Who was Hushai the Archite in the Bible?
We don’t know much about Hushai except what is listed in I Chronicles and II Samuel. Scholars suggest that “Hushai” was probably short for a name like “Ahishai” or “Ahushai”, and that “Archite” indicated that he belonged to the...
Samyaza and the fall of the angels
Samyaza (also spelled Shemyaza or Semjaza) was the leader of a group of angelic beings described in the Book of Enoch, an ancient Jewish text that influenced early Christians. The text tells the story of a group of beings calle...
What is sexual fasting? On abstinence in marriage
If you’ve been around traditional religion enough, you may have gotten the impression that the Church is not a huge fan of pleasure. Restrictions on food, alcohol, or sex can give the distinct impression that Christianity is ag...
Who was Agur son of Jakeh in the Bible?
Proverbs chapter 30 begins by noting that the following text is “sayings of Agur, son of Jakeh” and, depending the translation, that it is “an inspired utterance” (NIV) or a “prophecy” (KJV); that he is “the oracle” (ESV); and ...
Why stay away from the Book of Enoch
If you’ve heard of the Book of Enoch, you probably know it’s very weird. It’s an ancient document that claims to be written by the great-grandfather of Noah, a mysterious man who is mentioned in the Bible as being “taken away” ...
What is Goshen in the Bible?
The “land of Goshen” is the name of the region that the pharaoh of Egypt gave to the Israelites when they settled in Egypt. This gift is the culmination of the story of Joseph, an Israelite sold into Egyptian slavery by his bro...
Did Jesus have a tattoo? Revelation 19 and tattoos
In an apocalyptic vision in the final book of the Bible, St. John offers one of the most awesome and powerful depictions of Jesus in holy scripture. He is riding on a white horse, his eyes are like flame, he wears multiple crow...
What does the Bible say about self-satisfaction?
Christians in modern, western countries have a weird relationship with pleasure. There’s often a sense that Christianity is against pleasure, or at least suspicious of it, especially with sexual pleasure. How do we navigate ple...