Shimon Gibson

It’s possible that Shimon Gibson knows more about first-century Jerusalem than anyone else alive. Indefatigably curious, he intrepidly shimmies into any crevice that promises to be a gateway to the past.
It is this that makes his book worth reading, even though his writing skills are not on a par with his archaeological. An indication of his struggles to organize his material is the frequent appearance of the phrases “as we shall see” and “as I have shown.” There are many redundancies, both within chapters—especially in chapters four and six—and between chapters—in particular, chapters seven and eight.
The book is aimed at the non-specialist, but New Testament scholars will find helpful information here, as well. I profited from his discussion of the pools of Bethesda and Siloam, locations of two crucial episodes in the Gospel of John, which I now see in a new light. Many readers will also be interested in Gibson’s discussion of how the probable location of Pilate’s judgment seat—mentioned in John’s account of the trial of Jesus—has been identified.
Optimally, this book will supplement one’s own visit to the sites Gibson discusses. I think more attention could have been paid to supplying information a reader less familiar with Jerusalem might need.… (plus d'informations)

“No one knows more about the history and archaeology of ancient Jerusalem than Shimon Gibson.... This book is destined to become the standard in the field.” — Prof. James D. Tabor, author of The Jesus Dynasty

A world renowned archaeologist reveals the historic footprint of Jesus in Jerusalem and what really happened during the final days. Fans of Elaine Pagels and of John Dominic Crossan and Marcus J. Borg’s The Last Week will find a wealth of new information in The Final Days of Jesus, the first book of its kind to present a detailed archaeological footprint of Jesus.… (plus d'informations)

If you’re interested in the historical Jesus, you’ll be fascinated by this book. Shimon is a thorough researcher and archaeologist. He is up-to-date on current scholarship, while at the same time providing new insights and theories, with a writing style that keeps you reading. Shimon excels in vividly portraying the everyday life of Jesus and his times. You’ll learn the geography, the rituals, and the lifestyle of first-century Jews as you walk in the shoes of Christ through the final days of his life.

Shimon cautions that “some of my conclusions regarding Jesus and Jerusalem may be controversial,” but throughout the book I found all of his arguments to be logical and carefully documented.

I’m one of those fanatics that marks his books up with highlights and margin notes, and this is one of those books where I’ve got bright paragraphs and blue ink on every other page. I sometimes look over my notes as I prepare to write my reviews, but I simply don’t have the time to reread everything this book taught me. I’ll just leave it at this: If a book’s value can be measured by how much you learn from it, then this one deserves the praise I give it.… (plus d'informations)