Turning the page from Malachi to Matthew, we skip a lot of history. In fact, it is something like missing several key episodes in an ongoing television saga. The setting and main plot line are familiar, but new characters have appeared and more recent events and developments are assumed. Did anyone record the episodes we missed? Fortunately a few did. Their reception wasn't always good, and there are annoying cuts and splices. But Anthony J. Tomasino has put together the missing episodes and skillfully retells the story of Judaism before Jesus, from the time of Ezra and Nehemiah to the...

When did the Romans conquer Judea? Why did Jews and Samaritans hate one another? What did ancient Jewish people know about disease and medicine? Most people recognize that knowledge about the historical events and culture of the ancient world can greatly enhance our understanding of the Bible. But finding trustworthy resources that present the Bible's background in an interesting, accessible format can be a challenge. This series, Putting the Bible in Its Place, is designed to provide serious students of the Bible with the tools they need to draw exciting new insights from the text. In...