Research Topics
Where would you like to travel? This page gives you a variety of options as you dive into the Old Testament. The picture above is of the Jezreel Valley from Jokneam, one of the important passes from the Coastal Plain to the Jezreel Valley. In many ways, the Jezreel Valley is a central part of Israel: Galilee is straight ahead (Mt. Tabor is in the far distance on the right), the Coastal Plain is behind us, and traveling southeast from here leads to the highlands.
Violence and Warfare
My main research area related to the Old Testament, ranging from detailed scholarly monographs to blog posts, has been topics centering on violence and warfare.
Old Testament Theology
I’m very interested in the topic of Old Testament theology: my most recent book surveys various approaches to how to understand the Old Testament as a unit.
Exodus
Much of my work on the Old Testament has centered on the book of Exodus in some way, ranging from my dissertation to articles to an in-progress commentary. See here for some glimpses of that work!
Biblical Geography
Ever since I spent a year living in Israel during my graduate studies, I have loved learning about the geographical background of the Old Testament. On this page find details about a short online class I created through Biola Learn that you can take to learn about this topic. You can also learn about a game I created for my classes to teach geography.
J. R. R. Tolkien
One of my intellectual “hobbies” is exploring the amazing world of Middle-earth and the work of J. R. R. Tolkien. Look for a few essays that examine the connection between Tolkien and the Old Testament.
Sexual Assault
The horrific sexual assault scourge all across the world calls for reflection and action. Here are some essays that call for the church to address this atrocity.
Diversity
I have worked with some friends to create Every Voice: A Center for Kingdom Diversity in Christian Theological Education.
Other
I have addressed a variety of other topics related to the Bible in various publications, including works on Samson, Ruth, and spiritual formation practices.