1 Samuel 17:40: He (David) took his stick in his hand and chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in the shepherd’s bag which he had, even in his pouch, and his sling was in his hand; and he [...]
The book of Job is often credited with being the finest piece of literature in the Hebrew language. It is a poem, and scholars admit that no translation yet given does it justice. We are not told who God used as the author, but many [...]
The first time the name “Hebrew” is used in the Bible is in Genesis 14:13: "And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; for he dwelt in the plain of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner: [...]
In the Bible, idolatry - worshiping false gods instead of the one, TRUE God - was often a big problem for God’s people, the Israelites. Time and again they witnessed all of the wonderful things He did for them. He delivered them from slavery [...]
Father Adam was created in the image of God. When he sinned, he received a sentence or curse because of his disobedience to the divine will. Thus, a law must have been given him that was sufficiently explicit. Adam and Eve were not prone [...]
When reading the accounts of some of the miraculous events recorded in the Bible, it can be helpful, even faith strengthening, to consider the harmony of biblical accounts with the laws established by the All-Wise Creator.2 Kings chapter 20 and Isaiah chapter 38 both [...]
The two spellings are Nebuchadnezzar, and Nebuchadrezzar -- "n" and "r" different in each case. In Hebrew, these two letters are interchanged from time to time. Thus these two forms both refer to the same person. In the books of 1 and 2 Kings, Chronicles, [...]
Yes, Saul knew of Jesus before his conversion. The Apostle Paul, who was known as Saul before his conversion, was a well-known Pharisee who studied under Gamaliel, a famous Jewish rabbi and a leader in the Jewish Sanhedrin (Acts 2:33). The Pharisees heard of Jesus' [...]
Jehoiakim was a king of Judah, also called Eliakim. He was made king by the king of Egypt, who conquered his brother Jehoahaz, who went to Egypt as a captive and evidently died there. 2 Chronicles 36:4, "And the king of Egypt made Eliakim his [...]
2 Kings 13:20 records the death of Elisha, a prophet of God. Elisha’s death came during the reigns of Joash, a king of Israel, who is also referred to as Jehoash (in verse 25). 2 Kings 13:10-13 provides a brief overview of Joash. Joash [...]
In Exodus 17 we read that Israel was attached by the Amalekites in an area called Rephidim, thought to be in the southern part of the Sinai Peninsula. From the description in Deuteronomy 25 and Exodus 17, it appears Israel did have losses.“Remember what [...]
“Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.” Genesis 5:24 The Apostle Paul confirms this thought in Hebrews 11:5, “By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him.” Notice, [...]
The account is found in 1 Chronicles 21 and 2 Samuel 24. In summary, David ordered that a census of fighting men be taken. This was against the counsel of Joab, the captain of his army, and we quickly learn it was an act not directed [...]
Jacob's name was changed to Israel, meaning "let God prevail." See Genesis 32:22-32.
Mark 15:21 gives us the answer: (NIV) "A certain main from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross." Can we imagine what a privilege it [...]
We know that before the Gospel was opened and preached to the Gentiles (Cornelius being the first Gentile convert - Acts 10), Israel was the chosen nation by God, and he worked and dealt only with them.Amos 3:2 “You only have I chosen of [...]
Shem's son was Peleg. The name Peleg means "to divide or to split”. See Strong’s Concordance Hebrew word H6389. The division of the earth here refers to the division and dispersion of humanity that happened after the Tower of Babel was under construction. Genesis [...]
Mary, the mother of Jesus, was an ordinary but remarkable Jewish woman. God specifically chose her to give birth to Jesus, the Messiah of the tribe of Judah and of the lineage of David. Luke 1:26-28,31,35: (NIV) “In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, God sent the [...]
The Apostle Paul was not called to be one of the Twelve Apostles during Jesus’ earthly life. Thus, some doubted saying he was not an apostle (1 Corinthians 9:2). Others even accused Paul of preaching a different gospel. Nothing could be farther from the truth! [...]
In Exodus 35:6-7, God instructs the Israelites in the wilderness to contribute materials for the construction of the Tabernacle. In addition to the precious metals of gold, silver and copper, they brought, “blue, purple and crimson yarns, fine linen, goats’ hair, tanned ram skins, [...]
