Robert Alter recently completed a translation of the Hebrew Bible. The Old Testament work is widely respected by scholars, including some who think it’s the most accurate Bible translation in English. Alter’s attention to the literary form of Hebrew helps bridge the gap between contemporary readers and ancient writers. In this interview, he talks about his multi-decade translation of the Hebrew Bible.
The Dead Sea Scrolls provide fascinating insight into Second Temple Judaism. Curiously, the scrolls include fragments from the Book of Ezra—but there’s no actual mention of the scribe. That leads to some interesting questions. For example, was Ezra a real person? And, if he was, why don’t the Dead Sea Scrolls mention him? In this interview, biblical scholar Charlotte Hempel explains the most popular theories.
Jesus Christ stressed the importance of Isaiah’s writings when He appeared in the Americas after His resurrection. As recorded in 3 Nephi, the Savior said: “A commandment I give unto you, that ye ought to search these things . . . for great are the words of Isaiah.” In this interview, Ann Madsen explains how Isaiah has helped her become a better disciple, and discusses his teachings about Jehovah and the temple.
The Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered 75 years ago in a series of caves near the ancient settlement of Masada in the Judean Desert. The manuscripts include the influential Book of Enoch and Book of Isaiah, and have even inspired modern forgeries. Scholars continue to debate related mysteries, such as who wrote the scrolls. In this interview, Jean-Pierre Isbouts discusses his National Geographic special feature, The Dead Sea Scrolls: 75 Years Since Their Historic Discovery.
It’s a golden age for New Testament studies. Scholars like N. T. Wright and Mike Bird increase biblical literacy by teaching about the history and theology of ancient scripture. In this interview, F. B. A. Asiedu continues the tradition by addressing a historical mystery: Why is Josephus largely silent about Paul and early Christianity?
Historian Jonathan Phillips is a professor of the history of the Crusades at Royal Holloway, University of London, and the author of The Life and Legend of the Sultan Saldin (Yale University Press, 2019).
Author Claire Cock-Starkey has written about book lovers, libraries, and even some of history’s most famous last words. She turns her attention to museums in A Museum Miscellany (Bodleian Library, University of Oxford, 2019).
The story says a group of Jewish rebels committed mass suicide at Masada, Israel, 2,000 years ago during the Jewish Second Temple period. But what does archaeology reveal about what actually happened? Join archaeologist Jodi Magness as she discusses her book, Masada: From Jewish Revolt to Modern Myth.
Even non-historians know about the Crusades. Whether it’s familiarity with artwork or an affinity for moves like Kingdom of Heaven that present a modern take on Saladin, the Crusades have a special hold on people. In this interview, Oxford historian Christopher Tyerman takes readers behind the scenes of his new book about the Crusades.
Second Temple literature includes texts written when the Jews returned to Judea after the description of the First Temple. Jewish scholar Malka Simkovich discusses the scriptures and stories that shaped early Judaism, including the Hebrew Bible and the Dead Sea Scrolls.