CONFERENCE PAPER: "CROSSING THE JORDAN RIVER: NORTH VS. SOUTH"

December 9, 2020
Society of Biblical Literature
Virtual Meeting

During the biblical period it was much easier to cross the Jordan River to the north of the Jabbok (Zarqa) tributary than to the south. In the north the river was less wide and less deep, and the valley was easier to cross. Ethnographic data suggest that the north had forty-one fords and the south had five. This discrepancy might explain why the northern tribe of Manasseh is the only tribe in the Bible said to have lived on both banks of the river. Although the Jordan was a significant boundary in the south, it was more of a non-boundary in the north, where Manasseh was situated.

CO-CHAIR, HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY OF THE BIBLICAL WORLD

Society of Biblical Literature
Virtual Meeting
December 2020

This unit provides a platform for scholars to present original research related to the historical geography of the biblical world. While we anticipate many studies related to the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament and the New Testament, we welcome studies of related regions and texts as well. 

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We will be hosting two sessions at this year's SBL. "Historical Geography of the Biblical World" is open to any historical geographical issue related to the lands and peoples of the Bible. "Administration in the Levant in the Persian Period” is being held in conjunction with the journal Hebrew Bible and Ancient Israel (HeBAI), which will be publishing an issue on the same topic in 2021.site.org/meetings/Congresses_CallForPaperDetails.aspx?MeetingId=37&VolunteerUnitId=790

PENTATEUCH CHAIR

Society of Biblical Literature - Middle Atlantic Region
Annual Meeting
Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, New Jersey
March 9, 2020

This session will have presentations on each of the Five Books of Moses.

DAILY LIFE AS AN ANCIENT ISRAELITE

Center for Hebraic Studies and Wellness, Apple Valley CA
November 21, 2019

This group study will explore some of the findings of our Daily Life course at BiblicalCulture.org.

VISITING SCHOLAR, ORANGE COUNTY COMMUNITY SCHOLARS PROGRAM

Orange County, CA
November 20-21, 2019

Talk 1: "Etrog: How a Chinese Fruit Became a Jewish Symbol"
Talk 2: "Was the Book of Proverbs Written by an Egyptian?"

SUKKAH TALK

Congregation Shearith Israel: The Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue, NY, NY
October 17, 2019

This discussion of the festival of Sukkot will take place in the beautiful Sukkah of the oldest Jewish congregation in America, just across from Central Park in Manhattan.

AUTHOR'S EVENING