And all the community of Israelites murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. Exodus 16:2 Robert Alter Wilderness – In God’s geography, the wilderness is an amazing place. First, it is the place of God’s self-revelation. Second, it is the place of total human dependence. And third, it is the place where God provides the foundation document, the constitution,…
All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man or woman of God may be fully capable, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 NASB All Scripture – Lawrence Schiffman offers some much needed insights into the development of Judaism, insights that can be applied to other…
Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel.” Exodus 19:5-6 NASB My…
The record of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham: Matthew 1:1 NASB David – Before the world adopted Arabic numerals, many ancient languages used the written alphabet as a counting system. The first letter of the alphabet would also be the number 1; the second 2, etc. Of course, you needed…
So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has shown you all this, there is no one so discerning and wise as you.” Genesis 41:39 NRSVA God – English doesn’t quite reveal what is happening in this story. Why? Because the English translation “God” can cover both elohim and YHVH. And in this case, it’s important…
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 2 Timothy 3:16 NIV Is useful – No, we’re not going to spend any more time investigating the meanings of “Scripture” or “God-breathed” or any of the participles of action that follow. We’ve been over that ground time and again. What…
For Ezra had set his heart to seek the law of YHWH, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and ordinances Ezra 7:10 JPS 1917 To seek – Ezra changed forever the way we interact with God. Now we read instead of listen. That wasn’t the only result of this monumental shift. …
“I will make you pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant;” Ezekiel 20:37 NASB Rod – One of the tenets of conservative Christianity is that the Bible must be interpreted by the Bible. What it means is this: if I accept the claim that God is the real…
Abraham planted a tamarisk tree at Beersheba, and there he called on the name of the Lord, the Everlasting God. Genesis 21:33 NASB The Everlasting God – In his article, “Genesis 21:33: A Study In the Development of a Biblical Text and Its Rabbinic Transformation,” Nahum Sarna examines several oddities found in this text. The problems begin with the…
For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood by reason of the life that makes atonement.’ Leviticus 17:11 NASB Life/ souls/ life – “Life is in the blood.” How many times have we heard this…
