BiblePlaces Newsletter
Vol 25, #1 - September 14, 2026
Today we are excited to announce the completion of 12 new volumes for the Minor Prophets in the Photo Companion to the Bible. This is our largest release in fourteen years and the culmination of a project we began a decade ago.
The Minor Prophets are filled with historical and geographical references, making an illustrated companion especially valuable for bridging the gap between what we see today and the world of the ancient Israelites.
We have details, endorsements, photos, and free downloads below, but here is the short version: today you can purchase all 12 volumes, including 67 PowerPoints and more than 9,000 photos, for the release price of $79 (immediate download or DVD + download).
If you expect to study or teach the Minor Prophets, or you know someone who will, you can get this entire collection for less than the cost of just two individual volumes such as Jonah ($29) and Zechariah ($69).
We are now prioritizing downloads, so only the complete Minor Prophets set is available on DVD; individual volumes are download-only. We will also be ending free shipping to U.S. addresses on September 30. If you’ve been thinking about picking up any of our photo collections and prefer physical DVDs, this is a good time to do so.
We are grateful for your support over the years. With this release, all but 11 books of the Bible are now complete! Your purchases and recommendations will help us cross the finish line. Thank you for helping us bring the Photo Companion to the Bible this far.
Todd Bolen
Photographer, BiblePlaces.com
Professor of Biblical Studies, The Master’s University
Minor Prophets
The books of the Minor Prophets were written over a period of about three hundred years, from the time when the northern kingdom of Israel was thriving (Hosea, Amos, and Jonah), through the days when Judah was alone and facing the Assyrian and Babylonian juggernauts (Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Joel, Obadiah), to the period following the return from Babylonian exile (Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi). This great variety makes understanding the background especially important for rightly interpreting the Scriptures. The Minor Prophets collection provides more than 9,000 slides, organized by book, chapter, and verse, to help you see each passage in context. Highlights include:
- Photos and reconstructions of key locations, including Edom, Nineveh, Jerusalem, the Mount of Olives, and the prophets’ hometowns
- Ancient depictions of idols, altars, high places, priests, and other elements of false worship
- Modern and historic images of locust plagues, including discussions of the locust’s developmental stages
- Reliefs depicting armies, sieges, chariots, prisoners, and the plundering of cities
- Archaeological remains and models illustrating temples, priesthood, sacrifices, and offerings
- Ancient depictions and models of ships, along with illustrations of Jonah’s voyage and the “great fish”
- Images of vineyards, fig trees, olive trees, threshing floors, and winepresses illustrating both abundance and devastation
- Photos and ancient depictions of lions, horses, eagles, jackals, and other animals referenced by the prophets
- Historic images of earthquakes, storms, floods, droughts, and famines illustrating divine judgment
- Ancient examples of city gates, houses, clothing, tools, treasures, and other objects from everyday life
- Free downloads:
- Hosea 5 (85 slides)
- Amos 3 (125 slides)
- Micah 6 (175 slides)
- Zechariah 11 (160 slides)
You can find what you’re looking for in seconds, because everything is organized by book, chapter, and verse. The PowerPoint format makes the slides easy to view on your computer, copy into your own presentations, and use in teaching.
You can find what you’re looking for in seconds because everything is organized by book, chapter, and verse. The PowerPoint format makes the slides easy to view on your computer, copy into your own presentations, and use in teaching.
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Hosea reg. $89; sale $59 Joel reg. $49; sale $29 Amos reg. $89; sale $59 Obadiah reg. $49; sale $29 Jonah reg. $49; sale $29 Micah reg. $59; sale $39 |
Nahum reg. $49; sale $29 Habakkuk reg. $49; sale $29 Zephaniah reg. $49; sale $29 Haggai reg. $49; sale $29 Zechariah reg. $99; sale $69 Malachi reg. $49; sale $29 |
Purchase all the Minor Prophets today for $199 $79:
DVD + download or download-only.
Hosea, Joel, Amos, and Obadiah
The Hosea volume includes more than 1,400 slides. Highlights include:
Ancient depictions of prostitution and examples of idols, illustrating spiritual adultery
Photos of Jezreel, Mizpah, Tabor, and other referenced locations
Reliefs depicting bows, swords, battles, and horsemen
Examples of food, drink, wool, flax, oil, and treasure
Ancient Baal idols, incense altars, and ephods
Photos and historical depictions of animals mentioned in the text
Images of dew, lilies, olive trees, and the forests of Lebanon, illustrating restoration
“Hosea’s engagement with the culture of his day is magnificently illustrated in this volume of the Photo Companion to the Bible. This is a wonderful resource for interpreting Scripture for both visual learners and discerning readers.“
—J. Andrew Dearman, Senior Professor of Old Testament, Fuller Theological Seminary; author of The Book of Hosea in the New International Commentary on the Old Testament
Purchase Hosea ($89; $59)
The Joel volume includes more than 550 slides. Highlights include:
Many modern and historic illustrations of locusts and discussions of their developmental stages
Images illustrating devastated vineyards, stripped fig trees, famine, and fires
Ancient depictions of mourning
Photos of domesticated and wild animals referenced in the text
Reliefs of warfare and sieges illustrating the military metaphors in Joel
Illustrations of grain offerings, drink offerings, and solemn assemblies
Photos of threshing fields, winepresses, and other symbols of abundance
“The book of Joel uses vivid imagery to convey both warning and consolation for God’s people. This collection invites the reader into the prophet’s world which is filled with locusts, heavenly portents, and other striking phenomena. The pictures displayed here will bring the ancient text to life for a contemporary audience.”
—Joel Barker, Professor of Biblical Studies, Heritage College & Seminary; author of Joel: Despair and Deliverance in the Day of the Lord in the Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the Old Testament
Purchase Joel ($49; $29)
The Amos volume includes more than 1,300 slides. Highlights include:
Images of Tekoa and of life as a shepherd, illustrating Amos’s background
Historic images of earthquakes in the land of Israel
Images illustrating the lands and cultures of the peoples referenced in the prophecy
Archaeological remains and ancient depictions of citadels
Examples of ancient snares, trumpets, sandals, and other items referenced in the text
Photos and historical depictions of animals and insects, such as lions, cows, and locusts
“The Photo Companion to the Bible is extraordinary. The photos and charts provide a wonderful means of visualizing the world of ancient Israel and its surrounding areas. This excellent resource is a ‘must have’ for Bible students and teachers alike who desire to better understand and appreciate the biblical text.”
—T. J. Betts, Donald L. Williams Professor of Old Testament Interpretation, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary; author of Amos in the Focus on the Bible Commentary
Purchase Amos ($89; $59)
The Obadiah volume includes more than 270 slides. Highlights include:
Photos of the land of Edom and its ancient cities
Ancient reliefs depicting messengers and envoys
Examples of Edom’s lofty places
Photos of eagles and other birds native to the land of Israel
Images of vineyards and grape harvesting
Artifacts depicting warriors, warfare, and plundering
Photos of the Negev, the Shephelah, and other territories referenced in the text
“The ancient prophets spoke God’s Word to real flesh-and-blood people who lived at certain times and places in past history. This new Photo Companion to the Bible volume is a great visual resource that gives photos of high quality and really brings the words of the prophet Obadiah to life. I highly recommend this excellent resource.”
—Paul R. Raabe, Professor Emeritus at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis; Adjunct Professor at Grand Canyon University, Phoenix; author of Obadiah in the Anchor Bible series
Purchase Obadiah ($49; $29)
The Photo Companion to the Bible
Old Testament (29 volumes): Genesis, Exodus, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, Psalm 23, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi
Old Testament Special: $399
New Testament (19 volumes): Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and Philemon, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, Hebrews, James, 1 & 2 Peter, Jude, 1, 2, & 3 John, and Revelation
New Testament Special: $449
Old and New Testament Special (48 volumes): $599
ULTIMATE TEACHING SET (All 88 volumes): $749
Throughout the Week
Every Weekend
Featured BiblePlaces Photos:
Obadiah
This month’s featured photos come from the new Obadiah volume of the Photo Companion to the Bible. The shortest book in the Old Testament is extremely important in revealing God’s faithfulness to his people. Through this obscure prophet, the Lord declared that he will bless those loyal to him and punish those who curse his people. The book is filled with language that benefits from illustration, including the land of Edom, lofty places, eagles, vineyards, warfare, and foreign lands.
For more free photos, download the Amos 3 PowerPoint (125 slides). These and more than 9,000 slides are included in the new Minor Prophets volumes in the Photo Companion to the Bible.
"Thus says the Lord Yahweh concerning Edom"
The territory of Edom was located south of the Dead Sea. The traditional northern border was the Zered River, and the southern border was the northern tip of the Red Sea at Eilat. The eastern border was the desert, while the western border could vary from as near as the Arabah to as far west as Kadesh-barnea (cf. Num 34:3-4). The capital was at Bozrah.
None of the cities of the Edomites are mentioned by name in the book, with the possible exception of Sela (Obad 3) and Teman (Obad 9). Edom often took advantage of Jerusalem’s weak moments (Ps 137:7; Ezek 35:1-10; Amos 1:11) and was sharply condemned by the prophets for doing so (Isa 21:11-12; 63:1; Jer 49:7-22). Obadiah dedicated his whole prophecy to Edom’s doom.
"You who live in the clefts of the rock, in your lofty dwelling place"
There is some question whether the “rock” (Heb. sela) mentioned in verse 3 is a common noun or whether it refers to a place name. Sela was one of the main cities of the Edomites and a famous stronghold. Recent study of this site has affirmed that it was very secure, with only a single access point that follows a natural fissure on Sela’s eastern side. Their sense of invulnerability fostered the pride for which the prophet Obadiah condemned them.
"Because of the violence done to your brother Jacob"
Archaeologists have found evidence of destruction in southern Israel from the time of the Babylonian invasion, likely the historical setting of Obadiah. Some of the most significant evidence is found at the site of Arad, the location of an imposing Israelite fortress. Within the destruction layers excavated here, archaeologists uncovered the Arad Ostraca, the largest corpus of contemporary Hebrew texts relating to the period of the Kingdom of Judah.
In particular, Arad Ostracon #24 records troop movements in the Negev under Elyashib, the commander of the Arad fortress, to protect against Edom. This inscription ends with a warning against invading Edomites: “The word of the king directed to you, on your very lives. Behold, I have written to warn you today: (get those) men to Elisha! ‘Lest Edom should enter there'” (translation by Shmuel Ahituv). The Obadiah volume includes several photos of the fortress of Arad as well as Arad Ostracon #24.
"On the day that strangers carried off his wealth"
It was not uncommon for conquering armies to confiscate the gods of a conquered nation, carrying them off to their own temples. This may have happened to Edom as well, particularly in the case of any idols that were made from precious materials. As sacred religious objects, such items would have been considered valuable, even to a conquering army.
These Edomite cult stands were discovered in an Edomite shrine at Ein Hatzeva in southern Israel, and they date to the late 7th or early 6th centuries BC. They demonstrate a high degree of artistic skill and knowledge of clay-working techniques. This display was photographed at the Israel Museum.
"The exiles of this host of Israelites will dispossess the Canaanites as far as Zarephath"
Though most of Obadiah’s prophecy focuses on the land of Edom, the conclusion emphasizes the utter reversal that will occur because of God’s grace to his people. One of the sites mentioned in verse 20 is Zarephath, a port city located in modern Lebanon between Tyre and Sidon.
Zarephath is preserved in the name of the modern village, Sarafand. The ancient site occupied two promontories, each with a good harbor: Ras esh-Shiq and Ras el-Qantara (shown here), which was the site of the Phoenician city. The Phoenician harbor has been divided into two halves by a modern mole which is used to dock fishing boats. The site was excavated by American archaeologist James B. Pritchard on behalf of the University of Pennsylvania in 1969–72 and 1974. The main excavation exposed 9,400 square feet (873 sq m) of Zarephath’s industrial quarter at the top of the tell; excavators discovered twenty-two kilns used for pottery production.
This week we are offering the Minor Prophets for only $79, including immediate download and free shipping (reg. $199). This collection includes more than 9,000 PowerPoint slides illustrating each chapter verse by verse. Purchase this today as an immediate download or DVD + download.
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All content © 2026 Todd Bolen. Text and photographs may be used for personal and educational use with attribution. Commercial use requires written permission.