Margaret E. Cohen

 

5920 E. West Miramar Drive • Tucson, Arizona 85715

mec11909@gmail.com  

                                                                                                                                 

 

EDUCATION

PhD, The Pennsylvania State University, History                                                                          2013

Fields: Hebrew Bible (primary)

            History and Archaeology of Ancient Israel; New Testament (secondary)

            Dissertation: Studies in the Language and Historiography of 2 Samuel

            Advisor: Baruch Halpern

MAR, Yale Divinity School                                                                                                              1998

            Field: Biblical Studies

BA with Honors, Swarthmore College                                                                                          1996

           Majors in the External Examination Program: Religion and English Literature

 

 

POSITIONS

• Adjunct Instructor, University of Arizona                                                                               2023–

• Associate Fellow, W. F. Albright Institute of Archaeological Research                               2008–2009; 2014-2021

• Visiting Instructor, Lycoming College                                                                                    2013-2014

• Visiting Assistant Professor, Lycoming College                                                                    2006–2007

• Course Instructor, The Pennsylvania State University                                                          2004–2005; 2010-2011

• Dissertation Fellow, National Foundation for Jewish Culture                                             2007–2008       

 

 

PUBLICATIONS

Books

The Formation of Biblical Texts: Chronicling the Legacy of Gary Knoppers (eds. with D. Fulton, K.

Ristau, and J. Greer), Mohr Siebeck, FAT I, forthcoming in 2024.

 

Articles in Peer-Reviewed Journals

“Cult Activity at Megiddo in the Iron Age: New Evidence and a Long Term Perspective,” (with A. Kleiman, E. Hall, R.S. Homsher, and I. Finkelstein), ZDPV 133 (2017) 24-52. Preparation of the Iron IIA figurines.

 

“New Evidence for the Rise of a Complex Society in the Late Fourth Millennium at Tel Megiddo East in the Jezreel Valley,” (with M.J. Adams, J. David, R. Homsher), Near Eastern Archaeology 77:1 (2014) 32-43.

 

“Not So Miscellaneous: אלּה  in 2 Sam 21 and the Composition of the Philistine Tales,” Antiguo Oriente 9 (2011) 103-118.

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Articles in Books

“Attending to the Forest and its Denizens in the Hebrew Bible,” mp. 12 in Exploring Animal Hermeneutics, ed. Arthur Walker-Jones and Suzanna Millar, Semeia Studies, Atlanta: SBL Press, forthcoming 2023.

 

“The Figurines from Kiriath-jearim.” mp.7 in The Shmunis Family Excavations at Kiriath-Jearim 2017-2019, eds. Israel Finkelstein and Thomas Römer, Tel Aviv: Institute of Archaeology, Tel Aviv University Press, forthcoming 2023.

 

“Ceramic Figurines from The Iron IIA in Area Q,” pp. 1335-1350 in Megiddo VI, eds. Israel Finkelstein and Mario Martin, Tel Aviv: Institute of Archaeology, Tel Aviv University Press, 2022.

 

“Diet and Nutrition,” pp. 337-351 in Handbook of Food in the Hebrew Bible and Ancient Israel, eds. Janling Fu, Carol L. Meyers, Cynthia Shafer-Elliott, London: T&T Clark, 2021.

 

“Iron Age Figurines from Philistia and Phoenicia, A Response,” pp.148-162 in Iron Age Figurines in the Southern Levant, eds. Erin Darby and Izaak de Hulster, Leiden: Brill, 2021.

 

“Northwest Semitic Inscriptions” pp. 126-134 in Behind the Scenes of the Old Testament: Historical,

Cultural, and Social Contexts of Ancient Israel, eds. Jonathan S. Greer, John W. Hilber and John H. Walton. Baker Press, 2018.

 

 “Is Jacob Hiding in the House of Saul?” pp. 57-70 in Rethinking Israel: Studies in the History and

Archaeology of Ancient Israel in Honor of Israel Finkelstein, eds. Oded Lipschits, Yuval Gadot  and Matthew J. Adams, Winona Lake: Eisenbrauns, 2017.

 

 “Teaching Foodways as a Fresh Entrée into the World of the Bible,” pp. 148-161 in Teaching the Bible in the Liberal Arts Classroom Volume 2, eds. Jane S. Webster and Glenn S. Holland, Sheffield:     Sheffield Phoenix, 2015.

 

 “A Gold Amulet from Late Bronze Age Megiddo,” pp. 1086-1090 in Megiddo V, eds. Israel Finkelstein and David Ussishkin, Tel Aviv: Institute of Archaeology, Tel Aviv University Press, 2013.

 

 “The ‘Sea Peoples’ in Primary Sources,” (with M. J. Adams), pp. 637-656 in Philistines and Other ‘Sea Peoples’: Material Culture in the Eastern Mediterranean during the 12th Century BCE, eds. Ann E. Killebrew and Gunnar Lehmann, Leiden: E.J. Brill, 2013.

 

“Leave Nehemiah Alone,” pp. 54-74 in Unity and Disunity in Ezra and Nehemiah, eds. Mark J. Boda and Paul L. Redditt, Old Testament Monograph Series, Sheffield: Sheffield Phoenix, 2008.

 

 “Area L: The 2004 Season,” (with E. H. Cline), pp. 124–129 in Megiddo IV, eds. Israel Finkelstein, David Ussishkin and Baruch Halpern, Tel Aviv: Institute of Archaeology, Tel Aviv University Press, 2006.

​

Encyclopedia Articles (Peer Reviewed)

 “Anklets,” Encyclopedia of the Bible and Its Reception, eds. Hans-Josef Klauck, et al., Berlin: Walter de Gruyter (2009).

 

“Ammah (Place),” Encyclopedia of the Bible and Its Reception, eds. Hans-Josef Klauck, et al., Berlin:Walter de Gruyter (2009).

 

Web Publications

“Dietary Laws.” Bible Odyssey’s Ask-A-Scholar website. 11 March 2015.

http://www.bibleodyssey.com/tools/ask-a-scholar-q-a/dietary-laws.aspx

 

“Preliminary Web Report on the 2011 Summer Season at Tel Megiddo East,” (with M. Adams, J. David,

R. Homsher, and M. Cradic). Jezreel Valley Regional Project website. 10 April 2013. http://www.jezreelvalleyregionalproject.com/2011-summer-season.html

 

“Temples and Temple-Builders at Early Bronze Age Megiddo,” (with M. Adams, J. David, and R.

Homsher) ASOR Blog website. 19 May 2014.

http://asorblog.org/?p=7348

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Book Reviews

Invited review of Sounding Sensory Profiles in the Ancient Near East, SBL Press (2019), Eds., Annette Schellenberg, Thomas Krüger. Review of Biblical Literature,https://www.bookreviews.org/BookDetail.asp?TitleId=13267

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In Preparation

Pandemic Planting and Deuteronomy 26

​

For Megiddo VII: Area T (2018) Excavation Report; Area R Preliminary Report; Figurines (2016-2022 Seasons)

​

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DELIVERED PAPERS

Gendered Roles in Gideon's Royal Feast

            SBL National Conference, San Antonio (read in absentia)                                                    November 2023

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Eating and Sharing Stories in Biblical Households and Modern Pandemics

            ASOR National Conference, Chicago                                                                                     November 2021

 

Pandemic Produce and Cultic Cultivation                                                                                          December 2020

            SBL National Conference, Virtual

 

Forests and Deforestation in the Biblical Narrative and Modern Day Jezreel Valley                     November 2019

            SBL National Conference, San Diego

 

Gideon’s Royal Feast

            SBL National Conference, Denver                                                                                          November 2018

 

Tying it Together: Toward a Correlation of Textile Production and Cultic Spaces in the Southern Levant

            With Deborah Cassuto, SBL National Conference, Denver                                                 November 2018

 

Be a Better Bystander

            ASOR National Conference, Denver                                                                                      November 2018

 

Trees of the Forest and Produce of the Fields

            SBL National Conference, Boston                                                                                          November 2017

 

New Evidence on the Megiddo Cult: “Centralization” in the Northern Kingdom?

            (with Assaf Kleiman)

            ASOR National Conference, Boston                                                                                      November 2017

 

Biblical Studies and…Foodways, Ancient and Modern

            SBL National Conference, San Diego                                                                                   November 2014

 

Recent Research and Excavations of the Jezreel Valley Regional Project                        

(with Matthew J. Adams, Jonathan David, and Robert Homsher)

           ASOR National Conference, Baltimore                                                                                   November 2013                       

 

The Jezreel Valley Regional Project 2012 Excavations at Tel Megiddo East

(with Matthew J. Adams, Jonathan David, and Robert Homsher)

           ASOR National Conference, Chicago                                                                                      November 2012

 

The Jezreel Valley Regional Project: Survey and Excavations at Tel Megiddo East

(with Matthew J. Adams, Jonathan David, and Robert Homsher)

            AIA National Conference, Philadelphia                                                                                  January 2012

 

Should Joab Take the Blame?: A Lexical Investigation of the Root TQ‘

            SBL National Conference, San Francisco                                                                                November 2011

 

Markers of Memory and Prophetic Polemic

            SBL National Conference, New Orleans                                                                                 November 2009

 

In Defense of Grammar: What an Unassuming Pronoun Tells Us about the Composition of 2 Samuel                      

            Eastern Great Lakes Society for Biblical Literature, Perrysville, Oh                                        April 2008 

 

Ashdod Revisited, Again                                                                                                                       

            Eastern Great Lakes Society for Biblical Literature, Mt. Sterling, Oh                                      April 2007

The Grammar of 2 Samuel: Preliminary Findings                                                                                    

            SBL National Conference, Washington, D.C.                                                                            November 2006

           

What’s Bothering Jeremiah?                                                                                                          

          Eastern Great Lakes Society for Biblical Literature, Erie, Pa                                                      March 2006

 

Reporting in the First Person:  Nehemiah’s “Tales” and 5th c. BCE Historiography                    

          SBL National Conference, San Antonio, Tx                                                                                November 2004

 

The Chronicler’s Prophetic Plusses: A Response to Schniedewind                                                   

          Eastern Great Lakes Society for Biblical Literature, Wheeling,Wv                                            April 2004

 

Soldier or Shepherd: Discerning Sources in 1 Samuel 17                                                                 

           Eastern Great Lakes Society for Biblical Literature, Erie, Pa                                                     April 2003

 

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

The University of Arizona, Judaic Studies Program

• History and Religion of Israel in Ancient Times                                                                              2023

 

Lycoming College, Department of Religion

• Judaic Studies: Jewish Foodways in Ancient and Modern Times                                                2014

• Judaic Studies: From the Exodus to the Romans                                                                          2013

• Introduction to Old Testament                                                                                                 2x 2006–2007

• Introduction to New Testament                                                                                               2x 2006–2007

• Biblical Hebrew I                                                                                                                       2x 2006–2007

• Biblical Hebrew II                                                                                                                      2x 2006–2007

 

The Pennsylvania State University, Classics and Ancient Mediterranean Studies

• Jewish and Christian Foundations                                                                                          2x 2005–2006

• Near Eastern Mythology                                                                                                               2x 2004

• Archaeology of the Bible Lands                                                                                                      2003

• Classical Myth (Head TA)                                                                                                                 2003

• Egyptian Civilization (TA)                                                                                                         2x 2003–2004

• Archaeology of the Bible Lands (TA)                                                                                              2002

• Near Eastern Mythology (TA)                                                                                                          2002

 

The Pennsylvania State University, Jewish Studies Program

• Introduction to New Testament                                                                                                       2011

• Ancient and Modern Jewish Food and Foodways                                                                 4x 2009-2011

• Early Judaism                                                                                                                                    2003

• Introduction to Hebrew Bible                                                                                                          2003    

 

The Pennsylvania State University, Department of History

• World History, 1500-Present (TA)                                                                                                    2001

 

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CURRENT ARCHAEOLOGICAL STAFF POSITIONS

• The Megiddo Expedition                                                                               Educational Program Coordinator

                                                                                                                                 Team Member Coordinator

                                                                                                                                 Area Supervisor

• Jezreel Valley Regional Project Excavation at Legio                                    Area Supervisor

• The Tel Aviv University/Collège de France Excavations at Kiriath-jearim

                                                                                                                                 Educational Program Coordinator                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Team Member Coordinator

 

ARCHAEOLOGICAL FIELD EXPERIENCE

• Off-Season Logistics Coordinator                                                                                              2014-2018

The Leon Levy Expedition to Ashkelon                                     

• Excavation Registrar, Area Supervisor                                                                                       1998–2018

The Tel Aviv University Expedition to Tel Megiddo, Israel, Director: I. Finkelstein 

• Area Supervisor, Ceramic Artist, Site Planner                                                                           2003–2009

The Penn State Expedition to Mendes, Egypt, Director: D.B. Redford

• Registrar, Ceramic Artist, Site Planner                                                                                       2006           

Penn State Expedition to East Karnak, Egypt, Director: D.B. Redford

• Assistant Area Supervisor                                                                                                            2001

Wadi ath-Thamad Project, Khirbat al-Mudayna, Jordan, Director: P.M.M. Daviau

• Square Supervisor                                                                                                                       2000

Ein Gedi Excavations, Israel, Director: Y. Hirschfeld     

• Square Supervisor                                                                                                                       1999

Madaba Plains Project:Tell Jalul, Jordan, Director: R. Younker

• Excavator and Visitor Coordinator                                                                                             1998

Cinnamon Bay

 

GRANTS, AWARDS, HONORS

• The Lori Master Prize in Jewish Studies, Penn State University                                               2010

• The Legacy Heritage Jewish Studies Project Grant, directed by AJS                                     2010-11

            With Brian Hesse and Paula Wapnish

• Penn State 23rd Annual Graduate Exhibition, 2nd Place Winner                                            2008

• Penn State Research and Graduate Studies Office Dissertation Support Grant                    2007–2008 

            2 time recipient

• National Foundation for Jewish Culture Dissertation Fellowship                                            2007–2008

• Penn State Graduate School Grant Incentive Award                                                                2007                                                                                                             For receipt of substantial external funding                              

• Classics and Ancient Mediterranean Studies, PSU, Travel Grant                                             2006    

• Hill Dissertation Fellowship, Penn State University                                                                   2006    

• Department of History, Penn State University, Travel Grant  2003–2004     

            4 time recipient

• Research and Graduate Studies Office Scholarship, Penn State University                            2004    

• The Jewish Studies Research Award, Penn State University                                                     2004    

• E-Tu Sun Award for outstanding teaching by a graduate student, PSU                                  2003    

• Richard W. and June R. Duffine Program Endowment in Jewish Studies, PSU                       2002                                                                                                     Research and Travel Support Grant      

• The Two Brothers Fellowship, Yale Divinity School                                                                    1998                                                                                                   Research and Travel Support Grant       

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LANGUAGES

Biblical Hebrew and West Semitic, Akkadian

Modern Hebrew, German, French

Greek, Latin

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PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• ASOR Board of Trustee                                                                                                          Class of 2024

               DEI Committee Service

• Jezreel Valley Regional Project Studies Monograph Series Editor                                         Present

               Primary areas of responsibility: Realia and Small Finds, Related Studies

• ASOR Session Co-Chair                                                                                                             2015-2019

               Archaeology of Feasting and Foodways

• SBL Session Steering Committee  Member                                                                             2017-Present

               Archaeology of the Biblical World; Meals in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament

• Hebrew Bible Editor                                                                                                                    2009-2012

               Proceedings: Eastern Great Lakes & Midwest Biblical Societies

• On-Campus Representative

               Society of Biblical Literature, Student Advisory Group                                                   2005–2009      

• Administrative Coordinator                                                                                                       2002–2011

                Mellon Foundation, Henry F. Sawyer Seminar for Mediterranean Contact                              

• ASOR Development Committee Member                                                                               2006–2007                   

                 Graduate student recruitment                                                     

• Conference Steering Committee Member                                                                               2005

                “Space and Place in History,” Graduate Student Conference, PSU                                   

• History Undergraduate Committee Member                                                                           2003–2005

                   Department of History and Religious Studies, PSU                                 

• Guest Lecturer                                                                                                                            2003

                   The Penn State Anthropology Club                                                                              

• Graduate Student Hebrew Workshop Instructor                                                                     2003                            

• Classics and Ancient Mediterranean Studies Search Committee Member                          2002

                   Professor of Assyriology Search, CAMS, PSU

• W.F. Albright Institute Intern                                                                                                      2000

                   Assistant to staff archaeologist, Materials cataloguing                           

 

 

COMMUNITY SERVICE AND RESPONSIBILITIES           

• Education Committee and Bilgray Committee, Kol Ami Synagogue of Tucson, AZ           Present

• Board Member (Vice-Chair, 2020-2021), Jerusalem American International School           2017-2021

• Religious School Director, JCC of State College, PA                                                             2006-2008

• Board Member for Education, Congregation Brit Shalom, State College, PA                    2007-2009

 

 

AFFILIATIONS      

• American Association of University Women

• American Research Center in Egypt

• American Schools of Oriental Research

• Association for Jewish Studies

• National Association of Professors of Hebrew

• Society of Biblical Literature