Dr. Richard S. Hess is Earl S. Kalland Professor of Old Testament and Semitic Languages at Denver Seminary in Denver, Colorado. He is the editor of the Bulletin for Biblical Research and the Denver Journal: An Online Review of Current Biblical and Theological Studies. He edits the Bulletin for Biblical Research Supplement Series and co-edits the Septuagint Commentary Series. A Ph.D. graduate from Hebrew Union College, Dr. Hess has done postdoctoral research at the University of Chicago, the Albright Institute of Archaeological Research in Jerusalem, the University of Cambridge, Tyndale House, the University of Sheffield, the Australian Institute of Archaeology in Melbourne, and Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster. Dr. Hess has authored seven volumes, edited twelve books, contributed to five Bible translations, published more than one hundred research articles, and written several hundred book reviews and dictionary articles.
Having published studies on Genesis, Joshua, Song of Songs, and most recently Leviticus, Dr. Hess is writing commentaries on the biblical books of Genesis, Joshua, 1 and 2 Kings, and Job. He is also working on a graduate level Old Testament introduction and editing several studies on War in the Bible, Early Israel, and the history of Israel. In preparation for publication are also studies on Late Bronze Age ethnic geography of Canaan, literacy in ancient Israel, Luwian hieroglyphic texts, Amarna cuneiform texts, and the biblical accounts of Solomon’s Temple.
Dr. Hess has evaluated research proposals and manuscripts for the Israel Science Foundation, the American Schools of Oriental Research, the Journal of Religion and Popular Culture, and Science and Christian Belief, as well as numerous biblical studies journals and publishers. His work in science has focused on the archaeology of the ancient Near East with special attention to written artifacts such as the West Semitic archives of the Late Bronze Age, and on the relationship of these texts to the Bible (especially Genesis and early Israel).
Books authored
- "Leviticus," in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary Revised Editon 1: Genesis–Leviticus, T. Longman III and D. E. Garland eds., Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2008, pp. 563-826.
- Israelite Religions: An Archaeological and Biblical Survey, Grand Rapids: Baker, 2007. 432 pages with 44 photos and maps.
- Song of Songs, Baker Commentary on the Old Testament Wisdom and Psalms; Grand Rapids: Baker, 2005. 285 pages.
- Joshua. An Introduction and Commentary, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries; Leicester and Downers Grove: IVP, 1996. 320 pages with 9 maps. Translations have appeared in Chinese, French, Portugese, and Italian.
- Studies in the Personal Names of Genesis 1-11, Alter Orient und Altes Testament Band 234, Kevelaer: Butzon & Bercker; Neukirchen-Vluyn: Neukirchener, 1993. xx + 200 pages.
- Amarna Personal Names, American Schools of Oriental Research Dissertation Series 9; Winona Lake: Eisenbrauns, 1993. xii + 292 pages.
Books co-authored
- Names in the Study of Biblical History: David, YHWH Names, and the Role of Personal Names, co-authored with Francis I. Andersen; Buried History Monograph 2; Melbourne: Australian Institute of Archaeology, 2007.
Some recently edited volumes
- Issues in Early Israelite Historiography, co-ed. with G. Klingbeil and P. Ray, Bulletin for Biblical Research Supplement 3, Winona Lake: Eisenbrauns, 2008.
- War in the Bible and Terrorism in the 21st Century, co-ed. with E. Martens, Bulletin for Biblical Research Supplement 2, Winona Lake: Eisenbrauns, 2008.
- Issues in Bible Translation, comprising The Bible Translator 56/3 (July 2005), co-ed. with P. Towner
(Other) Science and Religion Publications
- "I Studied Inscriptions from before the Flood": Ancient Near Eastern, Linguistic and Literary Approaches to Genesis 1-11, co-editor with David Tsumura, Sources for Biblical and Theological Study 4; Winona Lake: Eisenbrauns, 1994. xvi + 480 pages.
- "Genesis 1-2 and Recent Studies of Ancient Texts," Science and Christian Belief 7 (1995) 141-149.
