tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20570989.post5452264634995670142..comments2009-01-06T18:17:34.029-06:00Todd Bolenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06156730661243501832noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20570989.post-54010735322199952742009-01-06T18:17:00.000-06:002009-01-06T18:17:00.000-06:00I see that you have written about Dr. Eilat Mazar's temple seal. I'd be interested in your thoughts on this article and thr comments:<BR/>http://jandyongenesis.blogspot.com/2008/01/temple-seal-reveals-afro-asiatic.htmlAlice C. Linsleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13069827354696169270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20570989.post-69112084278591925122008-01-18T13:18:00.000-06:002008-01-18T13:18:00.000-06:00Nick - thanks for the kind words. As for my statement, I simply think he would do a better job now that he's seen the land and understands more of the Bible's context. Many people write on the Bible without going to the lands of the Bible, but I don't think it's as good, in the same way that one writing a history of the Chinese people would be benefited by a visit to China. As I recall, Plotz's Bible blog seemed to be delight in its fresh reading of the Bible, apart from contextual knowledge which would have made some things clearer. Understanding the context requires more than a visit to Israel, but it is a helpful part of that.Todd Bolenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06156730661243501832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20570989.post-79728609195568555672008-01-18T02:30:00.000-06:002008-01-18T02:30:00.000-06:00Thanks for your excellent blog. I was a bit perplexed by this sentence, though: <BR/><BR/>"Unfortunately this guy blogged the Bible for a year before he went to Israel. Perhaps now he should give it another try."<BR/><BR/>I don't quite understand this comment. You seem to be implying he had no right to write on the Bible without visiting Israel. I wrote many books on the Bible before visiting Israel - sure it changed my perspective hugely, but it doesn't make what I wrote before then any less valid. Nor does it in this case. Which is not to say that I'm against people visiting - of course not. I'm just saying that it's perfectly reasonable for people to discuss, comment, debate and 'blog' the Bible, whether or not they've dug up pottery.Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15406477138422477296noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20570989.post-53101030939725145382008-01-16T18:46:00.000-06:002008-01-16T18:46:00.000-06:00This makes a(nother) good argument for the DTS study tour coming up in June!<BR/><BR/>ThomThomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10548484009448577862noreply@blogger.com