David was a man of many talents: he wrote poetry, slew giants, and governed Israel. Read about how David shaped the kingdom of Israel and figured into the larger plan of salvation. David ruled Israel from about 1010 to 970 B.C. David was a military hero (1 Samuel 17:41-54; 18:6-7),… Read More

Immigration is not a new issue. Abraham, the Old Testament patriarch, left his homeland and moved to a new land in Genesis 12. Check out what else the Bible says about foreigners. Genesis tells the story of Abraham and Sarah who left their country in the East to live… Read More

The Bible has lots of names. Read about the importance of genealogies in the Bible, including the history that they record and the connections they make. People in ancient Israel placed great importance on who their family’s ancestors were. The Bible includes family lists (genealogies) in order to show… Read More

Gentiles were people outside the nation of Israel. What is their role in the kingdom of God? How did their status change with the coming of Jesus? Find out here The English word gentile comes from the Latin word for “people.” In the Bible, Gentiles are all the peoples… Read More

Although he is most famous for his attempt to kill the baby Jesus, Herod the Great made many decisions that shaped the landscape of ancient Palestine. Herod the Great was the ruler of Judea (including Samaria and Galilee) from about 37 B.C. until his death in 4 B.C. Herod’s… Read More

Men weren’t the only important figures in the Hebrew Scriptures. Women played many important roles. Find out what they were. The book of Judith, one of the deuterocanonical/apocryphal books of the Bible, is named for a remarkably brave and beautiful woman who displays great faith in the God of… Read More

When Hezekiah became king of Judah, it was time for change. Throughout his reign Hezekiah instituted important religious reforms to bring the nation back to God. Hezekiah’s name means “The Lord is my strength.” He was the son of Ahaz and Abi and the twelfth king of the southern kingdom (Judah),… Read More

Stand up for what you believe in. Ignatius of Antioch did. See how this disciple of John lived his life and contributed to the early Christian community. Ignatius, along with Polycarp, was a disciple of John when he was in Ephesus in the latter part of the first century. Read More

As the son of Abraham and father of Jacob, Isaac was an important figure in the Old Testament. Read about his life and work here. Isaac is the second son of Abraham, a half brother to Ishmael, and the divinely promised firstborn son of Abraham and Sarah (Genesis16, 19)… Read More

In the Old Testament, worship revolved around the temple. Consequently, priests were important in Israel. Check out the role of priests throughout the Old Testament. The people of Israel were holy, or “set apart for God,” and they were to obey God’s commandments. Exodus 19:5 describes how God told… Read More