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The Dying Child: Death and Personhood of Children in Ancient Israel

Friends of ASOR present the next webinar of the 2024-2025 season on April 16, 2025, at 7:00 pm EDT, presented by Dr. Kristine Garroway. This webinar will be free and open to the public. Registration through Zoom (with a valid email address) is required. This webinar will be recorded and all registrants will be sent a recording link in the days following the webinar.

The death of a child is perhaps the most painful, heartbreaking, and seemingly unnatural experience we have the displeasure of living with. Yet it is difficult to say with certainty whether this sentiment was shared by the inhabitants of ancient Isarel. Some anthropologists have found that in societies which experience a high rate of infant mortality and childhood death, parents remain emotionally detached from their children and do not mourn their deaths. We know that ancient Israel, like many pre-industrial societies, had a very high rate of infant mortality and childhood deaths. Did Israelites therefore care for their dying children? Did they give them a proper burial? Did they consider their children part of their families? The Hebrew Bible does not offer much information on the subject. Every time a child’s death is referenced, it is as a plot device in a narrative to prove an ethical, moral, or theological point. Abraham must sacrifice his child to show his commitment to God; Elijah shows off his wonder-working skills when he revives a dead child; David and Bathsheba’s first child dies because David committed murder and adultery; and Solomon demonstrates his wisdom when he commands a child to be cut in half. Yet, none of the biblical texts discuss how, or even if, Israelites cared for their dying children. Fortunately, there is another source to which we can turn to answer such questions: archaeology.

The archaeological record provides us with an incredible amount of information regarding the way that families coped with the death of a child. Yet, it has gone underappreciated, even unnoticed in the scholarly literature. This talk will take you along a journey to explore the ways in which people living in the time of the Israelite monarchy (Iron Age II ca. 1200-587 BCE) cared for their dying children. It will examine the different methods of burying children and the possible beliefs driving the choice of interment. We will discuss the relationship between a belief in rebirth and jar burials in the Northern Kingdom and cremations on the coast, as well as the Judahite concern for ethnically marking one’s child as Israelite and including them in the family tomb. While the array of burial practices attests to the heterodox beliefs of people living in the land of Israel, one thing unifies them: as we will see, people understood even young children to have some degree of personhood, which necessitated both burial and post-mortem care.

Kristine Henriksen Garroway is Professor of Bible at the HUC-JIR’s Skirball Campus in Los Angeles where she joined the faculty in 2011. She received her doctorate in Hebrew Bible and Cognate Studies at the HUC-JIR/Cincinnati in 2009. She has spent time studying and researching in Israel and has participated in excavations at Ashkelon, Tel Dor, and Tel Dan. Garroway’s scholarship focuses on children using archaeology and texts of ancient Israel and Mesopotamia. She has published in various scholarly journals and is a regular contributor to thetorah.com. Garroway’s books include: Children in the Ancient Near Eastern Household (Eisenbrauns 2014), Growing Up in Ancient Israel: Children in Material Culture and Biblical Texts (Society of Biblical Literature 2018), and The Dying Child: the Death and Personhood of Children in Ancient Israel (Oxford, 2025). She is the recipient of the Biblical Archaeological Society’s 2019 Publication Award for Best Book Relating to Hebrew Bible.

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Initiating and supporting research of the history and cultures of the Near East and wider Mediterranean world.



Happy International Archaeology Day! 🏛️📜🏺Today we celebrate the discoveries, stories, and people who bring the ancient world to life. ASOR supports research, preserving cultural heritage, and connecting people across the globe through humanity’s shared history. From excavations to digital archives, publications, and handbooks, from our Annual Meeting, webinars, and tours to community engagement, archaeology connects us all.
#InternationalArchaeologyDay #IAD2025 #ASOR #CulturalHeritage


Our #ObjectoftheWeek: A Cypriot terracotta statuet
Our #ObjectoftheWeek: A Cypriot terracotta statuette depicts a bearded charioteer driving a biga (two-horse chariot), dating to c. 6th century BCE. Source: The J. Paul Getty Museum Collection/https://www.getty.edu/art/collection/object/103SR1
#Archaeology #Cyprus


One of the famous scenes of antiquity is that of t
One of the famous scenes of antiquity is that of the visit purportedly paid by Alexander the Great to the temple of Jerusalem. But did Alexander actually visit Jerusalem? And does it matter? Read the newest ANE Today by Ory Amitay by clicking the link (https://anetoday.org/alexander-great-jerusalem/) in our bio.
#AlexandertheGreat #Jerusalem


This October, two anonymous donors have generously
This October, two anonymous donors have generously pledged $3,000 in matching gifts to support the Friends of ASOR webinar program. Every gift through Oct. 31 will be matched dollar for dollar until we reach $3,000. Be a part of ensuring our webinar program can continue to be free and available for all! Make your gift today to help ASOR meet the October Webinar Challenge (please select “Webinars” when making your gift). https://buff.ly/ppDKVDZ


Over the past few months, ASOR has offered free tr
Over the past few months, ASOR has offered free training in its cultural heritage documentation curriculum to Syrian and Yemeni students and heritage professionals in collaboration with Syrians for Heritage (SIMAT) and Heritage for Peace. ASOR’s freely accessible curriculum aims to help cultural heritage specialists perform surveys and condition assessments through mostly open-source tools and software, including KoboToolbox, QGIS, LibreCAD, and Agisoft Metashape. Read more by clicking the link (https://buff.ly/Tvocl38) in our bio.
#CulturalHeritage #Syria #Yemen


Mark your calendars for our next webinar on Octobe
Mark your calendars for our next webinar on October 29 at 12:00pm ET: "Alexander the Great in Jerusalem: Myth and History", presented by Dr. Ory Amitay. The episode of Alexander’s visit to Jerusalem is familiar mostly through the story of Flavius Josephus—this version of the story dominates not only the public imagination but also scholarly discussion. Dr. Amitay’s recent book, Alexander the Great in Jerusalem: Myth and History, explores the four different versions of the Alexander in Jerusalem story and concludes that the story, in all its versions, cannot be regarded as history; it is a political myth. Tune in to the webinar to learn about the stories and the contexts of their creation. Click the link (https://buff.ly/GHbmf8a) in our bio to register.


Join ASOR's Early Career Scholars on Friday, Octob
Join ASOR's Early Career Scholars on Friday, October 17th from 12:00-1:15pm EDT via Zoom for a virtual Brown Bag workshop, "How to Get Involved in Archaeological Field Projects." Curious about how to join an archaeological dig or how to expand your field experience? Join us for a panel session featuring directors of field projects in Turkey, Cyprus, and Egypt, who will share firsthand insights into what fieldwork really looks like and how students at all levels can get involved. Click the link (https://buff.ly/hhAGoMp) in our bio to register!


While the ASOR Annual Meeting offers a robust acad
While the ASOR Annual Meeting offers a robust academic program, attendees joining us in Boston can also enjoy a range of special events. These include workshops, the Early Career Scholar reception, roundtables, and even free admission to the Museum of Fine Arts. The Museum of Fine Arts is offering complimentary general admission to Annual Meeting attendees from November 19–26, 2025. Simply show your ASOR name badge at the admissions desk for free entry. Some events require advance sign-up for registered participants. Click the link (https://buff.ly/6EuvOJO) in our bio for more information.


Friends of ASOR gathered in Chicago for a fantasti
Friends of ASOR gathered in Chicago for a fantastic two-day adventure through some of the city’s exceptional museums. Thirty participants enjoyed exclusive, behind-the-scenes access at @isac_uchicago's special exhibition Megiddo: A City Unearthed, A Past Imagined, curated by Kiersten Neumann. Later, Morag Kersel led a walking tour of Chicago’s monuments, offering fresh perspectives on the city’s public spaces. Day two brought a visit with @artinstitutechi curators Ashley Arico and Lisa Çakmak, who shared insights into how the Egyptian, Greek, Roman, and Byzantine collections are curated. The trip concluded with an unforgettable afternoon at the @fieldmuseum, where Bill Parkinson treated the group to a behind-the-scenes look at the museum’s world-class anthropology collections. Read more by clicking the link (https://buff.ly/FmVOgIG) in our bio.


Remember to tune in TOMORROW (Oct. 8) at 7:00pm ET
Remember to tune in TOMORROW (Oct. 8) at 7:00pm ET for our next FOA webinar: "Readers of the Lost Ark: The Ark of the Covenant from Biblical Religion to Contemporary Culture" presented by Kevin McGeough with panelists Jennie Ebeling and Bill Caraher. Register now if you haven't: https://buff.ly/1oKIpSA


ASOR is accepting applications for the 2025 Studen
ASOR is accepting applications for the 2025 Student Paper Award (pictured is Nicole Constantine, winner of the 2024 award). The award is accompanied by a $500 prize—applications and recorded paper presentations are both due by November 5. Read more about eligibility and how to apply by clicking the link (https://buff.ly/NcjivIT) in our bio.


Biblical Archaeology Review is looking for a new A
Biblical Archaeology Review is looking for a new Assistant Editor! Biblical Archaeology Review is a quarterly archaeology magazine that acts as a bridge between the academic study of archaeology and a broad general audience eager to understand the world of the Bible better. See their job announcement for more details: https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/about-the-biblical-archaeology-society/employment/


The #ImageoftheWeek from this week’s ANE Today:
The #ImageoftheWeek from this week’s ANE Today: 12,000 year old rock art panel of life-sized camels discovered in the Nefed Desert, Saudi Arabia. Orthophoto with tracings digitally outlined in color. Image source: M. Guagnin et al. 2025 (https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-63417-y). CC By 4.0. #Archaeology #RockArt #SaudiArabia


The Ark of the Covenant is an ancient biblical art
The Ark of the Covenant is an ancient biblical artifact that is easy for people to imagine. Because its function is ambiguous, there is a rich and diverse interpretive history of the object that is as old as the Bible itself. Read more in the newest ANE Today by Kevin McGeough by clicking the link (https://anetoday.org/imagining-the-ark/) in our bio.


ASOR is seeking a volunteer photographer to help c
ASOR is seeking a volunteer photographer to help capture our upcoming 2025 Annual Meeting at the Hilton Boston Park Plaza from November 19–22, 2025, including our 125th Anniversary Celebration on Saturday evening. This is an uncompensated position, but reimbursements and hotel nights are negotiable. Read more by clicking the link (https://buff.ly/aZQB5kS) in our bio. Applications due October 15th.


Gabrielle Puckett, a 2025 Eric and Carol Meyers Fi
Gabrielle Puckett, a 2025 Eric and Carol Meyers Fieldwork Scholarship Recipient, excavated at Makounta-Voules in Cyprus this summer. With a strong interest in zooarchaeology, Gabrielle shares her experience digging with views of the Mediterranean in the background. Read her report by clicking the link (https://buff.ly/2CSjLkn) in our bio.
#Fieldwork #Archaeology #Cyprus


Join Friends of ASOR on our very first archaeologi
Join Friends of ASOR on our very first archaeological tour of Cyprus! Experience exclusive, behind-the-scenes access as scholars, archaeologists, and museum curators personally guide you through a specially curated itinerary of sites and museums. The Early Bird rates are only till tomorrow, September 30. Read more about how to reserve your spot here: https://buff.ly/GHulteg
#Cyprus


The American Academy of Religion, Southeastern reg
The American Academy of Religion, Southeastern region, invites abstracts for its annual conference. With opportunity to participate in more than 20 units and 50 sessions, scholars and students of religious studies, theology, and biblical literature located in the southeast are encouraged to apply. There will be ASOR member-sponsored sessions on Field Reports and Related Scholarship, and Shifting Identities and the Archaeology of the Ancient World.
The Call for Papers deadline is October 1, 2025. Learn more at https://relse.org.


Join us for our next webinar on October 8 at 7:00p
Join us for our next webinar on October 8 at 7:00pm ET: "Readers of the Lost Ark: The Ark of the Covenant from Biblical Religion to Contemporary Culture" presented by Kevin McGeough with panelists Jennie Ebeling and Bill Caraher. Since the release of Raiders of the Lost Ark, the Ark of the Covenant has become one of, if not the most famous biblical “artifact,” despite the fact that scholars don’t agree on what might have happened to it or if it even really existed. Introducing his new book, Readers of the Lost Ark, Kevin will discuss how the Ark has been understood in different communities, from ancient Jewish and Christian commentators, through Medieval theologians, to modern ancient aliens theorists, misguided explorers, and Indiana Jones fan communities. Register for the free webinar by clicking the link (https://buff.ly/1oKIpSA) in our bio.


ASOR is pleased to announce, with support from the
ASOR is pleased to announce, with support from the American Institute for Roman Culture, the Cyrene Conservation Initiative—a 12-month conservation and heritage education project at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Cyrene in eastern Libya. Developed in close collaboration with the Libyan Department of Antiquities, the Cyrene Conservation Initiative is a response to the impacts of Storm Daniel, which caused catastrophic flooding in September 2023. The project will focus on key areas of the ancient city that were particularly affected by the flood, including Valley Street and the Sanctuary of Apollo terrace, one of the most iconic districts in the city. Read more about the project by clicking the link (https://www.asor.org/chi/updates/2025/09/cyrene-conservation-announcement) in our bio!
#Libya #Cyrene #Conservation



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