Person

Carl S. Ehrlich

Updated November 2026

About Carl S. Ehrlich

Carl S. Ehrlich is a distinguished University Professor of History and Humanities at York University in Toronto, Canada. He is renowned for his contributions to biblical archaeology, particularly his work on the Philistines and the excavation of Gath. Ehrlich's scholarship offers significant insights into the interactions between ancient Israel and Philistine city-states during the Iron Age.

Academic Career and Education

Carl S. Ehrlich obtained his B.A. magna cum laude in Judaic Studies from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in 1976. He earned an M.A. (1984) and a Ph.D. (1991) in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations from Harvard University. His academic journey also included studies at the University of Freiburg and in Jerusalem, focusing on Jewish Studies and Biblical Archaeology.

Currently, Ehrlich serves as a University Professor of History and Humanities at York University, where he has previously held positions such as Professor of Hebrew Bible and Director of the Israel and Golda Koschitzky Centre for Jewish Studies. His career also includes guest professorships at prestigious institutions like the University of Kassel, Hochschule für Jüdische Studien, and Humboldt-Universität.

Major Works and Contributions

Ehrlich has authored several influential publications, including The Philistines in Transition: A History from ca. 1000–730 B.C.E. (1996), which is considered a definitive work on the history and culture of the Philistines. Another significant work, Understanding Judaism (2004; republished 2010), provides a comprehensive overview of Jewish beliefs and practices.

As an editor and co-editor, Ehrlich has contributed to several collections, such as From an Antique Land: An Introduction to Ancient Near Eastern Literature (2009) and Saul in Story and Tradition (2006). His ongoing projects include a cultural history of Moses, an annotated German translation of the Hebrew Bible, and a commentary on Chronicles, demonstrating his broad scholarly interests.

Ehrlich's archaeological contributions are particularly notable at the Tell es-Safi/Gath Archaeological Project, where he was co-director from 1998 to 2001 alongside the project's director, Aren Maeir. With Maeir he co-authored "Excavating Philistine Gath: Have We Found Goliath's Hometown?" in Biblical Archaeology Review (2001).

Organizational Affiliations and Public Engagement

In addition to his academic roles, Ehrlich has been actively involved with various scholarly organizations and has received numerous research grants and awards, particularly in North America and Germany.

Impact on Biblical Studies

Carl S. Ehrlich's research on the Philistines is used across Hebrew Bible and ancient Near Eastern scholarship. His work on the Philistines provides essential insights into the cultural and historical context of the biblical narrative. He has published articles and chapters in the Journal of Biblical Literature and has written for reference works, including the entry "Goliath" in the Anchor Bible Dictionary (1992) and the entries on Ekron, Gath, the Philistines, Siloam and Ziba in the New Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible (2009).

Ehrlich's contributions extend to the broader field of Ancient Near Eastern studies, where his synchronic, diachronic, and contextual approaches to biblical texts have been particularly valuable. His work continues to shape scholarly understanding of Iron Age interactions and the complexities of ancient Near Eastern societies.