April 2014
Vol. 2, No. 4
Welcome to The Ancient Near East Today, Vol. II, No. 4! This month we present a special edition on the theme of “Passover as Jesus Knew It.” Leading scholars James Strange, Eric Meyers, Helen Bond, James Charlesworth and Adela Yarbro Collins discuss different aspects of Passover in Jesus’s time, from the rituals he would have celebrated, to the political environment he encountered in Jerusalem.
We also begin ASOR’s new podcast series with three interviews about the new film Noah, with ancient Near Eastern scholars Marvin Sweeney, Robert Cargill and Eric Cline, each of whom has a very different take on the controversial film. Finally, Nancy Serwint discusses her role models, mentors, and career path as a distinguished woman in archaeology.
As always, we encourage you to send The Ancient Near East Today articles to family and friends, post links to Facebook and Twitter, and to be in touch with the editor. Remember, being a Friend of ASOR is free, so please spread the news!
Did Jesus Celebrate Passover in Sepphoris?
By Dr. Eric M. Meyers
The question of whether Jesus celebrated Passover in Sepphoris is related to the larger question of why Sepphoris is not mentioned in the New Testament. As many of our readers must know, Sepphoris is only 5 kilometers from nearby Nazareth.
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Jesus’ Passover
By Dr. James F. Strange
Passover in Exodus 12-13 was a family ritual, but in Jesus’s day it had developed into a national pilgrimage holiday centered in Jerusalem. Practices that were found at first in the family had become more institutionalized in Jesus’s day, with priests managing thousands of sacrifices in the Temple.
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Passover as Jesus Knew it
By Dr. Helen K Bond
Jerusalem in the 30s CE was in a frequent state of heightened political and religious tension, no time more so than at the great religious festivals. Passover was particularly hazardous, with tens of thousands of pilgrims flocking to the holy city not only from Palestine but from all over the Jewish diaspora.
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The Last Passover of Jesus
By James H. Charlesworth
In the Spring, Passover is time for reflective celebration. The great festival is also time for joyous expectation, as humans relish in the return of warm sunshine and blooming flowers.
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The Passover and Jesus
By Adela Yarbro Collins
We actually know very little about how the Passover was celebrated at the time of Jesus. According to the Mishnah, the Hallel (Psalms 113–118) was sung by the Levites at the sacrifices in the temple on important festival days. It was taken over early into the domestic Passover meal, but it is not clear whether such was already the case during the lifetime of Jesus.
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Women in Archaeology
By Dr. Nancy Serwint
I have always thought that the sandbox of archaeology was big enough for lots of us to play in, and I guess, for the most part, I was never that observant to actually see who was doing the playing. Having grown up with the ethic that hard work paid off, that’s the standard I’ve always adhered to and just assumed others did as well.
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Friends of ASOR Podcast: Reviews of the Movie Noah
Darren Aronofsky’s new film Noah is taking theaters by storm. A new ASOR podcast series explains what leading scholars are thinking in regards to the new blockbuster. Warning: podcasts may contain spoilers!
Friends of ASOR Podcast: “Noah,” featuring Dr. Marvin Sweeney
Friends of ASOR Podcast: “Noah,” featuring Dr. Robert Cargill
The Ancient Near East Today features contributions from diverse academics, a forum featuring debates of current developments from the field, and links to news and resources. The ANE Today covers the entire Near East, and each issue presents discussions ranging from the state of biblical archaeology to archaeology after the Arab Spring.
