Ancient Bible World

Ancient Bible World Newsletter – Issue #1

Dear Friends,

Welcome to the very first edition of the Ancient Bible World newsletter! Though our site is still new, our goal is to consistently bring together two worlds, the fascinating historical, cultural, and archaeological background of the Bible, and the joys and challenges of everyday life. This month, exciting developments are unfolding in the world of archaeology here in Israel.

Some Dig News:

After six years of extensive excavations led by the Israel Antiquities Authority, a 350 meter long section of the ancient Pilgrimage Road from the Siloam Pool has been unveiled at a special ceremony in the City of David. Funded by the City of David Foundation, the project is nearing completion and will soon be open for the public to walk and experience firsthand. For the first time, archaeologists presented new discoveries and research from the site. These findings reveal that, contrary to earlier assumptions, the residents of the City of David, what Josephus described as “Lower Jerusalem” during the Second Temple period were actually quite affluent. Discoveries like these continue to shed light on the Bible’s world, reminding us how text and history intertwine. Lets keep out eyes open for new publishings from this remarkable site!

Meanwhile, important excavations are also underway on the southern slope of the Temple Mount within the Davidson Archaeological Park. Keep an eye out for new data soon to be published regarding these areas and even more areas open to the public!

Academics:

On the academic side, A.J. is wrapping up Modern Hebrew Ulpan final exams while working on publishing a few articles from this past year—wish him luck! One article, “Mountains, Gardens, and Theophany: How Ritual & Ideology in Yom Kippur Helped Shape Priestly Reform,” explores ritual and theology in Israel’s festivals. Another, “Radical Reform: Ideological Structures in the Reformations of Sennacherib and Hezekiah,” looks at the parallel reforms of kings in Judah and Assyria.

In the coming months, A.J. will also be starting new courses, including “The Language of Biblical Narrative” and “The Jacob Cycle in Genesis.” Each class promises fresh insights and challenges, and he looks forward to weaving what he learns into future updates and articles. We are planning local trips around Jerusalem as well as visits to archaeological sites such as Tel Arad, Tel Lachish, Megiddo, and the City of David. Look out for photos and reflections from these adventures in future newsletters!

Family Life:

At home, our two older children are balancing online studies with Mom alongside their public school classes. Joshua has recently joined the youth group at our local church, while both he and Hannah continue to train hard in their martial arts (jiu-jitsu). Our youngest is homeschooling with Mom and soaking up every moment before the new baby arrives. These simple, everyday rhythms make our days so special, and we are grateful to share them with you. Thank you for being part of this journey with us! We hope this newsletter sparks your curiosity about the Bible’s ancient world and offers a glimpse into the rhythms of our life and work here in Jerusalem.

With warm regards,
The Avalos Family