The Bible was written by real people, to real people, in real places, and who experienced real events. This website is dedicated to telling the story about these people and the places they lived, visited, and ministered in. It is the goal of this website to expound the Scriptures and bring to life the lands and the peoples of the Bible through the background material that bear on the events of these passages.
by Gordon Franz
A NEW PROPOSAL
Reconsidering the Data
It has been demonstrated that the two standard interpretations of this period are wanting. A new historical reconstruction will be set forth which conforms to the Biblical records and does justice to the Assyrian, Egyptian, and Babylonian histories.[1] Literary evidence which justifies this reconstruction will also be set forth.
The [...]
by Gordon Franz
THE ONE-CAMPAIGN THEORY
Introduction
The one-campaign theory postulates that Hezekiah submitted to Sennacherib in the year 701 BC (2 Kings 18:14-16). Soon after, Sennacherib attempted to take Jerusalem, but was repulsed (2 Kings 19:17ff.). According to this theory, Hezekiah saw the Assyrian might in the victories that were achieved in Phoenicia and Philistia. This convinced [...]
CHAPTER 2
THE TWO CAMPAIGN THEORY
The History and Proponents of the Theory
In 1858, G. Rawlinson first introduced the idea that Sennacherib invaded Judah on two occasions (1884: 1: 584, footnote 454). Since then, scholars have been divided on this issue. The leading proponents for two campaigns are Albright (1953: 4-11; 1956: 23-27), Bright (1981: 278-288, 298-309), [...]
by Gordon Franz
Chapter 1
INTRODUCTION
The Significance of this Study
Sennacherib’s campaign(s) against the land of Judah during the reign of King Hezekiah has created much debate among Bible scholars. Yet few Biblical events are as well attested as this one. It is recounted in several places in the Biblical records as well as on a number of [...]
by Gordon Franz
A Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Arts in Old Testament
Columbia Biblical Seminary and Graduate School of Missions
Columbia, South Carolina
May 1967
ABSTRACT
Sennacherib’s campaign(s), well attested in Biblical and Assyrian sources, against the Land of Judah during the reign of King Hezekiah has created much debate among [...]
by Gordon Franz
Introduction
The Battle of Thermopylae is one of the most heroic battles in the annals of military history. Three hundred Spartan soldiers, lead by their king Leonidas, engaged in a mission of “suicidal self-sacrifice” by holding off the mighty Persian army for three days at the pass at Thermopylae which was no more than [...]
by Gordon Franz
The 2011 Talbot Bible Lands study tour is now history. Throughout the trip one verse repeatedly went through my mind. In Romans 10:15, the Apostle Paul, quoting from Isaiah 52:7, wrote: “And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach [...]
by Gordon Franz
Introduction
On Saturday, April 17, 2010, Pope Benedict XVI visited the island of Malta in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea. On his stop at the Church of St. Paul’s Grotto in the city of Rabat, he was shown an inscribed lead Roman anchor stock that had been discovered five years earlier off the [...]
by Gordon Franz
Introduction
At the beginning of this Christmas season (2010), I was going into New York City to do some research at the New York Public Library. As usual, I took public transportation into the city (it’s less stressful than driving and you don’t have to worry about parking). As we were approaching the Palisades [...]
by Gordon Franz
Introduction
On the Apostle Paul’s ill-fated journey to Rome, the ship he traveled on was blown off course soon after leaving the Cretan anchorage of Fair Haven (Acts 27:8-12). Dr. Luke, who accompanied the Apostle Paul on this voyage, records the details of the storm that hit during their voyage.
“But not long after, a [...]