The Old Testament forms the oldest section of the Christian Bible. This God-inspired collection of texts chronicles the history, laws, and beliefs of the ancient Israelites. The Old Testament contains a variety of genres: stories, poetry, prophesy, and wisdom literature. These ancient texts are central to Christian theology and set context of the life of Jesus Christ.
Rachel's Tomb: The Death of an Israelite Matriarch
The Biblical passage that relates Rachel’s death is from Genesis 35: “Then they journeyed from Bethel. And when there was but a little distance to go to Ephrath, Rachel labored in childbirth, and she had hard labor. Now it came...
Necromancy in the Bible: Fallen Spirits, Ancient Religion
Because of fantasy novels, zombie movies, and games like Dungeons and Dragons, a “necromancer” has come to mean someone who raises and commands the dead. In popular culture, a necromancer is commonly pictured as an evil warlock...
Merari: Son of Levi and Ancestor of Judith
According to the Abarim Publications website (a dubious theological source but good for etymology), the name Merari (מררי), means “bitter” or “strong” (as in having a strong taste) in Hebrew: “The name Merari, like other Levite...
Who is Asaph in the Bible? A minister and psalmist of David
The name “Asaph” is Hebrew for “gather”. It is used three times in the Bible, and may refer to any of several figures. But the main one that people are generally interested in is the Asaph who is attributed a number of the psal...
The Shulamite: Bride of Solomon and Allegorical Woman
The word “Shulamite” (also spelled “Shulammite”) is only used once in the Bible, in the Song of Solomon, chapter 6, verse 13. What does it mean? It’s at least a reference to the bride of Solomon, but the nature of the title is ...
Resen: One of the Cities of Nimrod
Resen is a city mentioned in Genesis 10:12: “Cush begot Nimrod; he began to be a mighty one on the earth. 9 He was a mighty hunter before the Lord; therefore it is said, “Like Nimrod the mighty hunter before the Lord.” 10 And t...
Maher-Shala-Hash-Baz, the Son of the Prophet Isaiah
The book of Isaiah features a long name: Maher-Shala-Hash-Baz. It is often considered the longest name in the Bible, though that depends on how you count. It first occurs in Isaiah 8:1: “Moreover the Lord said to me, ‘Take a la...
Plant of Fertility and Magic: Are mandrakes in the Bible?
The mandrake is mentioned in two places in the Bible: in an episode between Rachel and Leah concerning fertility, and in the Song of Solomon. The Song of Solomon, also known as the Song of Songs or the Canticle of Canticles, is...