Bibliography
| Title: Selected geograpical problems in the Book of Jeremiah Type: Thesis Year: 1986 Abstract: "This dissertation aims to examine four geographical problems in the Book of Jeremiah and to present the relationship between history, geography, toponymics, and archaeology as they bear on the proposed solutions to these problems. The first geographical problem is the extent of Jerusalem at the end of the First Temple period. Prior to 1967 there was a perceived conflict between apparent historical statements on the extent of Jerusalem and available archaeological evidence. The excavations since 1967 have confirmed the accuracy of the historical statements with archaeological evidence of expansion to the Western Hill. The second geographical problem is the identification of the foe from the north. Based on various testimonies, the foe from the north has been identified as the Scythians. However, Jeremiah clearly indentifies the foe from the north as the Babylonians. The third geographical problem is the location in Jeremiah 13:1-7. The identification with the Euphrates River cannot be supported geographically. However, 1 Maccabees and Josephus identify a location to the northeast of Jerusalem. The observation of the geographical markers in Jeremiah 13, the extra-biblical historical evidence, and the toponymic evidence provides a site identification within Israel. The fourth geographical problem is the location of Mizpah in Jeremiah 40-41. Most identify Mizpah with Tell en-Nasbeh because of the archaeological evidence discovered there. Unfortunately, this identification ignores the clear historical and geographical markers within Jeremiah 40-41. This evidence locates Mizpah at Nebi Samwil rather than Tell en-Nasbeh. In examining any geographical problem primacy should be given to the available historical evidence. All historical sources should be examined for geographical markers to help identify the site. The geography of the land should be examined to determine which spots fit the historical evidence. Toponymic evidence, if available, should also be examined to see if the original place name is preserved. Then a site identification hypothesis can be made. At this point archaeology can be used to validate the proposed identification. Archaeology can help disprove an incorrect site identification hypothesis or provide additional information. However, archaeology cannot be used as a primary tool in site identification without confirmatory historical records". Keywords: Jewish History: Old Testament Period |