Bible Study Guide: Genesis
Genesis is a book of beginnings. It chronicles the creation of the world, the entrance of sin and the first covenant God makes with man. Throughout these “firsts” God demonstrates his love and faithfulness to his creation. What makes Genesis special? The word Genesis comes from a Greek word… Read More
Jacob’s Children and their Mothers
Jacob’s 12 sons became the leaders of the tribes of Israel. Look at the order of Jacob’s children and the mother of each child. LEAH ZIPAH (Leah’s servant) BILHAH (Rachel’s servant) RACHEL Reuben (1) Gad (7) Dan (5) Joseph (12) Simeon (2) Asher (8) Naphtali (6) Benjamin… Read More
An Ancient Flood Story
The Bible isn’t the only ancient text with a flood story. Read about the flood stories other flood stories in the ancient world and why these accounts are important. Many ancient Near Eastern stories describe a terrible flood that destroyed much of humankind. Ancient flood stories are also… Read More
Critical Perspectives: Life, the Universe, and Everything
Learn more about the creation narrative and its place in the context of Ancient Near Eastern creation literature. Whether it’s at the heart of recent controversy in public school curriculum or of popular works of science fiction, the question of how the earth and its inhabitants came into existence… Read More
Early Israelites
Most of the Israelites were nomads. Find out where and how they traveled in the Ancient Near East. Before they settled in Canaan, the earliest ancestors of the Israelites were nomads, which means that they lived by moving herds of sheep and goats from place to place to… Read More
Birthright
The concept of birthright played an important role in many Bible stories. Learn more about what the significance of birthright was and how it factored into different Bible stories. Israel and other cultures of the ancient Near East gave special honor and privileges to the oldest son in every family. Read More