This is a fun question to ask. For some it may be a fictional Indiana Jones type of character. For others, it may be a mentor or similar. For me, well, it is someone I wish I would have reached out to before he passed 13 years ago. It is the late Frank Moore Cross.
Most of you may be unfamiliar with the name. He was a scholar and professor of Hebrew and Semitic language studies. He is best known for his work in editing / translating some of the Dead Sea Scrolls from the site of Qumran. His career was quite extensive and I am doing an extremely poor job at emphasizing the importance of his contributions to Biblical and general Canaanite studies.
As some of you may know, I am fascinated by the history surrounding the Old Testament. I stumbled onto Cross’s work early on with his books: Canaanite Myth and Hebrew Epic and From Epic to Canon. His research just made sense to me.
There are others who come close (for me), such as Eric H. Cline. I have always admired Cline’s work and research. And I have always appreciated the professional relationship we have. But my biggest regret is not have reached out to Cross before it was too late.
Now, I am asking you: Who, in the historical field, do you admire or look up to?
Sir Ronald Syme. But I would happily sit at the feet of Irving Finkel or Theo van den Hout any day of the week.
Eric Cline for sure, also Flinders Petrie and George Reiner, and Ian Hodder to name a few.