The Valley of Hinnom

The Valley of Hinnom, also known as Gehenna in ancient Greek, is a valley south of Jerusalem, near the Gate of the Har-sheth (Jeremiah 19:2). It begins west of the Jaffa Gate, runs south along what is now called Mount Zion, and meets the Kidron Valley at the southeast corner of the City of David. […]

Ehud

According to the Old Testament, after the first judge, Othniel, the Israelites once again did what was evil in the Lord’s sight. The Lord allowed King Eglon of Moab to become strong and oppress the Israelites. After eighteen years of serving King Eglon, the Israelites cried out to the Lord, and He raised up a […]

Introduction to the Author and Background of the Book of Acts

The original text of the book of Acts of the Apostles is in Greek. Acts chronicles the events following the resurrection, appearances, and ascension of Jesus Christ, detailing the ministries and martyrdoms of his apostles, including Paul. The author is the physician Luke, the only non-Jewish writer of the New Testament. This book is the […]

Hallelujah

Hallelujah (הַלְּלוּיָהּ‎) is a Hebrew phrase meaning “Praise the Lord.” Hallelu is a plural imperative form of the Hebrew verb “to praise,” and Yah is the shortened form of God’s name, “Yahweh.” “Praise the Lord” is often used as a call to worship before a service. “Hallelujah” was widely used even in the Old Testament […]

Othniel

Othniel was an Israelite judge, the son of Kenaz and the nephew (or brother) of Caleb. In the process of helping Caleb capture the city of Debir (Kiriath Sepher), Othniel won the city and married Achsah. When Caleb gave Othniel the land and Achsah, she asked her father for springs of water. Caleb then gave […]

The Golden Lampstand

God first established the Tabernacle through Moses, with the primary purpose of dwelling among His chosen people. The original word for “tabernacle” means “covering.” Once the people’s sins were covered, God could commune with them, and lead, care for, and protect His people. When people sinned, they could go to the Tabernacle to offer sacrifices, […]

Introduction to the Book of Judges

The Hebrew name for the Book of Judges means “to judge” or “to govern.” The book records about three hundred years of history following the death of Joshua, a time when “there was no king in Israel, and everyone did what was right in their own eyes.” As a result, the people constantly forsook God […]

A Name of God in the Bible: Jehovah-Rapha

[Exodus 15:26] I am the LORD who heals you. After the Israelites crossed the Red Sea, they had witnessed God part the waters, lead them safely through, and then close the sea over the Egyptians. This was a great miracle that would be unforgettable for a lifetime. Moses and the Israelites sang a song to […]

The Church

Many people today think of the church as a church building or a place where Christians meet. This is not the biblical meaning of the word. The word for church comes from the Greek word “Ecclesia,” which means “an assembly” or “the called-out ones.” The original meaning of “church” does not refer to a building […]

The Witness of Stones

When we read the Old Testament, we find that God often used stone monuments as witnesses. “Abram traveled through the land to the site of the oak of Moreh at Shechem. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. The Lord appeared to Abram and said, ‘I will give this land to your offspring.’ […]