Samuel! Samuel!
Samuel! Samuel! When God called Samuel to his service, he called out his name twice (3:10). Abraham, Jacob, and Moses also heard the Lord speak… Read More »Samuel! Samuel!
K.G.J
“Thus says the Lord.”
“Thus says the Lord.” Ancient messengers would begin their message by stating the sender’s name and saying, “[The sender’s name] has spoken thus.” The message… Read More »“Thus says the Lord.”
Children
Children were of great importance in ancient times for several reasons. They carried on the family name and helped to care for the family’s flocks… Read More »Children
Threshing floors
Threshing floors were places where grain was separated from the chaff. The floor was usually packed clay soil that had been worn smooth. Sheaves of… Read More »Threshing floors
Gleaning
Gleaning was the Hebrew practice of allowing the poor to follow behind those harvesting crops to gather any food or grain left by the harvesters.… Read More »Gleaning
Redemption
Redemption is a key theme in the book of Ruth. The words “redeem,” “redeemer,” and “redemption” appear 23 times.
Slings
Slings (20:16) were weapons made of two long straps, usually either leather or cloth. These were attached to a wider pocket in the middle, where… Read More »Slings
Jebus
Jebus (19:11) was the name of Jerusalem during this time because it was still under the control of the Jebusites. It would stay in the… Read More »Jebus
Laish
Laish was about 25 miles (40 km) north of the Sea of Galilee. The Danites would have traveled about a hundred miles (161 km) to… Read More »Laish
Blinding a prisoner
Blinding a prisoner and forcing him to grind grain at a mill (16:21) was a common form of punishment in the ancient Near East. This… Read More »Blinding a prisoner
City gates
City gates in Bible times were often very elaborate. Many of them were two stories high or even higher. The actual opening would be narrow,… Read More »City gates
Were the “foxes” actually jackals?
Were the “foxes” actually jackals? The same Hebrew word can mean either “fox” or “jackal.” While foxes usually travel alone, jackals can often be seen… Read More »Were the “foxes” actually jackals?