According to Josephus ( Antiquities , 2.10), Moses spent his youth leading Egyptian armies against invading Kushite/Ethiopians: “Moses, at the persuasion both of Thermuthis and the king himself, cheerfully undertook the business: and the sacred scribes of both nations were glad; those of the . . . . Continue Reading »
According to the Jewish historian Artapanus (quoted by Eusebius in his Preparation for the Gospel ), the Pharaoh of Moses’ nativity was Palmanothes, and his daughter, who rescued Moses, was named “Merris.” Josephus says that the daughter’s name was Thermuthis, Greek for . . . . Continue Reading »
When the Philistines capture the mighty Samson, he seems tame enough. They mock and abuse him until the Spirit of Yah returns and Samson pulls down the house. When the Philistines learn that the ark of God is in the Israelite camp, they’re terrified that “mighty gods” contend with . . . . Continue Reading »
How do prophets harden and deafen the deaf? Perhaps it works like this: Prophets speak in extremes. Prophets shout. Prophets “draw large and startling figures” (Flannery O’Connor). Yet nothing happens. They keep shouting and drawing. Still nothing happens. They shout louder, their . . . . Continue Reading »
The Hebrew verb lawah means “to join, to adhere.” It also means “to lend” and, confusingly, to “borrow.” James Barr will be upset with me, but I can’t help but wonder if ancient Hebrews viewed loans as a sort of glue that joins the borrower and lender. And . . . . Continue Reading »
I have offered some reflections on the current evangelical murmur about social justice at www.firstthings.com. . . . . Continue Reading »
A variety of Hebrew words are used for “covering.” The seraphim cover ( kasah ) their eyes, hands, and feet with wings, while the wings of the cherubim cover ( sakak ) the ark (Exodus 25:20), Yahweh’s hand covers ( sakak ) Moses as His glory goes by (Exodus 33:22), and . . . . Continue Reading »
The Hebrew word “burden” ( massa ) can refer to a literal load that carried by an animal or person (Exodus 23:5; 2 Kings 5:17; 8:9). It is used in the literal sense of the Levitical crews that carry around the tabernacle and its furnishings (9x in Numbers 4). The Levites are . . . . Continue Reading »
“Hades” is used in some 75 verses of the LXX, usually translating the Hebrew sheol , which is used about 65 times. But the distyribution of the usage is not even. Genesis uses sheol/hades four time, but outside of Genesis the word appears infrequently in the Pentateuch (Numbers 16; . . . . Continue Reading »
The Septuagint uses the word-group euaggel - primarily in military and political contexts to describe the proclamation of victory. This is not invariable (cf. Jeremiah 20:15 The Philistines cut off Saul’s head and strip his gear so that they can carry the “good news” to idols and . . . . Continue Reading »
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