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  Ancient Near Eastern Passports: Two Stamp Seals from Khirbet Qeiyafa; Martin G. Klingbeil, DLitt; February 15, 2012

  Martin G. Klingbeil and Southern Adventist University

  In the ancient world, stamp seals served as a tool for identification, a symbol of socioeconomic status, and a venue for personal expression. They were a platform for communication and diversification. Throughout the excavations at Khirbet Qeiyafa, several stamp seals have been found. If these seals could talk, what would they say? Which stories would they share about the people who lived long ago? Could these seals help illuminate gaps of ambiguity within the archaeological record? In this lecture, Martin G. Klingbeil, PhD, invites viewers into the processes used to uncover the meaning of stamp seals. In doing so, he applies his research to the latest stamp seal findings at Qeiyafa and how possible interpretations of the stamp seals impact research.

  Martin Klingbeil (DLitt 1995, Stellenbosch University) is a professor of Biblical Studies and Archaeology at Southern, as well as the associate director of its Institute of Archaeology. He is currently co-director for The Fourth Expedition to Lachish.

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  Transformations in the Twelfth Century B.C.: The Coming of the Philistines to Ashkelon; Daniel Master, PhD; March 21, 2012

  Daniel Master and Southern Adventist University

  Thirty-five miles south of modern Tel-Aviv, the famous seaport of Ashkelon decorates the Mediterranean coast of Israel. This city, which holds the distinction of being both the oldest and largest maritime city in Israel, is ripe with nuggets of historical importance. After more than 25 years of excavation, archaeologists are still only beginning to piece together the significances of their findings. However, amongst the numerous occupation layers, the arrival of the Philistines at Ashkelon is of particular interest to biblical enthusiasts. Just who were these mighty opponents of the Hebrew people? Where did they come from? Were they really as barbaric as is frequently depicted? To answer these questions, Daniel Master, PhD, offers theories developed from the most recent excavations at the site.

  Daniel Master (PhD 2001, Harvard University) is professor of archaeology at Wheaton College. Currently, he is co-director of the Leon Levy Expedition to Ashkelon.

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  Excavating the Fortress of Elah: 2011 Season at Khirbet Qeiyafa; Michael G. Hasel, PhD; October 12, 2011

  Michael G. Hasel and Southern Adventist University

  Michael Hasel presents on the findings from the 2011 excavation season at Khirbet Qeiyafa—the final season of Southern Adventist University's participation in the Khirbet Qeiyafa Archaeological Project.

  Michael Hasel (PhD 1996, University of Arizona) is director of the Institute of Archaeology and curator of the Lynn H. Wood Archaeological Museum at Southern Adventist University. At present, he is a co-director The Fourth Expedition to Lachish.

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  The Temple of Solomon: The Center of the Universe Then and Now; John Monson, PhD

  John Monson and Southern Adventist University

  Of all the buildings of antiquity, none is more famous than the temple of Solomon. It served as the center Judean religion for four centuries. For this presentation, John Monson discusses Solomon's Temple and the transcendent significance this structure had not only in antiquity but what it means to modern society.

  
  John Monson (PhD, Harvard University) is an associate professor of Old Testament and Semitic Languages at Triinity Evangelical Divinity School. He has extensive archaeological fieldwork experience in the Near East, including Syria, Lebanon, and Israel. His most recent publications include Dothan I: Remains from the Tell (1953-1964) (Eisenbrauns), "1 Kings" in the Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary, and The Temple of Solomon (Oxford University Press, forthcoming).

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  Gezer: The Search for the City of Solomon; Steven M. Ortiz, PhD; September 21, 2011

  Steven M. Ortiz and Southern Adventist University

  Tel Gezer sits at an important crossroads, guarding the pass from the coast up to Jerusalem. Throughout history this has been a site of major battles from the second millennium B.C. until the modern period. Gezer has become infamous with the reference to Solomon rebuilding Gezer along with Hazor and Megiddo (1 Kings 9:15) and receiving this city as a dowry upon the marriage to Pharaoh's daughter. Recent trends in biblical archaeology have questioned the historicity of the United Monarchy as reflected in the biblical text and a polemical debate has developed. A recent archaeological project headed by Steve Ortiz and Sam Wolff under the sponsorship of the Tandy Institute for Archaeology at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary is investigating the history of Gezer in light of these recent developments. Ortiz provides an overview of the results of the past five seasons of excavations.

  Steven Ortiz (PhD 2000, University of Arizona) is professor of Archaeology and Biblical Backgrounds and director of the Charles D. Tandy Archaeology Museum at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is currently the principal investigator and co-director of the excavations at Tel Gezer.

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  Uncovering the Past: 50 Years of Biblical Archaeology; October 28, 2010

  William G. Dever and Southern Adventist University

  In this interview-style presentation, Michael Hasel dialogued with Dever over the past, present, and future of a discipline he has helped shape. In the 1970s Dever became famous (or infamous) for challenging the way biblical archaeology was practiced at the time. Biblical archaeology was, for the most part, an amateur discipline practiced by biblical scholars who were not trained as field archaeologists. "Biblical archaeology was parochial," he explains, "an aspect of biblical studies, not an independent discipline." Dever's excavations at biblical Gezer (1964–1974) helped change much of that.

  William Dever (PhD 1966, Harvard University) has been the director of the Albright Institute of Archaeological Research in Jerusalem and the Nelson Glueck School of Biblical Archaeology at the Hebrew Union College. He is best known at Southern Adventist University for placing on campus the artifact collection housed in the Lynn H. Wood Archaeological Museum.

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  Ancient Coins of Khirbet Qeiyafa: A Stronghold on the Road to Jerusalem; Yoav Farhi, PhD; November 16, 2010

  Yoav Farhi and Southern Adventist University

  The site of Khirbet Qeiyafa has drawn much attention—controversial and otherwise—particularly on the Iron Age stratum. Equally important, however, are the findings from the following occupational activity at the site. In this lecture, Yoav Farhi presents the numismatic findings from Khirbet Qeiyafa.

  Yoav Farhi (PhD, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem) is the numismatic (coin) expert at Khirbet Qeiyafa. He has analyzed every coin, jewelry, and metal object unearthed over the course of the excavations.

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  Excavating in the Shadow of Alexander the Great; Michael G. Hasel, PhD; October 7, 2010

  Michael G. Hasel and Southern Adventist University

  In this lecture, Hasel shares the latest archaeological discoveries found at Khirbet Qeiyafa. In the 2010 season, the Southern Adventist University excavation team uncovered a large building dating to the time of Alexander the Great, the late fourth century B.C. This discovery, along with Hellenistic period pottery and coins, provides strong evidence for a second period of occupation at this important biblical site.

  Michael Hasel (PhD 1996, University of Arizona) is director of the Institute of Archaeology and curator of the Lynn H. Wood Archaeological Museum at Southern Adventist University. At present, he is co-director for The Fourth Expedition to Lachish.

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  Aramean Astral Religion in Light of Recent Discoveries; K. Lawson Younger, PhD; March 17, 2010

  K. Lawson Younger and Southern Adventist University

  This lecture K. Lawson Younger, PhD, presents some of the most recent discoveries and understandings of the Mesopotamian and Egyptian astral traditions, and their connections to the biblical passage of 2 Kings 23, where Aramean astral priests are mentioned.

  K. Lawson Younger (PhD 1990, Sheffield University) is professor of Old Testament, Semitic Languages, and Ancient Near Eastern History at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, Illinois.

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  Excavating the Biblical City of Sha'arayim; Yosef Garfinkel, PhD; November 17, 2009

  Yosef Garfinkel and Southern Adventist University

  After two years of fieldwork, Khirbet Qeiyafa is already becoming the center of the controversy over the existence of a complex state society in early Judah. The findings from this site have been spectacular and revealed much to archaeologists about the development of the Kingdom of Judah. In this presentation, Yosef Garfinkel presents an up-to-date description of the discoveries and possible identification of the site of Khirbet Qeiyafa.

  
  Yosef Garfinkel (PhD 1992, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem) is co-director of the Khirbet Qeiyafa Archaeological Project and the Yigael Yadin Chair in Archaeology of Eretz Israel at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel. Currently, he is co-director for The Fourth Expedition to Lachish.

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  The Future of Biblical Archaeology; Michael G. Hasel, PhD; October 20, 1009

  Michael G. Hasel and Southern Adventist University

  In the past 40 years, biblical archaeology has sustained a number of attacks from inside and outside the discipline. In the '70s and '80s, William Dever called for a re-examination of the methodology and purpose of biblical archaeology as it was practiced at the time. In the light of these events, Hasel presents the findings and experiences of Southern Adventist University's Near Eastern Study Tour and 2009 season at Khirbet Qeiyafa.

  Michael Hasel (PhD 1996, University of Arizona) is director of the Institute of Archaeology and curator of the Lynn H. Wood Archaeological Museum at Southern Adventist University. At present, he is co-director for The Fourth Expedition to Lachish.

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  Tracing the Spread of Early Christianity Through Coins; Stan Hudson, DMin; February 19, 2009

  Stan Hudson and Southern Adventist University

  Two thousand years ago, long before high-resolution images and HDTVs, Romans emperors learned to disseminate their political message through coins. Roman coins, wrote numismatist Michael Grant, "served a propaganda purpose far greater than has any other national coinage before or since."

  
  Stan Hudson (DMin, Fuller Theological Seminary) is a biblical numismatist and pastor of the Moscow Seventh-day Adventist Church in Idaho and Pullman Community Worship in Washington. He was the main numismatist consultant for the Faces of Power exhibit, and many coins from his personal collection were on display for this exhibit in the Lynn H. Wood Archaeological Museum.

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  The Campaigns of Seti I into Western Asia; Peter J. Brand, PhD; April 3, 2008

  Peter J. Brand and Southern Adventist University

  In his lecture, Brand re-examines splendid battle scenes that secured Seti’s reputation as one of Egypt’s most victorious pharaohs. How much of the pharaoh’s war record is ancient “hype,” and how much reflected true strategic accomplishments? Brand answers these questions and a lot more.

  Peter Brand (PhD 1998, University of Toronto) is professor of history and Egyptology at the University of Memphis. He directs The Karnak Great Hypostyle Hall Project in Egypt, where he leads a team to record the rapidly deteriorating reliefs and inscriptions on the temple walls.

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  Faces of Power: Portraiture in the Greco-Roman World; Jasper Gaunt, PhD; October 8, 2008

  Jasper Gaunt and Southern Adventist University

  In this lecture, Gaunt describes in great details the origins of portraits throughout Roman Art. Thousands of years before the first photograph, Greek artists learned to immortalize their heroes in portraits. While the Greeks did not invent the art of portraiture, they were the first to fully exploit its many uses.

  
  Jasper Gaunt (PhD 2002, New York University) is curator of Greek and Roman Art for the Michael C. Carlos Museum at Emory University in Atlanta. He is also adjunct professor of art history at Emory's graduate school.

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  Religion and Gods in Ancient Israel; Michael G. Hasel, PhD; February 21, 2008

  Michael G. Hasel and Southern Adventist University

  Who were the gods of ancient Israel, as described in the Bible? Can we identify Baal and Asherah, and how did they come to play such a prominent role in the courts of the Judean kings, even being placed in the temple of Jerusalem by Manasseh? Hasel reveals why the prophets denounced these ancient gods of the Canaanites and why they proved such a pervasive tool in Israelite politics and religion.

  
  Michael Hasel (PhD 1996, University of Arizona) is director of the Institute of Archaeology and curator of the Lynn H. Wood Archaeological Museum at Southern Adventist University. At present, he is co-director for The Fourth Expedition to Lachish.

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  Gnosticism, The Gospel of Judas, and the Da Vinci Code; Scott Carroll, PhD; February 12, 2007

  Scott Carroll and Southern Adventist University

  In the past few years, much media attention has been brought on the Gnostic gospels as a result of the purchase and publication of the Gospel of Judas by the National Geographic Society. The global phenomenon The Da Vinci Code has captured the imagination of millions. What is Gnosticism? Is the Gospel of Judas as authoritative as the four New Testament Gospels?

  
  Scott Carroll (PhD 1987, Miami University) is co-director of the Center for the Study of Antiquity and a professor of history. He currently directs excavations at one of the oldest Christian monasteries located in the Wadi Natrun, Egypt.

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  The Age of David and Solomon: Myth or Reality; William G. Dever, PhD; April 14, 2007

  William G. Dever and Southern Adventist University

  Until recently, archaeologists in Israel had firmly maintained the existence of the Israelite kings, David and Solomon, as true monarchs in the Near-Eastern world. However, the rise of postmodern biblical scholarship has challenged this conclusion. Some scholars have gone so far as to claim that David and Solomon were mythical figures that did not exist. In this presentation, William Dever presents the archaeological evidence for the existence of the United Monarchy.

  William Dever (PhD 1966, Harvard University) has been the director of the Albright Institute of Archaeological Research in Jerusalem and the Nelson Glueck School of Biblical Archaeology at the Hebrew Union College. He is best known at Southern Adventist University for placing on campus the artifact collection housed in the Lynn H. Wood Archaeological Museum.

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  The Worlds of Abraham; Alfred J. Hoerth, PhD; November 1, 2007

  Alfred J. Hoerth and Southern Adventist University

  Abraham is one of the greatest people in history. Three great faiths claim Abraham as their forefather. However, what was his life like? What environment did he experience? By looking beyond kings and battles to such aspects of life as housing, dress, price index, diet (including a recipe for pigeon pot pie), and more, Alfred Hoerth presents a picture of the world in which Abraham grew up and the great length of his step of faith in leaving that home.

  
  Alfred Hoerth (PhD 1961, University of Chicago) is professor emeritus of archaeology at Wheaton College, outside of Chicago. He has excavated in the Sudan, Egypt, Joran, Israel, and Syria.

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  My Experience as Commanding Officer Over Babylon and Ur in Modern Iraq; Thomas G. Merry, MD, Captain, US Navy; February 16, 2006

  Thomas G. Merry and Southern Adventist University

  Dr. Merry served as Officer in Charge of all medical operations in post-war southern Iraq. During his tour of duty, he was also assigned the role of resident historian over the ancient cities of Ur and Babylon, where Saddam Hussein had built his palace. Dr. Merry spoke about his experience protecting these major archaeological sites and their unique place in history for the birth of civilization and connection to the Bible.

  Thomas Merry (MD 1978, Loma Linda University) is a Family Practitioner in Gardenville, Nevada.