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Lectures in Biblical Archaeology

The American Jewish University (formerly University of Judaism) is hosting the 18th and final series of lectures on biblical archaeology at their Los Angeles campus starting next week.  The lectures are on Monday evenings, beginning at 8:00 p.m., and with a cost of $25 each.  The lecture dates, topics, and speakers are:

October 15

Jerusalem in the Days of David and Solomon: What Do We See in Excavations and What Does It
Actually Mean?

Jane M. Cahill

October 22

Archaeology, History and the Patriarchs

Gary Rendsberg

October 29

The Exodus from Egypt and the Conquest of Canaan in Archaeology, Egyptology and the Bible:
What Do We Know for Certain?

James K. Hoffmeier

November 12

Death Styles of the Rich and Famous and of the Kings of Israel: An Archaeologist Examines the
Evidence and Arguments

Jodi Magness

November 19

Two Temples Stood in Zion: How New Excavations, Old Photographs, Recent Observations and
Ancient Texts Enable Us to See the Temples of Solomon and Herod

Leen Ritmeyer

November 26

The First Synagogues and Churches: What Can We Learn from Newly Excavated Sites About the
Beliefs, Organization and Origins of Early Christian and Jewish Groups?

Steven Fine

December 3

Cosmos from Chaos: the Creation of Heaven and the Search for Divine Presence in Israelite Religion

Ziony Zevit


This really is an outstanding program and if I didn’t have to jump on an airplane to attend, I would
go.  If you have limited time or funds, the four that would be of most interest to me are Cahill,
Hoffmeier, Magness, and Ritmeyer.  The last three have great books on their subjects which I
recommend to all.  (Perhaps they would sign it if you brought it.)  Those books are Hoffmeier, Israel 
in Egypt ($30); Magness, Archaeology of Qumran and the Dead Sea Scrolls ($15); Ritmeyer, The 
Quest ($60).

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4 thoughts on “Lectures in Biblical Archaeology

  1. Do you know of any good lectures on Biblical archaeology posted online? That would be a big help for us who cannot get to LA. Any help would be wonderful–Thankyou
    Cory G.

  2. Cory – that is a good question, but I don’t have a good answer. It would seem like there should be some around, but the only thing that comes to mind are the radio broadcasts of Book and Spade, which sometimes features interviews with archaeologists. You can see more here:
    http://www.radioscribe.com/bknspade.htm

    Only the current program is available online for free.

    Biblical Archaeology Society also has some lectures on video that they sell.

  3. I attended last night’s lecture by Jane Cahill, & was disappointed to learn from Fred Simmons (whose foundation has generously sponsored the series for 18 years) that they’re terminating the series after this one ends in December. In his words, he doesn’t see the point in “rehashing the same material” year after year, & “new [material] is hard to come by.”

    On the bright side, however, according to Prof. Ziony Zevitt (who’s acted as its moderator for many years) the University may still occasionally have special guest lectures as new discoveries are made. A specific example he mentioned candidly to several of us after last night’s lecture, was Eilat Mazar after she’s had time to synthesize her current landmark work with the Large-Stone Structure.

    I’ll be posting a detailed review of last night’s lecture in my own blog sometime later today, or no later than this weekend.

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