Pul (see “Tiglath-Pileser III”)
Purim
The Canonicity of Esther Est 10
Purity (Ritual)
Ritual Purity in Israel and the Ancient Near East Lev 10
Skin Diseases in the Ancient World Lev 13
Hyssop and the Rituals of Cleansing Ps 51
A Hittite Blessing for a House Ps 127
Baptism in the Ancient World Mt 3
Jewish Meals and Meal Customs Mt 9
“Q Source”
The Synoptic Problem and “Q” Lk 8
Qarqar
Ahab and the Battle of Qarqar 1Ki 22
The Annals of Sargon II Isa 10
Assyria From the Neo-Assyrian Period Forward Na 3
Queen of Heaven
Tablets From Ugarit and Canaanite Religion Jos 1
Quirinius
Caesar Augustus, Emperor of Rome; the Census; and Quirinius, Governor of Syria Lk 1
Qumran
The Great Isaiah Scroll Isa 34
Baptism in the Ancient World Mt 3
Biblical Interpretation at Qumran and Among the Early Rabbis Mt 23
Qumran and the New Testament Lk 6
Rabbah
Rachel
Rahab
Rameses, City of
The Store Cities of Pithom and Rameses Ex 1
The Route of the Exodus: The Southern Route Theory Ex 13
The Route of the Exodus: The Arabian Route Theory Ex 13
Rameses II
The Pharaoh of the Exodus Ex 8
The Bulletin and Poetic Accounts of the Battle of Kadesh Jdg 5
Ramoth Gilead
Rape
The Middle Assyrian Laws Lev 18
Ras Shamra
A Ugaritic Prayer for a City Under Siege Ps 65
The Ugaritic Text of the Myth of Baal Ps 104
Recabites
Red Heifer (Ritual)
Hyssop and the Rituals of Cleansing Ps 51
Red Sea
The Route of the Exodus: The Southern Route Theory Ex 13
The Wind Set-Down Hypothesis Ex 13
The Location of the Red Sea Ex 13
Rehoboam
The Overseer of the Forced Labor 1Ki 12
The History of the Southern Kingdom 2Ki 7
Reliability of Scripture
The Reliability of Judges Jdg 12
Early Scribal Emendation 2Sa 4
The Authorship of Ephesians Eph 4
The Authorship of the Pastoral Epistles 1Ti 1
Rephaites
The Kingdoms of Sihon and Og Nu 32
Resurrection
Rezin
The History of the Northern Kingdom 1Ki 13
Ahaz, King of Judah, and Rezin, King of Aram 2Ki 16
Rhetoric
Debate and Rhetoric in the Ancient World Ac 15
Rift Valley
The Geography of Ezekiel 47 Eze 47
Right Hand, Symbolism of
The “Right Hand” in Ancient Thinking Heb 1
Roman Citizenship
Roman Empire
The Postexilic Period of the Old Testament: The Roman and Herodian Periods Ne 7
Politics in the Holy Land Leading Up to the Time of Jesus Mk 4
Herod’s Successors and Uneasy Relations Between Rome and the Jews Mk 4
The Roman Army and the Occupation of the Holy Land Ac 27
Trade and Mercantilism in the Roman Empire Rev 18
Rome, City of
Rosetta Stone
The Rosetta Stone and the Deciphering of Hieroglyphs Ex 9
Sabbath
Sabbath, Sabbath Year and the Jubilee Lev 25
Sabbath Year
Sabbath, Sabbath Year and the Jubilee Lev 25
Sabeans
Sackcloth
Sackcloth and Ashes: Rituals of Lamentation Ps 30
Sacrifices (Animal)
Sacrifices and Offerings in the Bible and the Ancient Near East Lev 1
Goat-Demons and Desert Satyrs Lev 17
Hyssop and the Rituals of Cleansing Ps 51
Sacrifices (Human)
Human Sacrifice in the Ancient Near East Lev 20
Israelite Shrines and Worship Before the Temple of Solomon 1Sa 1
Sheol, Hades, Gehenna, the Abyss and Tartarus: Images of Hell Ps 139
Sacrifices (Pagan)
Sacrifices and Offerings in the Bible and the Ancient Near East Lev 1
Goat-Demons and Desert Satyrs Lev 17
Sadducees
The Postexilic Period of the Old Testament: The Greek and Hasmonean Periods Ne 7
Jewish Eschatology in the First Century A.D. Ro 6
Sages
Samaria
The History of the Northern Kingdom 1Ki 13
Hoshea, King of Israel, and Shalmaneser V, King of Assyria 2Ki 17
Assyria From the Neo-Assyrian Period Forward Na 3
Samaritans
The Postexilic Period of the Old Testament: The Greek and Hasmonean Periods Ne 7
The Samaritan Temple on Mount Gerizim Jn 4
Samson
Samson and the Temple of Dagon Jdg 16
Samuel
Sanballat
Sanballat, Tobiah and Geshem Ne 2
Sanhedrin
Herod’s Successors and Uneasy Relations Between Rome and the Jews Mk 4
The Jewish Priesthood and Religious Life in the First Century A.D. Lk 18
Sarah
Custom and Law in Ancient Mesopotamia Ge 21
Sargon I
Taken From a River: The Legend of Sargon and the Story of Moses Ex 2
Sargon II
The Annals of Sargon II Isa 10
Sennacherib’s Campaign Against Merodach-Baladan Isa 39
Exile and Genocide in the Ancient Near East Eze 21
Assyria From the Neo-Assyrian Period Forward Na 3
Satirists
Cynics and Satirists in the Greco-Roman World Mk 2
Saul
Ambitious Princes Among the Hittites 2Sa 19
Scapegoat
Scourging (Roman)
The Shroud of Turin Controversy Mk 15
Scribal Emendation
Early Scribal Emendation 2Sa 4
Scribal Errors
Scribes
Early Scribal Emendation 2Sa 4
Sumerian Scribal Education 1Ch 2
Baruch, Scribe of Jeremiah Jer 32
Scrolls
Writing Materials in the Ancient World 3Jn
Scrolls, Seals and Codices Rev 5
Sea Peoples
The Archaeology of Philistia Jdg 13
The Ekron Inscription of Akhayus 1Sa 21
Seafaring in the Ancient World Jnh 2
Seafaring
The Greeks and the Old Testament Joel 3
Seafaring in the Ancient World Jnh 2
Seals
Precious Stones of the Biblical World Isa 54
Scrolls, Seals and Codices Rev 5
Selah
Seleucids
The Postexilic Period of the Old Testament: The Greek and Hasmonean Periods Ne 7
Seleucus
The Kingdoms of Daniel’s Prophecies Da 2
Self-Mutilation
Tattoos and Self-Laceration in Ancient Religion Lev 19
A Pagan’s Prayer of Thanks Ps 116
Seneca
Gallio, Proconsul of Achaia Ac 18
Sennacherib
Theophoric Names and Their Significance Nu 31
The History of the Southern Kingdom 2Ki 7
The Death of Sennacherib 2Ki 19
Hezekiah Against the Assyrians Isa 36
Sennacherib’s Campaign Against Merodach-Baladan Isa 39
Wells, Cisterns and Aqueducts in the Ancient World Jer 38
Exile and Genocide in the Ancient Near East Eze 21
Assyria From the Neo-Assyrian Period Forward Na 3
Sepphoris
Septuagint
The Problem of the Septuagint Version of Jeremiah Jer 29
The Ancient Translations Mic 7
The Septuagint and Its Use in the New Testament Heb 11
Seraiah
Seraiah the Quartermaster Jer 51
Seraphim
Angels and Guardian Spirits in the Bible and the Ancient Near East Zec 1
Serpents
The Serpent Motif in Other Ancient Near Eastern Literature Ge 3
The Egyptian Priests and Their Snakes Ex 7
Ugaritic Liturgy Against Venomous Snakes Nu 21
The Enuma Elish and the Biblical Concept of Creation Ps 89
Serug
Evidence for Serug, Nahor and Terah Ge 12
The Historicity of the Patriarchal Narratives Ge 44
Shabaka
Shalmaneser III
Ahab and the Battle of Qarqar 1Ki 22
Hazael, the Nemesis of Israel 2Ki 8
Jehu/The Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III 2Ki 10
Ancient Israelite Clothing and Jewelry Isa 3
Assyria From the Neo-Assyrian Period Forward Na 3
Shalmaneser V
Hoshea, King of Israel, and Shalmaneser V, King of Assyria 2Ki 17
The Assyrian King Lists 2Ch 27
The Annals of Sargon II Isa 10
Assyria From the Neo-Assyrian Period Forward Na 3
Shaphan
The Huldah Delegation and Nathan-Melech, the Official 2Ki 22
Sheba
Solomon and the Israelite Empire 1Ki 6
Shebna
Tombs in Ancient Israel Jdg 17
Shechem
Sheol (see “Hell”)
Shepherding
Shepherding in the Ancient World Eze 34
Sheshonk (see “Shishak”)
Shiloh
Israelite Shrines and Worship Before the Temple of Solomon 1Sa 1
The Tabernacle at Shiloh 1Sa 3
The Destruction of Shiloh Jer 7
Shinar
The Coalition of Mesopotamian Kings Ge 14
Shishak
Egyptian and Israelite Administration 1Ki 4
The History of the Southern Kingdom 2Ki 7
The Campaign of Shishak 2Ch 12
Shittim
Shofar
Ancient Musical Instruments Ps 5
Trumpets in the Ancient World Rev 8
Shoshenk (see “Shishak”)
Shroud of Turin
The Shroud of Turin Controversy Mk 15
Siamun
The Pharaoh Whose Daughter Solomon Married 1Ki 7
Sidon
Signet Rings
Precious Stones of the Biblical World Isa 54
Sihon
The Kingdoms of Sihon and Og Nu 32
Siloam Inscription
Siloam, Pool of
Sinai, Mount
The Route of the Exodus: The Northern Route Theory Ex 13
The Route of the Exodus: The Southern Route Theory Ex 13
The Route of the Exodus: The Arabian Route Theory Ex 13
The Location of Mount Sinai Ex 19
Zaphon, Olympus, Sinai and Zion: The Mountain of God Ps 48
Sisera
Deborah and Barak and the Destruction of Hazor Jdg 4
The Bulletin and Poetic Accounts of the Battle of Kadesh Jdg 5
Skepticism
Greek Philosophical Schools Col 2
Slavery
Slavery and Labor Law in the Ancient Near East Ex 21
Labor and Welfare in the Ancient World 2Th 3
Slavery in the Greco-Roman World Phm
Snakes (see “Serpents”)
Socrates
Sodom
The Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah Ge 19
Soleb
Solomon
Solomon and the Israelite Empire 1Ki 6
The Pharaoh Whose Daughter Solomon Married 1Ki 7
The Building Activity of Solomon 1Ki 9
The Authorship of Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs Ecc 5
Solon
Song of Songs
The Authorship of Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs Ecc 5
Archaeology and the Date of Song of Songs SS 8
Songs
Ancient Israelite Poets and Singers Ps 73
Form Criticism and the Psalms Ps 90
The Harper Songs From the Tomb of Neferhotep Ecc 1
The Harper Song From the Tomb of King Intef Ecc 3
Sophists
Debate and Rhetoric in the Ancient World Ac 15
Sorcery
Southern Kingdom of Judah
The History of the Southern Kingdom 2Ki 7
Sparta
Spartacus
Slavery in the Greco-Roman World Phm
Speech
Stoas
Stoicism
The Logos in Greek and Jewish Literature Jn 1
Greek Philosophical Schools Col 2
Storm Gods
The Installation of Priests at Emar and in Israel Ex 29
Storm Gods, Storm Imagery and Theophany Ps 18
Baal and the Fertility Cults Hos 2
Storytelling
The Tale of Appu’s Two Sons Ge 26
Taken From a River: The Legend of Sargon and the Story of Moses Ex 2
Straight Street
Succoth
The Route of the Exodus: The Southern Route Theory Ex 13
The Route of the Exodus: The Arabian Route Theory Ex 13
Suetonius
Historians in the Ancient World Ps 132
Nonbiblical Sources for the Historical Jesus Jn 15
Sumer/Sumerians
The Patriarchal Period: Mesopotamia During the Time of Abraham Ge 15
The Sumerian Eridu Genesis 1Ch 1
The Tigris and Euphrates Rivers 1Ch 18
The Creation of Humans in the Sumerian Myth of Enki Ps 8
The Exaltation of a Holy City in the Psalms and in the Myths Ps 110
Ancient Near Eastern Laments La 3
Sexuality and Religion in the Sumerian Hymns to Ishtar Eze 23
Sumerian (Language)
Sumerian Scribal Education 1Ch 2
Languages of the Old Testament World Ezr 2
Cuneiform and Clay Tablets in the Ancient Near East Isa 30
Sumerian King List
Superscripts (Psalms)
Superscripts of the Psalms
The Coronation of Ashurbanipal Ps 72
Surrogates
Custom and Law in Ancient Mesopotamia Ge 21
Susa
Xerxes, Vashti and Esther Est 7
Synagogues
The Jewish Priesthood and Religious Life in the First Century A.D. Lk 18
Synoptic Gospels
The Synoptic Problem and “Q” Lk 8
Syria/Aram
Syro-Ephraimite War
Taanach
The Taanach Cult Stands Jos 17
Tabernacle
The Tabernacle and the Ark Ex 40
Tabernacle Furnishings
The Tabernacle and the Ark Ex 40
Tabernacles, Feast of
The Festivals of Israel Lev 23
Tacitus
Historians in the Ancient World Ps 132
Nonbiblical Sources for the Historical Jesus Jn 15
Tamar
Tammuz
Ancient Near Eastern Laments La 3
Baal and the Fertility Cults Hos 2
Targums, Aramaic
The Ancient Translations Mic 7
Tarhaqa (see “Tirhakah”)
Tarshish
The Offering of King Ashyahu Isa 60
Seafaring in the Ancient World Jnh 2
Tarsus
Tartarus (see “Hell”)
Tassels
Fringe (Tassels) on Garments Nu 15
Tattenai
Tattoos
Tattoos and Self-Laceration in Ancient Religion Lev 19
Taxation
Egyptian and Israelite Administration 1Ki 4
“Teacher of Righteousness”
The Zealots and the Essenes Mt 10
Biblical Interpretation at Qumran and Among the Early Rabbis Mt 23
Tel Dan Stele
Hazael, the Nemesis of Israel 2Ki 8
Temple (Ezekiel’s)
Temple (Herod’s)
Josephus and the Fall of Jerusalem Mt 24
The Rabbis’ Teaching Steps at the Southern Wall Excavations Jn 10
The Dividing Wall of the “Court of the Gentiles” in Herod’s Temple Eph 2
Temple (Solomon’s)
Solomon and the Israelite Empire 1Ki 6
The Building Activity of Solomon 1Ki 9
Solomon’s Temple and Other Ancient Temples 1Ch 29
Temple (Zerubbabel’s)
The Postexilic Period of the Old Testament: The Persian Period Ne 7
Temples (Pagan)
Solomon and the Israelite Empire 1Ki 6
Solomon’s Temple and Other Ancient Temples 1Ch 29
Trees of Ancient Israel Eze 31
Terah
Evidence for Serug, Nahor and Terah Ge 12
The Historicity of the Patriarchal Narratives Ge 44
Tertullian
The Authorship of Peter’s Epistles 1Pe 1
Textual Criticism
Thebes
Theodotus
Thessalonica
Theudas
Messianic Conflicts and the Fall of Jerusalem Mk 4
Threshing (see also “Grain”)
Thrones
Thrones in the Ancient World Ps 99
Thucydides
Historians in the Ancient World Ps 132
Thutmose III
The Pharaoh of the Exodus Ex 8
Thutmose IV
Tiberias, City of
Tiberius
Tiberius Caesar, the Caesar of Jesus’ Ministry Lk 20
Imprisonment in the Roman World: In Prison Versus House Arrest Ac 26
Tidal
The Coalition of Mesopotamian Kings Ge 14
Tiglath-Pileser III
The History of the Northern Kingdom 1Ki 13
Dothan, Ben-Hadad and a Chronological Problem 2Ki 6
Menahem and Pekah of Israel, Jotham of Judah and Tiglath-Pileser III of Assyria 2Ki 15
Ahaz, King of Judah, and Rezin, King of Aram 2Ki 16
Hoshea, King of Israel, and Shalmaneser V, King of Assyria 2Ki 17
The Assyrian King Lists 2Ch 27
Sennacherib’s Campaign Against Merodach-Baladan Isa 39
Assyria From the Neo-Assyrian Period Forward Na 3
Tigris River
The Tigris and Euphrates Rivers 1Ch 18
Timnah
Timothy
Paul’s Visits and Letters to Corinth 2Co 2
Early History of Ephesus 2Ti 1
Tirhakah
Tirzah
The History of the Northern Kingdom 1Ki 13
The Authorship of Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs Ecc 5
Archaeology and the Date of Song of Songs SS 8
Titus, Paul’s Coworker
Paul’s Visits and Letters to Corinth 2Co 2
Titus the Roman General
Josephus and the Fall of Jerusalem Mt 24
Messianic Conflicts and the Fall of Jerusalem Mk 4
Nero, Persecutor of Christians Php 4
Tobiah
Sanballat, Tobiah and Geshem Ne 2
Tombs
Tombs in Ancient Israel Jdg 17
The Location of Jesus’ Tomb Mt 27
The Soldiers Guarding the Tomb Mt 28
Tongues, Speaking in
Tongue-Speaking in Christian and Pagan Worship 1Co 12
Towns (Israelite)
The Israelite Town and Home Jer 9
Trade (see also “Commerce” and “Seafaring”)
Caravan Trading and Routes in the Ancient Near East Ge 37
Trade and Mercantilism in the Roman Empire Rev 18
Tradition of the Elders
Biblical Interpretation at Qumran and Among the Early Rabbis Mt 23
Transjordan
The Kingdoms of Sihon and Og Nu 32
Travel
Travel in the Greco-Roman World 1Th 3
Treaties
Custom and Law in Ancient Mesopotamia Ge 21
Deuteronomy and the Covenant Treaty Form Dt 1
The Treaty of Suppiluliumas Dt 11
The Hittite Ritual of Passing Between the Pieces of a Sacrifice Jer 34
Tree of Life
The Tree of Life in Jewish Imagery Rev 22
Trees
The Kuntillet Ajrûd Inscriptions: The Lord’s Asherah? Jer 17
Trees of Ancient Israel Eze 31
Triclinia
Trumpets
Trumpets in the Ancient World Rev 8
Trumpets, Feast of
The Festivals of Israel Lev 23
Tsinnor
Tyre
Ugarit
Tablets From Ugarit and Canaanite Religion Jos 1
A Ugaritic Prayer for a City Under Siege Ps 65
The Ugaritic Text of the Myth of Baal Ps 104
The Kuntillet Ajrûd Inscriptions: The Lord’s Asherah? Jer 17
Ugaritic (Language)
Languages of the Old Testament World Ezr 2
Uncleanness (Ritual)
Ritual Purity in Israel and the Ancient Near East Lev 10
Skin Diseases in the Ancient World Lev 13
Unleavened Bread, Feast of
The Festivals of Israel Lev 23
The Last Supper and the Passover Mt 26
Ur
Urim and Thummim
Uruk
The Exaltation of a Holy City in the Psalms and in the Myths Ps 110
Ecclesiastes and the Epic of Gilgamesh Ecc 9
Cuneiform and Clay Tablets in the Ancient Near East Isa 30
Utnapishtum
Uzziah
The Huldah Delegation and Nathan-Melech, the Official 2Ki 22
Uzziah, King of Judah, and Jeroboam II, King of Israel 2Ch 26
Vashti
Xerxes, Vashti and Esther Est 7
Vespasian
Nero, Persecutor of Christians Php 4
Vesuvius, Mount
Via Maris
Vineyards
Virginity
Vows
The Hittite Ritual of Passing Between the Pieces of a Sacrifice Jer 34
Oaths in Jewish and Christian Practice Heb 6
Vulgate
The Ancient Translations Mic 7
Warfare
Technological Supremacy of the Philistines’ Iron Weapons 1Sa 13
The Warrior Creed in the Akkadian Epic of Erra and Ishum Ps 35
A Ugaritic Prayer for a City Under Siege Ps 65
Warfare in the Ancient World Ps 144
Hezekiah Against the Assyrians Isa 36
The Last Days of Jerusalem Jer 6
Herodotus and the Fall of Babylon Jer 50
Josephus and the Fall of Jerusalem Mt 24
Water Systems
Hezekiah Against the Assyrians Isa 36
Wells, Cisterns and Aqueducts in the Ancient World Jer 38
Weaponry
Technological Supremacy of the Philistines’ Iron Weapons 1Sa 13
Weddings
Weddings in Ancient Israel SS 3
Weeks, Feast of
The Festivals of Israel Lev 23
Weights and Measures
Widows
The Care of Widows and Orphans in the Bible and the Ancient Near East Dt 24
Wilderness Wanderings
A Timeline for the Wilderness Wanderings Nu 20
The Itinerary in Numbers Nu 27
Wine
Wine and Alcoholic Beverages in the Ancient World 1Pe 4
Wisdom Literature (Biblical)
The Poor and the Afflicted in Ancient Wisdom Literature Pr 14
Ecclesiastes and the Epic of Gilgamesh Ecc 9
Wisdom Literature (Extrabiblical)
The Mountain and the Deer: A Hurrian Parable 2Sa 12
Ancient Near Eastern Wisdom Pr 1
The Instructions of Anii Pr 20
The Teaching of Amenemope Pr 22
Ecclesiastes and the Epic of Gilgamesh Ecc 9
Women
The Middle Assyrian Laws Lev 18
Prostitution in the Ancient World Dt 23
Counselors and Concubines: Life in an Ancient Royal Palace Est 2
The Role of Women in Religious Life in the Greco-Roman World 1Co 14
Husbands and Wives: Family Life in the Greco-Roman World Eph 6
Writing Materials
Cuneiform and Clay Tablets in the Ancient Near East Isa 30
Writing Materials in the Ancient World 3Jn
Xerxes
Ancient Persian History From Xerxes Forward Est 1
Xerxes, Vashti and Esther Est 7
Greece: From Independent City-states Through Alexander the Great Ac 20
Yahweh
The Documentary Hypothesis Ge 7
YHWH: The Name of God in the Old Testament Ex 3
Theophoric Names and Their Significance Nu 31
YHWH
YHWH: The Name of God in the Old Testament Ex 3
Zadok
The Jewish Priesthood and Religious Life in the First Century A.D. Lk 18
Zaphon
Zaphon, Olympus, Sinai and Zion: The Mountain of God Ps 48
Zarephath
Zealots
The Zealots and the Essenes Mt 10
Jewish Eschatology in the First Century A.D. Ro 6
Zeboiim
Zechariah the Prophet
Zechariah the Temple Official
Josiah, Zechariah and Neco II 2Ch 35
The Offering of King Ashyahu Isa 60
Zedekiah
The Last Days of Jerusalem Jer 6
Seraiah the Quartermaster Jer 51
Zerubbabel
The Postexilic Period of the Old Testament: The Persian Period Ne 7
Did Haggai Lead a Messianic Rebellion? Hag 2
Ziggurats
Ziklag
Zimri
Zion
Zaphon, Olympus, Sinai and Zion: The Mountain of God Ps 48
The Exaltation of a Holy City in the Psalms and in the Myths Ps 110
Ziusudra
The Sumerian Eridu Genesis 1Ch 1
Zoar
Zukru Festival