Jephthah

Jephthah is a figure from the Old Testament book of Judges. He served as a judge for Israel for six years (Judges 12:7), and his name means “he opens the way.” Jephthah lived in Gilead and was a member of the half-tribe of Manasseh. His father was also named Gilead, but his mother was a […]

Gideon’s Son: Abimelech

The story of Gideon’s son, Abimelech, is recorded in Judges Chapter 9. “Gideon had seventy sons, his direct descendants, for he had many wives. His concubine, who lived in Shechem, also bore him a son, and he named him Abimelech.” (Judges 8:30-31). After Gideon rescued the Israelites, the people wanted to make him their king, […]

The Temple

The Temple in the Bible refers to the place of worship for God in Jerusalem. The first Temple was built by King Solomon around 969 BC. Before that, during Moses’ time, the Israelites worshipped God in the Tabernacle. King David had long wanted to build the Temple, but God did not permit him because he […]

Cyprus in the Bible

In the Bible, Cyprus, located in the eastern Mediterranean, is the third-largest island in the sea. Strategically positioned as a crossroads between Europe, Africa, and Asia, it has historically been a highly contested territory. The island has a subtropical Mediterranean climate. Politically, it is currently divided into the Republic of Cyprus in the south and […]

The Death of the Apostle James

After the Holy Spirit descended at Pentecost, the apostles bravely testified about Jesus. Miracles were performed, and believers loved one another, which led many people to convert to Jesus. However, this also provoked more hatred, persecution, and opposition. Around four years before Paul and Barnabas went to Jerusalem, Herod Agrippa I, the grandson of Herod […]

A Name of God in the Bible: Jehovah-Shalom

“Shalom” is a Hebrew word that means “peace.” Jehovah-Shalom means “The Lord is Peace.” The original word for “peace” in the Bible means peace, harmony, no war, no danger, and prosperity. It is often used as a greeting when meeting and a blessing when departing. It means “free from illness or trouble” (Luke 15:27; 5:31), […]

The Failure of Gideon

In the book of Judges, from the first time God appeared to him at the winepress to the moment He led Israel to freedom from the oppression of the Midianites, God’s power and presence gave Gideon a deeper understanding of Him. Gideon refused to be king of Israel, knowing that the Lord alone was the […]

Phoenicia

Ancient Phoenicia corresponds roughly to the territory of modern-day Lebanon. The word “Phoenicia” originally means “purplish-red,” which comes from a purplish-red dye produced in this region from murex snails. Ancient Westerners generally used murex shells to produce the purple dye. The process was complex, wasteful, and required precise timing. Despite the fact that 10,000 snails […]

Hyssop and Cedar

Hyssop is an easily grown mint-family herb common in Palestine. In a suitable environment, it can grow to a height of one and a half to three feet. Its stalk is tough, which is why the Chinese name literally means “ox-knee,” as an ox’s knee is a strong point. The plant often grows in cracks […]

Gideon

Gideon (Hebrew: גִּדְעוֹן) was one of the most famous judges of the ancient Israelites. He was from the clan of Abiezer in the tribe of Manasseh, and his name means “hewer” or “cutter.” At that time, the Israelites were doing what was evil in the Lord’s sight, so the Lord handed them over to the […]