A new study suggests that the Dead Sea nearly dried up in the ancient past.

As of December 1, the water level of the Dead Sea was 1,361 feet (425.36 m) below sea level. The Sea of Galilee is still 27 inches (69 cm) below the red line.

A blogger reports that the Tell el-Hammam team is preparing to announce that their site must be Sodom because it was wiped out in a “heat event.”

Will Varner has posted a PowerPoint presentation of the Messianic Hope of the Hebrew Scriptures.

He utilizes a number of our Christmas-related photos and welcomes readers to use the presentation as they wish.

A 3.8 magnitude earthquake was felt in the Galilee earlier this week.

A medical doctor in western Galilee has been arrested for leading a ring of antiquities thieves.

One group is unhappy with Israel’s plans to develop a national park east of the Mount of Olives.

Leen Ritmeyer has a roundup of recent stories of Jerusalem in the news.

Wayne Stiles expected to be disappointed by his visit to Nazareth Village.

Shmuel Browns explains why hiking is a national pastime in Israel. He gives his recommendations on the best hikes.

Leon Mauldin shares a video of a potter fashioning vessels on the island of Rhodes.

The concrete of ancient Rome is weaker than the modern version, but it lasts longer. One of the secret ingredients was volcanic ash.

Claude F. Mariottini links to ten places to visit in Bethlehem. (Though worthy spots, half of them are not in Bethlehem.)

$12 will get you a beautiful 2012 calendar of the Lands of the Bible.

HT: Charles Savelle, Joseph Lauer, Jack Sasson