“An expert guide and teacher . . . delves into difficult topics with humor and ease. . . . Well worth reading.” —Biblical Archeology

For many, the names Bethlehem, Babylon, and Jerusalem are known as the setting for epic stories from the Bible. What often gets missed is that these cities are far more than just the setting for the Bible and its characters—they were instrumental to the creation of the Bible as we know it today.

Robert Cargill, archeologist, Bible scholar, and host of the History Channel series Bible Secrets Revealed, blends archaeology, biblical history, and personal journey as he explores ancient cities and their role in the creation of the Bible. He reveals surprising facts such as what the Bible says about the birth of Jesus and how Mary’s Virgin Birth caused problems for the early church. We’ll also see how the God of the Old Testament was influenced by other deities, and how far more books were left out of the Bible than were let in during the canonization process.

The Cities That Built the Bible is a magnificent tour through fourteen cities: the Phoenicia cities of Tyre, Sidon, and Byblos, Ugarit, Nineveh, Babylon, Megiddo, Athens, Alexandria, Jerusalem, Qumran, Bethlehem, Nazareth, and Rome. Along the way, Cargill includes photos of artifacts, dig sites, ruins, and relics in this fascinating exploration that sheds new light on the Bible.

“A lively personal account that puts flesh and bones on the tale.” —Richard Elliott Friedman, Th.D. author of The Bible with Sources Revealed

“Cargill transports readers to these ancient locales, illuminating the municipal dynamics that shaped the Bible.” —Booklist