New Studies in the Historical Geography of the Ancient Near East

New Studies in the Historical Geography of the Ancient Near East Edited by: Kyle H. Keimer , Chris McKinny and Aharon TavgerAbout this book Historical geographic studies dominated early biblical and ancient Near Eastern studies as scholars sought to identify and link modern sites and regions with those mentioned in the Bible and other primary sources. As a result, hundreds of ancient sites were identified and the contexts in which past events unfolded were clarified. Yet, for the past generation, little work has been done in historical geography. To begin to correct this lacuna, this volume presents twelve studies that move the field of historical geography into the 21st century, calling for its re-awakening in light of recent archaeological discoveries and developments in textual analysis.The volume includes studies on the history of the field, historical geography of Late Bronze Age and early Iron Age Egypt and Canaan, the role of geography in dating biblical texts, and historical geography of the Hebrew Bible, Second Temple Period, and the New Testament.This volume will be of interest to archaeologists and textual scholars alike because the individual studies highlight how historical geography provides insight into the use of political/religious ideology in ancient written sources, the composition/redaction of the Hebrew Bible, and settlement trends and land use.Author / Editor information Kyle H. Keimer, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia; Chris McKinny, Geshur Media/Jerusalem University College, USA/Israel; Aharon Tavger, Antiquities Department of the Civil Administration in Judea and Samaria /Ariel University, Israel.TopicsTable of contentsFrontmatter I Contents V The State of Historical Geography of the Ancient Near East 1 Kyle H. Keimer, Chris McKinny and Aharon Tavger Historical Geography and the Reliefs of Merneptah at Karnak Temple 13 Mark D. Janzen Holocene Sea Level Fluctuations, the Isthmus of Suez, and the Possible Implications for the Biblical Red Sea 35 Barry J. Beitzel Historical Geography and the Diachrony of the Geographical Concept of Joshua 15–19 61 Koert van Bekkum The Land Distribution in Joshua 13–19: An Appendix to Numbers? 93 Erasmus Gass From the River to the Sea: The Southern Boundary of Ephraim in the Book of Joshua 115 Aharon Tavger Looms on Location – Textile Production in the Shephelah and the Identity of Biblical Beth-ashbea (1 Chr 4:21) 137 Chris McKinny and Deborah Cassuto Differing Defenses: Geographical Factors in the Development and Deployment of Defensive Architecture in the Kingdoms of Israel and Judah 155 Kyle H. Keimer The Identification of Ramathaim: A Capital of a Hasmonean-Period District and a Note About the Preservation of Ancient Toponyms in the Bethel Highlands 177 Dvir Raviv Josephus’ Maneuvers in the Plain of Bethsaida: A Case of Geographical History 199 Rami Arav, Carl Savage and Ann Haverkost Historical Geography and the Search for the City of the Apostles 219 Steven Notley Index