Oded BorowskiProfessor Emeritus

Oded Borowski taught biblical archaeology and Hebrew at Emory University for over 40 years. Born in Palestine under the British Mandate, he was a member of Kibbutz Lahav, in the northeastern Negev. While at the kibbutz, Borowski studied at the Absalom Institute for Homeland Studies in Tel Aviv.

Borowski continued his studies in Detroit where he received a BHL (Bachelors of Hebrew Letters) from the Midrasha, a BA in Anthropology and History from Wayne State University and MA/PHD in Near Eastern Studies from the University of Michigan. Borowski participated in archeological excavations and surveys since the early 1970s (Tel Gezer, Tel Dan, Ashkelon, Beth Shemesh), and in 1976 helped initiate the Lahav Research Project that has been conducting excavations at Tell Halif.  Presently, Borowski directs Phase IV of the project.

Shortly after arrival at Emory in 1977, Borowski founded the Hebrew and Arabic language programs and in 1988 under his direction, Emory created a new department named Near Eastern Studies, which today is Middle Eastern and South Asian Studies. In addition to his book Agriculture in Iron Age Israel (1987), Borowski authored Every Living Thing: The Daily Use of Animals in Ancient Israel (1998); Daily Life in Biblical Times (2003); Lahav III: The Iron Age II Cemetery at Tell Halif (Site 72) (2013), and numerous articles, book reviews and encyclopedia entries. His next book (with Joe D. Seger) Lahav VIII: Tell Halif Excavations in Field III 1977-1987: Life in the Shephelah in the Bronze and Iron Ages, is now in press.

Education/Degrees

• Ph.D., Near Eastern Studies, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
• A.M., Near Eastern Studies, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
• B.A., History and Anthropology, Wayne State University
• B.H.L., Jewish Studies, Midrasha-College of Jewish Studies

Teaching/Research Areas

• Biblical archaeology
• Daily life in biblical times
• Foodways in biblical times
• Water use in biblical times

Books Published

• Lahav III: The Iron Age II Cemetery at Tell Halif (Site 72), (Winona Lake, IN: Eisenbrauns, 2013)
• Daily Life in Biblical Times (Leiden: E.J. Brill, 2003; cloth)
• Daily Life in Biblical Times (Atlanta: Society of Biblical Literature, 2003; paper)
• Every Living Thing: The Daily Use of Animals in Ancient Israel (Walnut Creek, CA: AltaMira Press, 1997 [hard]; 1998 [paper])
• Agriculture in Iron Age Israel (Winona Lake: Eisenbrauns, 1987); reprinted with updated bibliography (Boston, MA: American Schools of Oriental Research, 2002)