Avraham Biran

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Avraham Biran
Hebrew Union College in Jerusalem
Doctoral advisorWilliam F. Albright

Avraham Biran (

Hebrew Union College in Jerusalem
for many years.

Biography

Avraham Bergman (later Biran) was born in 1909 in

Rosh Pina. During his youth his family moved to Egypt, where his father managed a farm in a small village. His Romanian-born great-grandfather came to Palestine decades before Theodor Herzl launched political Zionism in 1897.[2] After his father's death the family returned to Palestine and he grew up in his grandparents house until the age of 13. He studied at the Hebrew Reali School of Haifa which he says left a lifelong impression on him. He said:[3]

My initial interest in archaeology began when I was a student at the Reali school in Haifa, under the influence of the principal Dr. Arthur Biram, who taught us Bible combined with ancient history. During those days we went on many hikes, and we loved to hike with the Bible in hand. Among other places, we visited ancient Samaria and the archaeological digs of the American expedition; we visited Jerusalem, the Western Wall, Hebron and the Cave of the Patriarchs. I think that these were the seeds that later sprouted when Professor Albright, one of the great archaeologists, invited me to come study with him.

Afterwards, he continued his studies in the

PhD
in 1935.

Avraham Biran was married to Ruth, née Frankel, who died sometime in 2005 at age 94. The couple had three children: Naomi, David and Aaron (known as Roni). Avraham Biran died in 2008, at age 98, and a few months after the birth of his first great-grandchild, in Jerusalem.

Archaeology career

Biran returned to Jerusalem in 1935, serving as a Fellow in the

Rockefeller Museum and the Shrine of the Book that contains the Qumran
scrolls.

From 1974 Biran headed the Nelson Glueck School of Biblical Archaeology at

Hebrew Union College
in Jerusalem. In 1977 he organized an international conference on the subject of Temples and High Places in Biblical Times, publishing the results of the conference in a book with the same name in 1981. He served as a member of the organizing committee of the International Conference of Biblical Archaeology in 1984 and 1990.

In 1966, Biran began the project with which he has been most famously identified: the excavations at

Hebrew University archaeologist Professor Amnon Ben-Tor said:[3]

In this inscription, which dates to around 800 BCE, Biran believe that a king from the House of David is mentioned as being struck down in the battle with the Arameans. This is the only extra-Biblical source ever found to date that mentions the existence of the

David as a real historical figure. During the last few years a number of English and Scandinavian researchers have published works suggesting that the kingdoms (and figures) of David and Solomon are literary inventions rather than historical facts.[4]

The

Moore College archaeologist George Athas writes:[5]

With regards to the Biblical texts, the Tel Dan Inscription demonstrates that there are definite historical kernels in the Bible that cannot readily be dismissed ... The Tel Dan inscription has brought us a definite step closer to finding a historical David.

Civil service career

In 1937, Biran took an extended break from academia and archeology, taking up an appointment as District Officer for the Afula district and the Jezreel Valley settlements. Referring to this sudden career change Biran wrote:[3]

In 1937, in response to the events (of the time) the Jewish settlers demanded that the British Mandate authorities appoint Jewish district officers to deal with their settlements so that they would not have to enter heavily populated Arab cities (to deal with bureaucratic affairs). The

Jewish Agency
offered me the position. I responded in surprise: what does an archaeologist have to do with Mandatory affairs?. To which they responded: But this is the (Jezreel) Valley! so I could not refuse.

In 1938, Biran began an archaeological survey in the

Declaration of Israel's Independence in 1948. During the waning days of the British Mandate in 1948, Biran packed up Jewish property deeds so the owners could reclaim their lands and houses following the anticipated war. He saw this act as paralleling with the experiences of another Jew who hid property titles in the Judean Hills to protect them from Roman legionnaires almost two thousand years ago.[6]

After Israeli independence, Biran was appointed as the assistant to the cabinet secretary, also serving as the assistant military governor of Jerusalem. During this time he changed his name from Bergman to Biran. Until 1955 he served as a member of the committee overseeing the cease-fire agreement with Jordan. In 1955 Biran was appointed consul-general of Israel in

Los Angeles, California
.

Views and opinions

Biran's opinion that Dan (ancient city), Abel-beth-maachah and the surrounding area were occupied by Israelites in the reigns of kings David and Solomon appears to have been confirmed.[7]

Biran explained his own view of the importance of archaeology, particularly for Jews in modern-day Israel:[3]

Israeli archaeology is important to enable us to understand the nations who lived here from prehistoric times onwards. Since the stories of the Bible are connected to this specific land, every archaeological discovery (in Israel) has significance for understanding the Bible. We wish to identify and recognize the places we heard of growing up studying the Bible in school.

Biran remained unapologetic for Israel's control of the West Bank and Jerusalem. He said:[6]

In times of war, the victor takes over the possession of the vanquished. That's what the Jordanians did in the Old City and in the areas which they held and that is what the Israelites did after 1967.

Awards

Published works

  • Dan: 25 Years of Excavation (Hebrew), Kibbutz Hameuhad Press and the Society for the Exploration of Israel and its Antiques, 1992
  • Temples and High Places in Biblical Times, Hebrew Union College Press, 1977
  • Biblical Dan, Hebrew Union College, 1994
  • Detailed Report on the Excavation at Tel Dan, (5 parts[11]), Hebrew Union College Press

See also

References

  1. ^ a b DR. AVRAHAM BIRAN, DIRECTOR, NELSON GLUCK SCHOOL OF BIBLICAL ARCHAEOLOGY, HEBREW UNION COLLEGE-JEWISH INSTITUTE OF RELIGION/JERUSALEM, AWARDED ISRAEL PRIZE, THE STATE OF ISRAEL'S HIGHEST HONOR Archived August 20, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ Lawrence Joffe, "Obituary: Avraham Biran", The Guardian, November 25, 2008.
  3. ^ a b c d "Biography and work of Avraham Biran (Hebrew)". Archived from the original on 2011-05-22. Retrieved 2008-09-18.
  4. ISBN 0-684-86912-8
  5. ISBN 978-0-567-04043-5
  6. ^ a b "wbur". Archived from the original on 29 August 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-18.
  7. ^ David, Ariel (12 January 2020). "Hebrew Inscription on a 3,000-year-old Jar Could Redraw Borders of Ancient Israel". Haaretz. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
  8. ^ "Recipients of Yakir Yerushalayim award (in Hebrew)". Archived from the original on 2013-10-22. City of Jerusalem official website
  9. ^ "Israel Prize Official Site (in Hebrew) – Recipient's C.V." Archived from the original on 2009-10-19.
  10. ^ "Israel Prize Official Site (in Hebrew) – Judges' Rationale for Grant to Recipient". Archived from the original on 2009-10-19.
  11. ^ Only part 1 was published in Biran's lifetime.

External links

See also

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