In the polytheistic culture of the Ancient Near East, deities were worshipped by means of sacrifices made in particular places. Most gods were considered to have what we might consider “regional” power (the Babylonians having a few patron deities vs. those of say the Assyrians); and within those regions to have particular locations in which...
Category: Understanding the Bible
Understanding the Bible 07: David & the Monarchy
David is a central protagonist in the biblical story. And though his triumph over Goliath and his moral failings with Bathsheba are the stuff of great art, it is his establishment of the monarchy in Israel that both shapes and foreshadows future events. David is born in Bethlehem (c. 1040 BCE). He spends his childhood...
Understanding the Bible 06: Israel Enters the Promised Land
Understanding the Bible requires a constant return to the covenant with Abraham (see part 3 of this series). It is that promise of salvation that drives the rest of the biblical narrative and which guides our interpretation of scripture. And central to Abrahamic covenant is the pledge that Israel will come to possess the land...