People are often intimidated by laws. But in the Old Testament, the nation of Israel’s relation to God was based upon the law. It governed their religious practices, their government and the way they lived their daily lives. People Of The Law: The Religion of Israel The faith of… Read More

Prophets are not just fortunetellers – they are God’s mouthpieces to his chosen people. Find out more about the role of prophets and prophecy in the New and Old Testaments. Prophets and Prophecy A prophet is someone who speaks God’s message. The message the… Read More

Family feuds are always messy. The Samaritans were related to the Jews, but they had distinct beliefs that separated them from mainstream Judaism. Another group mentioned a few times in the New Testament is the Samaritans. The ancestors of the Samaritans came from the ten Israelite tribes… Read More

Sometimes the truth is buried—literally. But as archaeologists sift through the deserted remnants of the past, they often have rediscovered truth attested to in the Bible. Archaeology has helped to confirm some of the events reported in the Bible. Although it cannot “prove” every detail found in the Bible (since… Read More

What was the average height of men in New Testament times? What kind of coins were used during the period of the exile? Archaeology helps us learn about daily life in biblical times. Some archaeological finds provide us with information on what life was like in biblical times in the… Read More

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

Angels are popular images in the modern world. But what does the Bible say about angels? Find out here. The word “angel” in English is based on the Greek word angelos, which means “messenger.” Most often in the Bible, this is exactly what angels do—bring messages from God to… Read More

Where was Phoenicia and why was it important? Find out now. Learn more about the ancient land of Phoenicia and the role that it played in ancient times.  The ancient Greeks were probably the first to use the name “Phoenicia” to refer to a specific area of Canaan. Around… Read More

After Babylon fell, Persia became a major power in the Ancient Near East. Find out what influence Persia had on the people of Israel in the Bible. Persia— now modern-day Iran— was a key country of power during biblical times. Learn about the role it played and the people… Read More

Assyria controlled a powerful army known for its cruelty. Eventually the Assyrian army defeated the northern kingdom of Israel. Find out more here. Does Assyria have a link to the conflict going on today? Take a look back in time and see where this ancient land fits into the… Read More