TABLE OF CONTENTS

Biblical Archaeology Review, May / June 2012

ON THE COVER: What can we learn from a piece of broken pottery? A lot. See Christopher Rollston’s article and Gerard Leval’s article for more about the Qeiyafa Ostracon.  Open articles are marked with a star.

 Online Web Exclusive

Letter from the BAR Managing Editor

BAR Notables

Features

What’s the Oldest Hebrew Inscription?

By Christopher A. Rollston

Weighing in on a quartet of contenders for the oldest Hebrew inscription, epigrapher Chris Rollston explains how he decides: Is the script really Hebrew? Is the language Hebrew? Should the inscription be read right-to-left like modern Hebrew or left-to-right? How old is it? Where did it come from? Readers may be surprised by his conclusions.

 Ancient Inscription Refers to Birth of Israelite Monarchy

By Gerard Leval

Highly regarded French epigrapher Émile Puech interprets the Qeiyafa Ostracon as referring to the institution of the Israelite monarchy, either David or, more probably, Saul. Our author reviews Puech’s analysis.

“Castle of the Slave”—Mystery Solved

By Stephen Rosenberg

Qasr al-Abd, or Castle of the Slave, is a monumental, Hellenistic-style ruin located amid lush fields in Jordan’s Wadi as-Seer valley. Once the centerpiece of a grand second-century B.C.E. estate built by the Jewish Tobiad family, it is less certain why the Tobiads built this impressive structure. Was it a temple? A hunting lodge? A pleasure palace? A tomb? Based on the monument’s elaborate design, decoration and other evidence, author Stephen Rosenberg believes he has the answer.

When Job Sued God

By Edward L. Greenstein

God tested the righteous Job by taking away his belongings, his servants, his children and his good health. Because Job could not think of any sin he had committed to deserve such punishment, he sued God and swore an oath of innocence. Would the deity feel compelled to respond to such a lawsuit?

 Departments

First Person

By Hershel Shanks

Relics vs. “Real” Archaeology

Queries & Comments

Biblical Views

By Ben Witherington III

Spirited Discourse About God Language in the New Testament

Archaeological Views

By Jill Katz

An Anthropologist’s View of Early Israel

ReViews

The Jewish Annotated New Testament
Textual Criticism of the Hebrew Bible
Molten Color: Glassmaking in Antiquity

WorldWide

Folkestone, England

 Strata

Altar-ed Theories at Ashkelon

Fifty Years of Dead Sea Scroll Translation

$5,000 in Prizes for ASOR/SBL Papers

Defendants Acquitted in Forgery Trial

Nehemiah in the Scrolls

More and More Menorahs

Jesus’ Anger Rewritten as Compassion

Joe Zias: “Hershel Has No Sense of Humor”

Objectionable Bible Translation

The Bible in the News

By Leonard J. Greenspoon

Self-Help for Doctors and Others

In Their Own Words

How Many?

In History

What Is It?

Exhibit Watch

Cartoon Caption Contest