I am excited that in May Azusa Pacific University (APU) embarks on an exciting joint expedition with the Hebrew University of Israel to oversee an archeological dig at Abel Beth Maacah where this amazing story took place. To date, the mound has not been excavated. Robert Mullins, Ph.D., associate professor of biblical studies at APU, leads the team along with Nava Panitz-Cohen and Ruhama Bonfil, faculty at the Hebrew University. On Jan. 25Ì¢âÂÛ26, 2012, team members plan to conduct an initial survey of the site in preparation for the May 27Ì¢âÂÛ31 excavation.
Ì¢âÂÒI canÌ¢âÂã¢t overstate the huge potential of this project,Ì¢âÂå said Mullins. Ì¢âÂÒFirst, it is an honor to partner with IsraelÌ¢âÂã¢s oldest and most prestigious university. Given the siteÌ¢âÂã¢s connection with the period of David and later Kings of Israel, the dig will draw worldwide interest. We can potentially solve questions regarding the nature of IsraelÌ¢âÂã¢s ties with neighboring Phoenicia and Syria, as well as documenting through the destruction levels the various Aramean and Assyrian military campaigns mentioned in the Bible and other ancient records.Ì¢âÂå
Ruhama Piperno-Beer of the Hazor Archeological Project is surveyor and architect for the dig. Respected archaeologist Amihai Mazar, the former Eliezer Sukenkik chair of biblical archaeology at the Hebrew University, serves as the projectÌ¢âÂã¢s archaeological adviser.
I am excited that in May Azusa Pacific University (APU) embarks on an exciting joint expedition with the Hebrew University of Israel to oversee an archeological dig at Abel Beth Maacah where this amazing story took place. To date, the mound has not been excavated. Robert Mullins, Ph.D., associate professor of biblical studies at APU, leads the team along with Nava Panitz-Cohen and Ruhama Bonfil, faculty at the Hebrew University. On Jan. 25Ì¢âÂÛ26, 2012, team members plan to conduct an initial survey of the site in preparation for the May 27Ì¢âÂÛ31 excavation.
Ì¢âÂÒI canÌ¢âÂã¢t overstate the huge potential of this project,Ì¢âÂå said Mullins. Ì¢âÂÒFirst, it is an honor to partner with IsraelÌ¢âÂã¢s oldest and most prestigious university. Given the siteÌ¢âÂã¢s connection with the period of David and later Kings of Israel, the dig will draw worldwide interest. We can potentially solve questions regarding the nature of IsraelÌ¢âÂã¢s ties with neighboring Phoenicia and Syria, as well as documenting through the destruction levels the various Aramean and Assyrian military campaigns mentioned in the Bible and other ancient records.Ì¢âÂå
Ruhama Piperno-Beer of the Hazor Archeological Project is surveyor and architect for the dig. Respected archaeologist Amihai Mazar, the former Eliezer Sukenkik chair of biblical archaeology at the Hebrew University, serves as the projectÌ¢âÂã¢s archaeological adviser.