SBL Press publishes books with a scholarly focus as well as works intended to convey the finest biblical scholarship to wider audiences: students in college, university, and seminary courses; leaders in church and synagogue settings; and members of the general public interested in biblical study.
SBL Press focuses on the needs of biblical scholars and students by creating resources for the classroom and research, and fosters the professional development of biblical scholars by creating venues for publication, enhancing editorial skills, and providing critical responses to manuscripts submitted for publication.
Notable Series from the Society of Biblical Literature
Highlights
The Archaeology of the Kingdom of Judah
Yosef Garfinkel thoroughly engages the archaeological data, historical record, and biblical traditions at the center of the heated debate surrounding the development of the kingdom of Judah and its most well-known kings, including David, Solomon, and Hezekiah. Garfinkel traces five stages in the kingdom’s development from its beginnings in the early tenth century BCE through its destruction in the sixth century BCE. The book offers a new interpretation of the development of Judah’s capital, Jerusalem, important not only for its role in the Hebrew Bible but also for its significance to the religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Garfinkel supplements each chapter with illustrations and images of sites, objects, and maps that clarify the archaeological picture and contribute to a better understanding of the biblical text. Charts not only present timelines but also differentiate between the contrasting historical reconstructions of Judah and Israel presented by other archaeologists and historians. The Archaeology of the Kingdom of Judah is an essential resource for students and scholars of history, archaeology, and the Hebrew Bible.
Lot's Wife in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic Traditions
“Remember Lot’s wife,” Jesus warned, yet the woman he refers to remains an enigmatic, nameless, speechless, biblical figure known only for being transformed into a pillar of salt. Who was she? What lessons were readers meant to take from her fate? Early Jewish, Christian, and Islamic interpreters, as well as readers today, have all wrestled with these questions. Josey Bridges Snyder analyzes examples from Second Temple literature, early rabbinic midrash, early Christian writings, and Islamic tradition to trace how the cultural, theological, and historical contexts of these interpreters influenced their understanding of the narrative. This book not only uncovers new insights into the ancient text and its many readers but reveals that interpretations are rarely as novel as they may seem.
Humor in the Midst of Mark
Humor in the Midst of Mark applies methods developed in humor studies to explore how the Gospel of Mark uses incongruity and humor in the miracle accounts in Mark 4:35–6:6. By positioning the gospel within the broader context of ancient comedic texts, Jon Carman explores the social, psychological, and pedagogical effects that humor may have had on audiences of Jesus followers as they encountered performances of the gospel. Carman’s study demonstrates that humor studies offers a new window into reading and understanding characterization and Christology not only in the Gospel of Mark but also in other early Christian texts.
Society of Biblical Literature Press
Copyright Year Collections
Year | Type | Title Count |
|---|---|---|
2026 | Frontlist | 25 |
2023-2025 | Recent Frontlist | 80 |
2020-2022 | Contemporary I | 77 |
2017-2019 | Contemporary II | 96 |
2014-2016 | Contemporary III | 104 |
2000-2013 | Backlist | 379 |
