Othniel, Caleb’s nephew, defeated the foreign king who was imposing heavy tribute. Ehud wiped out the Moabites who conquered the area around Jericho. Shamgar was not an Israelite, but he put a limit on the growing Philistine threat. All should be well. But no! “The children of Israel again did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight (Jdg 4:1).” The fourth deliverance episode begins.
The Book of Judges – Deborah Read More »
During Joshua’s time and that of the tribal elders, Israel was dedicated to Yahweh. Not so for the next generation. They abandoned their God and forgot their history. Perhaps they were tired of war. It made sense to coexist rather than fight. They began to worship Asherah the queen of heaven and confuse Baal with Yahweh. Canaanite rituals replaced or supplemented Levitical requirements. All was good in the short-term. There was peace. Not for long. The true God withdrew his support and protection, and this lead to a downward spiral of oppressions and rescue. This article focuses on first three of these episodes.
The Book of Judges – Early Deliverers Read More »
Let’s suppose that we just finished reading through the book of Joshua. The book of Judges is next. But then, confusion follows. The tribal allotments were allocated. Joshua was successful. Only cleanup operations remain. But no! This is not what we encounter. What is going on? What is the author trying to convey?
The Book of Judges – Introduction Read More »
The book of Joshua records an amazing astronomical sign. The Sun stood still in the middle of the sky about a whole day. This is one of the most controversial and most debated passages in all of scripture. Some insist that God demonstrated his power through this amazing one-time sign. They often go so far as to create pseudoscientific theories to prove their case. Meanwhile, those with scientific backgrounds recoil. Forced literalism causes many to dismiss the Bible altogether. This article attempts to work through this issue.
Joshua – The Sun Stood Still Read More »
Archaeological digs sprinkle the promised land in the quest for historical clues. Other than at the sites of Hazor and Bethel, no significant Late Bronze Age destruction layers appear. Most scholars agree: a Joshua led genocide never happened. Careful readers of the book of Joshua generally come to the same conclusion. But then, what do we do with some of the language which seems so violent? That’s the subject of this article.
Joshua and Morality Read More »
The book of Joshua provokes much criticism . To some, it is full of nonhistorical legends composed centuries after the fact. Others insist on super-literalism. To them, Joshua’s account exposes God’s wrathful, bloodthirsty, jealous nature. Even more mock the book as ridiculously unscientific; no way can the sun physically stand still without disastrous orbital repercussions. This article addresses these charges.
Joshua – Conquest, Coexistence, or Genocide Read More »
This article continues our series on the life of Joseph as it relates to Egyptian culture in the second millennium BCE.
Joseph – Vizier (Prime Minister) over Egypt Read More »
This article focuses on the first thirteen years of Joseph’s life in Egypt. During this time, his social status changed from slave to steward to prisoner. The biblical account contains many interesting cultural allusions consistent with ancient Egyptian culture.
Joseph – Slave, Steward, Prisoner Read More »
What was the coat of many colors? Is that something that Jacob dreamed up? Why were Joseph’s brothers so angry that they wanted to kill him? This article delves into these issues.
Joseph – Life in Canaan Read More »
There is no direct archaeological evidence that Joseph, the great grandson of Abraham, was ever in Egypt. This is not surprising. We could say the same for almost every person that lived in the ancient world. This does not mean that there is no indirect evidence. This article is the first installment. If the biblical account is reliable, when would Joseph have been in Egypt?
Egypt in the Bible: Joseph – When? Read More »