The artifacts excavated from the ruins of Masada yield fascinating insights into the world of the New Testament and the times when King Herod, Pilate, Jesus, Peter, and Paul lived. This book invites you to visit Herod's palaces, walk the robber-infested road taken by the good Samaritan, and see lamps that may have been like those carried by the ten virgins and sandals that made footprints on the shores of Galilee or the deserts of Judea. Every item from Masada suggests something about the setting in which Christianity arose. These essays help us better understand the people, politics, and material culture of the world of the New Testament.

The dramatic story of the last stand of a group of Jewish rebels who held out against the Roman Empire, as revealed by the archaeology of its famous site Two thousand years ago, 967 Jewish men, women, and children—the last holdouts of the revolt against Rome following the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the Second Temple—reportedly took their own lives rather than surrender to the Roman army. This dramatic event, which took place on top of Masada, a barren and windswept mountain overlooking the Dead Sea, spawned a powerful story of Jewish resistance that came to symbolize the embattled modern State of Israel. Incorporating the latest findings, Jodi Magness, an archaeologist who has excavated at Masada, explains what happened there—and what it has come to mean since. Featuring numerous illustrations, this is an engaging exploration of an ancient story that continues to grip the imagination today.

Highlighting the ideas, subplots and characters that shaped the world of Jesus and the first Christians, Anthony J. Tomasino skillfully retells the story of Judaism before Jesus, from the time of Ezra and Nehemiah to the Herods, and even up to Masada.

Preliminary Material -- Provenance -- Form, Content, and Function -- Angelology -- The Heavenly Temple -- The Qumran Context of the Sabbath Shirot -- Provenance - Notes -- Form, Content, and Function - Notes -- Angelology - Notes -- The Heavenly Temple - Notes -- The Qumran Context of the Sabbath Shirot - Notes -- 4Q400: Text and Commentary -- 4Q401: Text and Commentary -- 4Q402: Text and Commentary -- Masada Shirshabb: Text and Commentary -- 4Q403: Text and Commentary -- 4Q404: Text and Commentary -- 4Q405: Text and Commentary -- 4Q406: Text and Commentary -- 4Q407: Text and Commentary -- llQshirshabb: Text and Commentary -- Concordance -- Numeration of Manuscripts and Fragments -- Bibliography of Works Cited.

This unique reference article, excerpted from the larger work (Dictionary of Daily Life in Biblical and Post-Biblical Antiquity), provides background cultural and technical information on the world of the Hebrew Bible and New Testament from 2000 BC to approximately AD 600. Written and edited by a world-class historian and a highly respected biblical scholar, each article addresses cultural, technical, and/or sociological issues of interest to the study of the Scriptures. Contains a high level of scholarship.Information and concepts are explained in detail and are accompanied by bibliographic material for further exploration.Useful for scholars, pastors, teachers, and students—for biblical study, exegesis, or sermon preparation.Possible areas covered include details of domestic life, technology, culture, laws, or religious practices.Each article ranges from 5 to 20 pages in length. For the complete contents of Dictionary of Daily Life in Biblical and Post-Biblical Antiquity, see ISBN 9781619708617 (4-volume set) or ISBN 9781619701458 (complete in one volume).

This unique reference article, excerpted from the larger work (Dictionary of Daily Life in Biblical and Post-Biblical Antiquity), provides background cultural and technical information on the world of the Hebrew Bible and New Testament from 2000 BC to approximately AD 600. Written and edited by a world-class historian and a highly respected biblical scholar, each article addresses cultural, technical, and/or sociological issues of interest to the study of the Scriptures. Contains a high level of scholarship. Information and concepts are explained in detail and are accompanied by bibliographic material for further exploration. Useful for scholars, pastors, teachers, and students—for biblical study, exegesis, or sermon preparation. Possible areas covered include details of domestic life, technology, culture, laws, or religious practices. Each article ranges from 5 to 20 pages in length. For the complete contents of Dictionary of Daily Life in Biblical and Post-Biblical Antiquity, see ISBN 9781619708617 (4-volume set) or ISBN 9781619701458 (complete in one volume).

This unique reference article, excerpted from the larger work (Dictionary of Daily Life in Biblical and Post-Biblical Antiquity), provides background cultural and technical information on the world of the Hebrew Bible and New Testament from 2000 BC to approximately AD 600. Written and edited by a world-class historian and a highly respected biblical scholar, each article addresses cultural, technical, and/or sociological issues of interest to the study of the Scriptures. Contains a high level of scholarship.Information and concepts are explained in detail and are accompanied by bibliographic material for further exploration.Useful for scholars, pastors, teachers, and students—for biblical study, exegesis, or sermon preparation.Possible areas covered include details of domestic life, technology, culture, laws, or religious practices.Each article ranges from 5 to 20 pages in length. For the complete contents of Dictionary of Daily Life in Biblical and Post-Biblical Antiquity, see ISBN 9781619708617 (4-volume set) or ISBN 9781619701458 (complete in one volume).

This unique reference article, excerpted from the larger work (Dictionary of Daily Life in Biblical and Post-Biblical Antiquity), provides background cultural and technical information on the world of the Hebrew Bible and New Testament from 2000 BC to approximately AD 600. Written and edited by a world-class historian and a highly respected biblical scholar, each article addresses cultural, technical, and/or sociological issues of interest to the study of the Scriptures. Contains a high level of scholarship.Information and concepts are explained in detail and are accompanied by bibliographic material for further exploration.Useful for scholars, pastors, teachers, and students—for biblical study, exegesis, or sermon preparation.Possible areas covered include details of domestic life, technology, culture, laws, or religious practices.Each article ranges from 5 to 20 pages in length. For the complete contents of Dictionary of Daily Life in Biblical and Post-Biblical Antiquity, see ISBN 9781619708617 (4-volume set) or ISBN 9781619701458 (complete in one volume).

This unique reference article, excerpted from the larger work (Dictionary of Daily Life in Biblical and Post-Biblical Antiquity), provides background cultural and technical information on the world of the Hebrew Bible and New Testament from 2000 BC to approximately AD 600. Written and edited by a world-class historian and a highly respected biblical scholar, each article addresses cultural, technical, and/or sociological issues of interest to the study of the Scriptures. Contains a high level of scholarship.Information and concepts are explained in detail and are accompanied by bibliographic material for further exploration.Useful for scholars, pastors, teachers, and students—for biblical study, exegesis, or sermon preparation.Possible areas covered include details of domestic life, technology, culture, laws, or religious practices.Each article ranges from 5 to 20 pages in length. For the complete contents of Dictionary of Daily Life in Biblical and Post-Biblical Antiquity, see ISBN 9781619708617 (4-volume set) or ISBN 9781619701458 (complete in one volume).

This unique reference article, excerpted from the larger work (Dictionary of Daily Life in Biblical and Post-Biblical Antiquity), provides background cultural and technical information on the world of the Hebrew Bible and New Testament from 2000 BC to approximately AD 600. Written and edited by a world-class historian and a highly respected biblical scholar, each article addresses cultural, technical, and/or sociological issues of interest to the study of the Scriptures. Contains a high level of scholarship.Information and concepts are explained in detail and are accompanied by bibliographic material for further exploration.Useful for scholars, pastors, teachers, and students—for biblical study, exegesis, or sermon preparation.Possible areas covered include details of domestic life, technology, culture, laws, or religious practices.Each article ranges from 5 to 20 pages in length. For the complete contents of Dictionary of Daily Life in Biblical and Post-Biblical Antiquity, see ISBN 9781619708617 (4-volume set) or ISBN 9781619701458 (complete in one volume).