben-Hanan, Eli. n.d. Our Man in Damascus: Elie Cohn.
Steimatzky.
The fascinating account of an Israeli spy who infiltrates the
highest ranks of the Syrian government in the 1960s and made significant
contributions to the Jewish state in her defense against the Syrians. Not available in the U.S.
This work of historical fiction reflects a great
amount of historical research and detail and can certainly be commended as a
good way to understand the birth of the modern state of Israel. Uris is one of my favorite authors as he
combines historical accuracy with riveting storytelling. Exodus is the book to begin with; Mila 18
(story of the Warsaw Ghetto) and QBVII (the trial of an accused Nazi) are also
worthwhile. The Haj (insight into Arab
life) is recommended only with great caution.
Michener, James. 1965. The Source. Greenwich,
CT: Fawcett.
Michener’s
style is to take a place and tell its story through the ages. In this work, a fictional archaeological
tell is the setting and the finds the excavators make in the dig become the
basis for the author’s imaginative travel through time. Some shortcomings of this book are
outweighed by the value of extended thinking about what life was like in the
various archaeological periods.
Michener’s work strongly advocates the ideas of the evolution of
religion, but it is valuable to see how this is developed by an intelligent and
creative writer.
Written by a rabbi for a Jewish audience, this is
good for either reading or reference for understanding the basics of Jewish
practice, including Sabbath, synagogue, dietary laws, holidays and the life
cycle. Study of the subject is
essential for anyone with contact with Jewish people, and this book is one of
the best introductions.
An
excellent introduction to Judaism by a popular Jewish novelist.
First Picks
Books that I would most recommend to read after
a first visit to Israel:
Leon Uris, Exodus.
James Michener, The Source.
Shanks, Jerusalem.
Rasmussen, NIV Atlas.
BAR and Bible and Spade.
Books you want to buy
for handy reference about the land:
Aharoni et al., Carta Bible Atlas.
Merrill, Kingdom of Priests.
Smith, Historical Geography of the Holy Land.
Cleave, Holy Land Satellite Atlas.
Murphy-O’Connor, The Holy Land.
Ben-Tor, Archaeology of Ancient Israel.
McRay, Archaeology and the New Testament.
Donin, To Be a Jew.
Todd Bolen is currently on study leave from his position as Associate Professor of Biblical Studies at the
Israel Bible Extension of The Master's College. For more than ten years,
he has taught in Israel in the fields of biblical archaeology, geography and history.
