Bible History

Olive Tree on the Mount of Olives

Nestled amidst the ancient groves of the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem stands a lone olive tree, weathered and wise, a silent witness to history. This very hill, named for the abundance of such trees, bore the weight of Jesus' presence on numerous occasions, as recounted in the gospels. Perhaps most poignantly, it was at the foot of the Mount, in th...

Read More

The View from Mount Nebo

Photo from Christian Resource Institute. "This is the Jordan Valley as seen from the top of Mount Nebo in the Transjordan region (the modern Kingom of Jordan). The Jordan river is the faint diagonal line in the center of the photo, and the land beyond is Israel, the modern nation of Israel. This view is toward the northwest in the direction of Shec...

Read More

Sheol, Hell, and the Dead

From Christian Resource Institute FAQ. A short answer to the question about death, hell, and the grave according to Scripture....

Read More

Social Ethics in the Prophets

Short theological essay from Christian Resource Institute. Deals with the prophets and the practical application of social ethics in the community....

Read More

Ba'al Ugaritic god of Storms & War

Ba'al Ugaritic god of Storms & War From K. C. Hanson's Gallery of Photos of Syria & Israel. Ba'al Ugaritic God of Storms & War (14th century BC) Louvre Museum, Paris...

Read More

Model of Herod's Temple

From K. C. Hanson's Gallery of Photos of Syria & Israel. Model of Herod's Temple; Holyland Hotel, Jerusalem. Note: The model shows Jerusalem as it must have looked in 63 AD., the end of the Second Temple era, just before the Romans destroyed the Temple in 70 AD. The models construction was supervised by Prof. Michael Avi Yonah and was based on ...

Read More

Manumission and Bridewealth Document

Manumission and Bridewealth Document (14th cent. BCE?)TRANSLATION by K. C. Hanson (Adapted from Finkelstein 1969:546). Language: Akkadian; Medium: Clay tablet; Size: 43 centimeters long 5 centimeters wide; Length: 25 lines of writing Genre: Manumission & Marriage Contract Approximate Date: 14th cent. BCE? Place of Discovery: Ugarit acropolis, R...

Read More

Speaking the Language of Canaan

A paper dealing with the Israelite appropriation of metaphors, symbols, and conceptual categories from the "pool" of ancient Middle Eastern culture, noting both the similarities and differences, and the implications both for understanding the OT, as well as for addressing the modern conflict of science and religion. From Christian Resource Institut...

Read More

Inheritance Practices

Inheritance Practices in the First Century Era. Short article providing background for Luke's story of the Prodigal son. From Christian Resource Institute....

Read More

Reconstructing the Tabernacle: How Modern Textiles Illuminate Ancient Worship

“And you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue and purple and scarlet yarns...” – Exodus 26:1 For centuries, the Tabernacle described in the Book of Exodus has captivated scholars, theologians, and archaeologists. This sacred tent, the portable dwelling place of God among the Israelites, was an architectural and...

Read More