We can learn from the past, but how do we remember it? Check out this chart describing different ways that people passed down history. Even before the invention of writing, people have felt the need to preserve the memory of past events for future generations. Because of what… Read More

How did ancient Israelites determine amounts or weights? Learn about the biblical units of measurement, their modern equivalents, and their use in Scripture. Weights and measures in the original languages of the Bible are expressed in terms that are not easy for people today to visualize or understand. While… Read More

Before Israel was ruled by a king, a series of judges controlled Israel. Check out this list of judges and their accomplishments. JUDGE YEARS OF SERVICE CHIEF ENEMY ACCOMPLISHMENTS SCRIPTURE PASSAGE Othniel… Read More

The modern dating system is based on the birth of Christ. Find out when this practice started and how it relates to the Christian calendar. The initials B.C. (an abbreviation for “Before Christ”) are applied to dates of events that occurred before the “Christian” (or Common) era. If the… Read More

In ancient times, individuals reached agreements by forming covenants. Covenants were also the means by which the Israelites related to God. Read about the significance of biblical covenants – from God’s first covenant with Abraham to the new covenant spoken about in the prophets. The Bible often speaks of… Read More

Who was Sirach? What did he have to say? Read more here. Overall, we know very little about the people who wrote the Old Testament. The details about people in the biblical narratives are background for stories that are not really about individual humans, but about God’s relationship with… Read More

The Law of Moses forbade prostitution, but the image of a prostitute is used several places in the Bible (Exodus 16, Hosea, Revelation 17). Two different kinds of prostitute are found in biblical stories. First are those who offered to have sex with men to earn money or to… Read More

Rome was one of the great powers of the ancient world and it was a powerful factor in the spread of Christianity. Find out more about the history of this mighty empire. In 700 B.C., Rome was a small city in Italy that controlled only the area close around… Read More

Context is important. Find out how the social, religious and political context of Israel influenced biblical events and literature. Ancient Document and Date Language Chief Enemy Gilgamesh Epic around 1700 B.C.; some versions circulated as early as 2100 B.C. Akkadian Gilgamesh, the ruler of Uruk,… Read More

Biblical characters couldn’t use trains, planes or buses, but they did use camels, chariots, sailing boats and the occasional giant fish. Means of Travel Distances Examples Walking about 20 miles per day Peter walks 40 miles from Joppa to Caesarea in two days (Acts 10.23-25) Camels As a pack… Read More