Mark A. Hassler is professor of Old Testament and director of the ThM program at Virginia Beach Theological Seminary. Dr. Hassler also works as field archaeologist and director of publications for the ABR Shiloh excavations in Israel. He earned his academic degrees at The Master’s Seminary (PhD, ThM, and MDiv) and Montana Bible College (BA). Dr. Hassler serves as president of the Evangelical Theological Society’s Eastern region (2021–2023), vice president of the Near East Archaeological Society, and former editor of the Near East Archaeological Society Bulletin (2016–2019). Before joining the VBTS faculty, Professor Hassler served as faculty associate in Old Testament studies at The Master’s Seminary. For more information, please visit Dr. Hassler’s Academia profile.
Advanced Hebrew Readings aims to develop the students' reading ability by providing a learning environment that solidifies previously acquired skills and improves dexterity in pronunciation, translation, vocabulary, and grammar. Read more....
Biblical Archaeology & Excavation Practicum provides students an archaeological excursion to the Holy Land. It also allows them to receive hands-on experience at the active excavation site of biblical Shiloh, as well as on-site training in the tools and techniques of archaeology, selected trips to important biblical sites in Israel, and evening lectures on the topics of biblical archaeology. Read more....
Exegesis of Daniel is an exegetical analysis of the book of Daniel, specifically the Hebrew sections (1:1–2:4 and 8:1–12:13). Special attention goes to handling translational issues and resolving interpretive difficulties, with a view toward exposition and theology. Read more....
Exegesis of Joel, Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah prepares the student to exegete the books of Joel, Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah according to the authorial intent. We examine each book’s literary and historical elements with a view toward theology and preaching. Read more....
Exegesis of Selected Psalms equips the student to exegete the Psalter. We perform literary, contextual, lexical, syntactical, and diagrammatical analysis. Read more...
Expository Preaching of Old Testament and New Testament Prophecy prepares students to preach the prophetic literature of the Old and New Testaments. We will perform biblical exegesis using a methodology designed to arrive at the authorial intent by observing the grammatical forms, syntactical structures, literary techniques, semantic ranges, and background data (e.g., history, geography, and culture). Read more...
Hermeneutics prepares the student to discover and assess guidelines for the interpretation of Scripture. Students will test various criteria for interpreting literary elements, such as symbolism, and literary genres, such as narrative, poetry, parables, proverbs, and prophecy. Read more....
Hebrew Grammar 1 & 2 equip the student with the core vocabulary and the foundational principles of phonology, morphology, and syntax. Read more....
Hebrew Exegetical Method 1 & 2 equip the students for the exegesis of the Hebrew Scriptures. They introduce a methodology for exegetical research, and majors on lexical, contextual, diagrammatical, and text critical analysis. Read more....
Old Testament Introduction expounds upon the following eight topics that prepare the student for the interpretation of the Old Testament: inspiration, inerrancy, canonicity, lower criticism, higher criticism, ancient Near Eastern backgrounds, archaeology, and special introduction (authorship, dating, structure, and theme). Read more....
Research in Biblical Theology: Judges & Ruth is guided by faculty supervision. In this course, a directed independent study, the student will investigate an interpretive problem in the books of Judges and Ruth that pertains to the issues of rhetorical strategy and biblical theology. Among other things, attention will be given to the contribution of intertextuality (inner-biblical exegesis) to a biblical theology of Ruth.
PhD, The Master's Seminary
ThM, The Master's Seminary
MDiv, The Master's Seminary
BA, Montana Bible College
Full-Time Faculty, Virginia Beach Theological Seminary, 2016–present
Director of Publications and Field Archaeologist, Shiloh Excavations, 2019–present
Coleader, Homebuilders Bible Study, 2020–present
General Editor, Near East Archaeological Society Bulletin, 2016–2019
Faculty Associate, The Master's Seminary, 2010–2016
Deacon & Bible Study Leader, Grace Community Church, intermittent 2005–2016
President, Evangelical Theological Society, Eastern region, 2021–2023 (two terms)
Vice President, Near East Archaeological Society, 2022–present
2020. “A Monumental Fortification Tower and Militaria: Late Hellenistic and Early Roman Military Architecture and Equipment Discovered at Khirbet el-Maqatir, Israel,” coauthored with Katherine A. Streckert and Boyd V. Seevers. במעבה ההר: כתב עת חצי־שנתי לארכיאולוגיה והיסטוריה של אזור ההר ולחקר חללים תת-קרקעיים [In the highland’s depth: Journal for the study of archaeology and history of the highlands region and underground cavities] 10, no. 1 (Spring): 37*–69*.
PDF2018. “The ‘Problem’ of Ai in Joshua 7–8: Solved after Nearly Forty Years of Excavation in the West Bank of Israel,” coauthored with Scott Stripling. Bible and Spade, Spring, 40–44. PDF
2017. “Daniel 4 and the Testimony of Nebuchadnezzar: How the Emperor Persuades the Nations to Submit to the Most High God.”
Bible and Spade,
Summer, 60–65.
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2016. “The Identity of the Little Horn in Daniel 8: Antiochus IV Epiphanes, Rome, or the Antichrist?” The Master’s Seminary Journal 27, no. 1 (Spring): 33–44. Read
2016. “The Setting of Obadiah: When Does the Oracle concerning Edom Transpire?” Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 59, no. 2 (June): 241–54. PDF
2015. “Isaiah 14 and Habakkuk 2: Two Taunt Songs against the Same Tyrant?”
The Master’s Seminary Journal 26, no. 2 (Fall): 221–29.
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2012. Lexham Bible Dictionary. Edited by John D. Barry. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software. S.vv. “Camel,” “Jethro,” “Mount Ebal,” “Old Testament,” and “Winnowing Fork.”
Book Reviews
2022. Review of Origins of the Hebrews: New Evidence for Israelites in Egypt from Joseph to the Exodus, by Douglas Petrovich. Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 65, no. 2 (June): 355–56.
2018. Review of The Hermeneutics of the Biblical Writers: Learning to Interpret Scripture from the Prophets and Apostles, by Abner Chou. Themelios 43, no. 2 (August): 289–91. PDF
2018. Review of Micah, by Stephen G. Dempster. Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 61, no. 2 (June): 377–79. PDF
2018. Review of Proverbs: An Introduction and Commentary, by Lindsay Wilson. Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 61, no. 4 (December 2018): 874–75.
2016–17. Review of
Exploring Our Hebraic Heritage: A Christian Theology of Roots and Renewal, by Marvin R. Wilson.
Journal for the Evangelical Study of the Old Testament 5 (2): 200–202.
PDF
2017. Review of
Eschatology: Biblical, Historical, and Practical Approaches; A Volume in Honor of Craig A. Blaising, edited by D. Jeffrey Bingham and Glenn R. Kreider.
The Master’s Seminary Journal 28, no. 1 (Spring): 97–99.
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2017. Review of He Will Reign Forever: A Biblical Theology of the Kingdom of God, by Michael J. Vlach. Journal for Baptist Theology and Ministry 14, no. 2 (Fall): 80–82. PDF
2017. Review of How to Understand and Apply the Old Testament: Twelve Steps from Exegesis to Theology, by Jason S. DeRouchie. Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 60, no. 3 (September): 599–602. PDF
2017. Review of
Interpreting Apocalyptic Literature: An Exegetical Handbook, by Richard A. Taylor.
The Master’s Seminary Journal 28, no. 1 (Spring): 104–6.
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2017. Review of The World’s Oldest Alphabet: Hebrew as the Language of the Proto-Consonantal Script, by Douglas Petrovich. Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 60, no. 4 (December): 829–31. PDF
2016. Review of
The Cultural World of the Bible: An Illustrated Guide to Manners and Customs, by Victor H. Matthews. 4th ed.
The Master’s Seminary Journal 27, no. 1 (Spring): 95–96.
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2016. Review of
Interpreting Prophetic Literature: Historical and Exegetical Tools for Reading the Prophets, by James D. Nogalski.
Scottish Bulletin of Evangelical Theology 34, no. 1 (Spring): 98–100.
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2016. Review of Invitation to the Septuagint, by Karen H. Jobes and Moisés Silva. 2nd ed. TC: A Journal of Biblical Textual Criticism 21:n.p.
2016. Review of
Jerusalem: The Temple Mount, by Leen Ritmeyer and Kathleen Ritmeyer.
Bible and Spade,
Winter, 28.
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2016. Review of
The Rapture and Beyond: God’s Amazing Plan for the Church, Israel, and the Nations, by John C. Whitcomb. Rev. ed.
Southwestern Journal of Theology 59, no. 1 (Fall): 101–3.
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2016. Review of The Text-Critical Use of the Septuagint in Biblical Research, by Emanuel Tov. 3rd ed. Journal of Septuagint and Cognate Studies 49:138–39.
2016. Review of
The Unseen Realm: Recovering the Supernatural Worldview of the Bible, by Michael S. Heiser.
Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 59, no. 2 (June): 361–63. PDF
2015. Review of
Abraham: The Story of a Life, by Joseph Blenkinsopp.
Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 58, no. 4 (December): 813–15.
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2015. Review of
A Commentary on Exodus, by Duane A. Garrett.
Journal for Baptist Theology and Ministry 12, no. 2 (Fall): 57–58.
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2015. Review of
Dictionary of Daily Life in Biblical and Post-Biblical Antiquity,
edited by Edwin M. Yamauchi and Marvin R. Wilson. Vol. 1.
Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 58, no. 4 (December): 803–4.
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2015. Review of
Engaging the Christian Scriptures: An Introduction to the Bible, by Andrew E. Arterbury, W. H. Bellinger Jr., and Derek S. Dodson.
Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 58, no. 1 (March): 165–67.
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2015. Review of
For the Glory of God: Recovering a Biblical Theology of Worship, by Daniel I. Block.
The Master’s Seminary Journal 26, no. 1 (Spring)
: 147–48.
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2015. Review of The Hebrew Prophets and Their Social World: An Introduction, by Victor H. Matthews. 2nd ed. Journal of Theological Studies 66, no. 1 (April): 313–15.
2015. Review of Interpreting the Prophetic Books: An Exegetical Handbook, by Gary V. Smith. Journal of Dispensational Theology 19, no. 56 (Spring): 88–89.
2015. Review of Joshua, by Trent C. Butler. 2nd ed. 2 vols. Criswell Theological Review 12, no. 2 (Spring): 161–63.
2015. Review of Messiah’s Coming Temple: Ezekiel’s Prophetic Vision of the Future Temple, by John W. Schmitt and J. Carl Laney. Rev. ed. Journal of Ministry and Theology 19, no. 1 (Spring): 156–58.
2015. Review of
Revelation, by Paige Patterson.
The Master’s Seminary Journal 26, no. 1 (Spring): 157–59.
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2015. Review of The Text of the Old Testament: An Introduction to the “Biblia Hebraica,” by Ernst Würthwein. 3rd ed., revised by Alexander Achilles Fischer, translated by Erroll F. Rhodes. Journal of Septuagint and Cognate Studies 48:171–73.
2015. Review of What the Old Testament Authors Really Cared About: A Survey of Jesus’ Bible, edited by Jason S. DeRouchie. Criswell Theological Review 12, no. 2 (Spring): 163–65.
2014. Review of
The Expositor’s Bible Commentary. Rev. ed., edited by Tremper Longman III and David E. Garland. Vol. 2,
Numbers to Ruth.
Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 57, no. 3 (September): 595–98.
PDF
2014. Review of
Galatians, by Douglas J. Moo.
The Master’s Seminary Journal 25, no. 2 (Fall): 125–26.
PDF
2014. Review of
Mission in the Old Testament: Israel as a Light to the Nations, by Walter C. Kaiser Jr. 2nd. ed.
The Master’s Seminary Journal 25, no. 1 (Spring): 113–14.
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2014. Review of
Obadiah: The Kingship Belongs to YHWH, by Daniel I. Block.
The Master’s Seminary Journal 25, no. 2 (Fall): 108–10.
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2014. Review of Preaching Christ from Daniel: Foundations for Expository Sermons, by Sidney Greidanus. Scottish Bulletin of Evangelical Theology 32, no. 2 (Autumn): 223–25.
2014.
Review of Studies in the Text of the Old Testament: An Introduction to the Hebrew Old Testament Text Project, by Dominique Barthélemy, translated by Stephen Pisano, Peter A. Pettit, Joan E. Cook, and Sarah Lind.
The Master’s Seminary Journal 25, no. 1 (Spring): 97–99.
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2014. Review of
Warfare in the Old Testament: The Organization, Weapons, and Tactics of Ancient Near Eastern Armies, by Boyd Seevers.
Journal for the Evangelical Study of the Old Testament 3 (2): 254–56.
ReadConference Papers
2023. “Pottery in the Bible: Its Typology, Manufacturing, and Use in Imagery.” Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Near East Archaeological Society, San Antonio, November 14–16.
2023. “Shiloh in the Bible and Archaeology: The 2017–2022 Excavations.” Paper presented at the Eastern Regional Meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society, Washington, April 21–22.
2022. “Giantism and the Colossal Cedar of Lebanon (Ezekiel 31).” Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Near East Archaeological Society, Denver, CO, November 15–17.
2022. "The Messiah Stands on Water: Matthew 14:25–33 Echoes Daniel 8:16 and 12:6–7.” Paper presented at the Eastern Regional Meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society, Virginia Beach, VA, April 22–23.
2022. “The Renewed Excavations at Tel Shiloh (Khirbet Seilun), West Bank: Results from the 2022 Season.” Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Schools of Oversees Research, online, October 19–23.
2021. “Inscriptions on Ceramic Ring Stands from the Early Roman Period at Khirbet el-Maqatir, Israel.” Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Schools of Oversees Research, Chicago and online, November 17–20 and December 8–12.
2021. “Recently Discovered Altar Horns at Tell Shiloh, Israel.” Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Near East Archaeological Society, Fort Worth, TX, November 16–18.
2021. “When God Speaks by His Son: Determining the Time Period Demarcated by ἐσχάτου τῶν ἡμερῶν τούτων in Hebrews 1:2.” Paper presented at the Eastern Regional Meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society, online, April 9.
2020. “The 2017–2019 Excavations at Tell Shiloh, Israel: Overview of the Findings from the Bronze and Iron Ages.” Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Schools of Oriental Research, online, November 12–15 and 19–22.
2020. “Eli’s Fall at Shiloh’s City Gate (1 Samuel 4:13–18): Insight from Linguistics and Archaeology.” Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Near East Archaeological Society, online, November 16–20.
2019. “Judas Iscariot and the Imprecatory Psalms.” Paper presented at the 71st National Meeting of the Evangelical Society, San Diego, November 20–22.
2019. “Why Have You Forsaken Me? Identifying the Suppliant of Psalm 22.” Paper presented at the Eastern Regional Meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society, Lynchburg, VA, April 5–6.
2018. “The Early Roman Weapons and Northern Fortification Tower at Khirbet el-Maqatir: A Preliminary Report,” coauthored with Katherine A. Streckert. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Near East Archaeological Society, Denver, CO, November 13–15.
2018. “Evaluating Hermeneutical Principles concerning the Godhead in the Old Testament.” Paper presented at the Eastern Regional Meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society, Lancaster, PA, April 6–7.
2018. “The First-Century Military Tower at Khirbet el-Maqatir: Excavation Report for the 2015–2016 Seasons.” Paper presented at the 9th Annual Meeting of במעבה ההר [In the highland’s depth], Hashmoniam, Israel, October 4.
2018. “Military Architecture in the Second Temple Period: The Khirbet el-Maqatir Excavations.” Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Schools of Oriental Research, Denver, CO, November 14–17.
2017. “The ‘Problem’ of Ai in Joshua 7–8: Solved after Nearly Forty Years of Excavation in the West Bank of Israel.” Paper presented at the Southwest Commission on Religious Studies, American Schools of Oriental Research, Irving, TX, March 10–11.
2017. “The Testimony of Nebuchadnezzar: The Issues of Conversion and Authorial Intent in Daniel 4.” Paper presented at the Eastern Regional Meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society, Lancaster, PA, March 31–April 1.
2016. “Babylon and the Eschaton: Should We Anticipate the Rise and Demise of an Actual City?” Paper presented at the Far West Regional Meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society, San Diego, April 15.
2015. “Intertextuality and the Setting of Psalm 46.” Paper presented at the Far West Regional Meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society, Riverside, CA, April 10.
2015. “The Setting of Obadiah.” Paper presented at the 67th National Meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society, Atlanta, November 17–19.
- "4 Reasons the 'Servant' Predicted in Isaiah 49 Has to Be Jesus." Logos Bible Software blog, December 19. Link.
2021. “Isaiah 49 Predicts the Servant (Jesus) and His Mother (Mary).”
Exposition, December 22.
PDF2021. “Abraham’s Salvation Conversion: When and How?”
Exposition, May 26.
PDF 2020. “Reflections from Daniel 2: The Sovereign God of Heaven.”
Exposition, March 26.
PDF2019. “Grand Canyon Travelogue.” Virginia Beach Theological Seminary blog, August 15.
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