FIFTY MAJOR CITIES OF THE BIBLE

From the ruins of the ancient seaside city of Acco to the small but archaeologically important town of Yokne˛am, Fifty Major Cities of the Bible provides readers with a comprehensive guide to the ancient cities that played a vital role in the world from which the Bible originated.

Included are not only well-known cities such as Jerusalem and Jericho, but also lesser-known towns like Aroer, Beth-Zur, and Gibeah, which have all provided their own valuable contributions to the way in which we now understand the biblical world. Includes:

-   the biblical context of each city or town

-   a summary of its known archaeological history

-   non-biblical references to the site

-   photographs and illustrations

-   a concise bibliography for further reading

Also provided is a handy reference map to the major archaeological sites in Israel, as well as chronological tables for easy reference.

Concise, informative and highly accessible, Fifty Major Cities of the Bible is a superb overview of the cities and towns that made up the biblical world, and an essential resource for students and enthusiasts.

Discussing 50 “cities” of the Bible in one small volume is a daunting task. Most of the difficult decisions centered around two questions: what cities/towns should be included, and what information should be provided for the sites that were selected? Some places were picked because they are well known and visited by most tourists. These include Jerusalem, Megiddo, Hazor, Caesarea Maritima, Capernaum, and Banias (Caesarea Philippi). The names of other cities/towns may be far less familiar to some readers: Yokneam, Azekah, Beth-Zur, Aroer, and others. Thus, what follows should be considered only the beginning of the study of these places, and certainly not the end. To help in a reader’s desire for further study, I have included a highly selected bibliography at the end of each chapter. In addition, the reader can find discussions of most of the sites described below in two major encyclopedias: the NEAEHL and the OEANE. Consequently, out of space consideration, in some instances, I have assumed the information in these resources without listing specifics in the bibliography.

For the sheer sake of convenience, the entries are arranged alphabetically regardless of chronological, geographical, and/or other considerations that might have suggested a different scheme.

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